An Angus newlywed has hit out at the UK’s visa system for foreign nationals after her big day was nearly ruined when the family of her Zimbabwe-born husband was denied entry to the country.
“My sister and my sister-in-law were both denied entry on their third attempts despite both being in their late fifties,” he said.
“All they wanted was to partake in a joyous family celebration-nothing more.
“Did we have to endure the pain of an initial refusal of entry and the subsequent three-week wall of silence when we appealed for reconsideration based on the additional paperwork we filed?
“After all, we had each completed a 10-page visa application form in which we truthfully laid bare everything about who we were.
“Some of the questions in this form are of questionable merit and constitute an unfair and unwarranted intrusion into people’s lives.”
Mr Chinembiri, who is the managing director of a life insurance company in his native Zimbabwe, added that he had entered the UK several times before and spent considerable sums on university fees to educate his children in the country.Pressing need”I just wonder what becomes of applications for visas of persons of equal or lower social stations than ours when they have a pressing need to travel to the UK for family reunions, wedding anniversaries, death or illness of a loved one, or the arrival of a new baby,” he said.
Mr McGovern last night demanded a review of the way the visa application process is handled.
“The Chinembiri family were not looking to stay in the UK beyond their son’s wedding and a family holiday,” he said.
“The evidence on their visa application clearly showed this.
“I would like the UK Border Agency to look more carefully at initial applications to save the time and expense of appeals where they are not required.”
A spokesman for the UK Border Agency defended its procedures.
“All applications for entry clearance are considered carefully on their individual merits, taking into account all evidence submitted, including previous travel records, and in accordance with the immigration rules,” he said.
“The onus is on visa applicants to supply the necessary evidence in support of their applications.
“Where insufficient evidence is provided visa applications may be refused, though the individual is able to apply again at any time and any new evidence will be considered.”
Auchterhouse woman Jennie Chinembiri (29) believes her mother-in-law and father-in-law would not have made it to the Glamis Kirk wedding if not for the intervention of Dundee West MP Jim McGovern.
The majority of her husband Ainslie’s close family did eventually get to celebrate the nuptials after appealing the decision, but some of the guests had to stay behind in Africa.
“It was a total nightmare,” said Jennie, whose maiden name is Williamson.
“We felt very powerless and they were treated like second-class citizens.
“The Border Agency just would not believe that they were going to go back home to Zimbabwe after the wedding, which is just ridiculous.
“I think the whole system is just wrong. They were made to jump through hoops and it still wasn’t enough.
“It is stressful enough to organise a wedding, but this was almost unbearable.”
The former Harris Academy pupil met Ainslie (28), who first came to Scotland to study but now works as a risk analyst for a bank, through church and the two have dated for more than two years.
But when the couple, who live in Edinburgh, got engaged last year they never imagined how difficult it would be to celebrate their wedding alongside their loved ones.
Thirteen family members hoped to travel to Scotland for the wedding, including Ainslie’s mum and dad, his brother, who was best man, and sister, who was a bridesmaid.RejectedHowever, they all initially had their visa applications rejected, throwing the wedding plans into turmoil.
The family began the expensive process of appealing the decisions, but Jennie, who estimates a total of around $4500 was spent on the visas, said the process was taking so long she feared the wedding would be over before an outcome was reached.
She then wrote to Prime Minister David Cameron, Home Secretary Theresa May and her local MP in Edinburgh to no avail.
She said it wasn’t until her father in Auchterhouse rang local MP Jim McGovern that any action was taken.
Through his intervention, nine of the 13 were able to secure visas to celebrate the wedding.
“If it was not for my dad’s MP, Jim McGovern, taking such an interest and being so good I am sure we would not have got some of the visas,” she said.
“Thanks to him the wedding went ahead with most of the important people there and everyone had a brilliant day.”
Jennie’s father Joe Williamson (59) added, “Mr McGovern was brilliant and his office did everything they could to help.
“In the end the wedding was a great success. It was a great big Africa meets Scotland event and a large part of that is down to him.”
However, Ainslie’s father, Ambrose, is still bitter over the way his family were treated.