Visa trouble

I met today with Mimi Unamoyo, an amazing lawyer from the Congo who is leading an integration project for refugee women in Belfast. And she’s doing an LLM at Queen’s. I’m working on an annual report for the integration project, basically a list of all the things she has done over the past year. She’s been busy. A dozen workshops to help women with resumes, legal rights, CPR, contraception, child safety, housing, etc. She’s amazing.

She has been granted refugee status by the UK, however that is only good for three years, which is almost up. The UK reserves the right to decide that your native country is safe enough for you to go back to. Has the Congo ever been safe?

I told her that being married to a British citizen is not a walk in the park when it comes to the Home Office and visas. I got a letter today giving me until the 20th to send originals of seven documents to the Home Office in Sheffield. Subtracting weekends and Easter holidays, I have five business days. I had mailed the application to renew my spouse visa on Feb. 22. This includes giving up my passport, which means I can’t travel. Today’s letter asked for a letter from David’s employer, confirming his position and salary, and copies of six months of bank statements. I have three of the bank statements. I had included the other three in my visa application. Since I don’t have the originals, I have to go into Belfast to our bank and have them produce copies which they verify as being official. As for David’s employer, it’s in the U.S. I’m hoping they can Fed Ex me an original in time. The Home Office letter states that if I don’t provide the requested info, my visa will be denied and I’ll have to move back to the states. Nice, right? I’ve already spent 1,330 pounds on this application.

Did I mention that I’m trying to get a website elevated? I’m also doing quarter-end fund reports this week. And I’m applying for jobs. This just isn’t one of my better weeks.
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