A HUSBAND who has spent thousands trying to get his wife a visa has been left at his wits’ end as his three children haven’t seen their mum in over two years.
Andrew Hogg, 57, used to work in Tunisia with Coca-Cola and that’s where he met his wife, 44-year-old Laila Saidani.
The pair have been married for 15 years and have three children together, aged 11, 12 and 13.
Having moved to Darfield in 2016, he’s been attempting to get his wife a visiting visa to come and visit for a month and, despite spending around £12,000 on applications, he’s yet to be successful.
Instead, every summer before Covid he travelled to the African country by car with his children to see Laila - but the cost of living crisis has meant this is now becoming almost impossible.
He told the Chronicle: “It really doesn’t seem fair because there’s no right to appeal.
“I’ve been applying for the last six years and I’ve spent around £12,000.
“We’ve been married 15 years and I’ve been living here for six.
“They’ve ran out of reasons to turn us down now - they said they think she will come for a month and not go back but that’s accusing her of doing something before it’s even happened.”
Andrew says it’s been incredibly hard on his three children who, due to the pandemic and the visa situation, haven’t seen their mum in only two years.
He’s also feeling the strain having been diagnosed with COPD and heart disease.
“It’s only going to get worse on my own with what’s happening,” he added.
“What happens to the kids if something happens to me?
“They’re getting really stressed out about the situation - they’ve not seen their mum in nearly three years.
“When we video chat the kids are crying and so is Laila - we’re just not getting any help.”
The 57-year-old said he feels like people don’t care about their situation and he has no idea where to turn to next.
“Our world just seems upside down,” he added.
“We just need some kind of help - but people don’t look like they care and it seems like they don’t even want to help.
“Just as it looks like you’re about to see a light at the end of the tunnel you get kicked down again - I don’t know what else to do.”
Stephanie Peacock, MP for Barnsley East, said: “I have previously written to the Home Office on behalf of Mr Hogg regarding his wife’s application to visit the UK.
“The Home Office responded but were unable to give specific information without the permission of Mr Hogg’s wife.
“Unfortunately the Government took away the right of appeal for visit visas which restricts the actions that Mr Hogg can take.
“I sympathise with Mr Hogg’s situation, it is very sad that the children have been separated from their mother for so long.”
