Immigration !"£$%$%
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OK this is really a last ditch effort for some advice about helping my girlfriend out.
My girlfriend is Hungarian and has been working over here as an Au Pair for the past two years. I went over to Hungary 2 weeks ago and I met her family, friends and got to see her amazing country.
The problems started as we tried to get back into England. Her Au Pair visa was nearing it's end and she didn't have any cash on her so they decided to be complete barstards and jump on her.
As such they took away her passport, held her for 5 hours in a room full of drug smugglers and asylum seekers and told her she had two weeks to sort things out here and then she'll be forced out the country.
Needless to say I'm completely devestated by this and feel completely helpless. She does have forms to appeal the decision but I'm not sure what the best route is to take with this.
Any advice you have would be most appreciated.
My girlfriend is Hungarian and has been working over here as an Au Pair for the past two years. I went over to Hungary 2 weeks ago and I met her family, friends and got to see her amazing country.
The problems started as we tried to get back into England. Her Au Pair visa was nearing it's end and she didn't have any cash on her so they decided to be complete barstards and jump on her.
As such they took away her passport, held her for 5 hours in a room full of drug smugglers and asylum seekers and told her she had two weeks to sort things out here and then she'll be forced out the country.
Needless to say I'm completely devestated by this and feel completely helpless. She does have forms to appeal the decision but I'm not sure what the best route is to take with this.
Any advice you have would be most appreciated.
My wife is Polish (another great country) and for years we went through a similar thing.
But she just kept coming in as a visitor, 3 months stay at a time. Go home for 2 weeks and then come back. The problem with this is that you cannot work, but that suited her as she was studying.
Got asked lots of questions, but never refused, as she had an address to go to and I opened a joint bank account, dropped some money in it and kept to hand a recent bank statement with her name on it.
She gets more hassel now that we are married! The onetime an MP did any good was sorting this out, even got the question asked in the Houses of Parliment! Within 48 hours indeffinate visa on the table.
Another option is to enrole on a basic English course (say) and apply for a student visa, she can then work something like 20 hours / week I think. But you will still need an address and proof of funds.
Once on the Chunnel, the control guy stated "you've been in and out of England a lot, a bit more than is reasonable, what is the purpose?"
The conversation went back and forth for about 3-4 minutes, then I got fed up and said to the guy "that surely if she wanted to remain in England illegally why risk going in and out so often with the potential to be questioned?" He did'nt ask anymore questions and let us through.
But she just kept coming in as a visitor, 3 months stay at a time. Go home for 2 weeks and then come back. The problem with this is that you cannot work, but that suited her as she was studying.
Got asked lots of questions, but never refused, as she had an address to go to and I opened a joint bank account, dropped some money in it and kept to hand a recent bank statement with her name on it.
She gets more hassel now that we are married! The onetime an MP did any good was sorting this out, even got the question asked in the Houses of Parliment! Within 48 hours indeffinate visa on the table.
Another option is to enrole on a basic English course (say) and apply for a student visa, she can then work something like 20 hours / week I think. But you will still need an address and proof of funds.
Once on the Chunnel, the control guy stated "you've been in and out of England a lot, a bit more than is reasonable, what is the purpose?"
The conversation went back and forth for about 3-4 minutes, then I got fed up and said to the guy "that surely if she wanted to remain in England illegally why risk going in and out so often with the potential to be questioned?" He did'nt ask anymore questions and let us through.
My wife (Hungarian) occasionally gets questioned, if arriving at LHR I always go and wait in the area just past the control desks. I can then say she is with me etc.
BTW They once got very confused when she took our son over without me (we live in Hungary) and showed his UK passport and her Hungarian one. She had to show them his Hungarian one as well
BTW They once got very confused when she took our son over without me (we live in Hungary) and showed his UK passport and her Hungarian one. She had to show them his Hungarian one as well
Drop your Girl friend off at Sangatte, and tell her to ride through the tunnel with some Kosovans.
She'll be guaranteed a warm welcome, including having her rent / legal bills /subsistance paid for. PLUS she may never have to go back to Hungary!
All joking aside, her treatment was disgraceful. It just proves the point that decent, law abding citizens who try to use the system properly get royally shagged over, whilst the scrotes who abuse the system are left alone. I know it's nothing like the same thing but I would draw an analogy with the prosecution of householders who "injure" burglars whilst they are fighting for their lives in the middle of the night.
Makes me VERY angry
Your girlfriend would be forgiven for thinking that this place isn't worth staying in if thats how she's gonna be treated.
A letter to your local newspaper with copy to your MP, pointing out the lunacy of her treatment (when illegals seem to come and go as they please) might be a good place to start.
Good luck
Andy 400se
She'll be guaranteed a warm welcome, including having her rent / legal bills /subsistance paid for. PLUS she may never have to go back to Hungary!
All joking aside, her treatment was disgraceful. It just proves the point that decent, law abding citizens who try to use the system properly get royally shagged over, whilst the scrotes who abuse the system are left alone. I know it's nothing like the same thing but I would draw an analogy with the prosecution of householders who "injure" burglars whilst they are fighting for their lives in the middle of the night.
Makes me VERY angry
Your girlfriend would be forgiven for thinking that this place isn't worth staying in if thats how she's gonna be treated.
A letter to your local newspaper with copy to your MP, pointing out the lunacy of her treatment (when illegals seem to come and go as they please) might be a good place to start.
Good luck
Andy 400se
Kevin, as your wife can she not get a British passport and make life a lot easier?
Aren't Hungary joining the EU sometime soon? That would make life a lot easier. Don't know the timescales though, 'soon' could easily be 5 years.
PS It would make it easier for you to get a TVR over there too!
>> Edited by JohnL on Monday 2nd September 12:10
Aren't Hungary joining the EU sometime soon? That would make life a lot easier. Don't know the timescales though, 'soon' could easily be 5 years.
PS It would make it easier for you to get a TVR over there too!
>> Edited by JohnL on Monday 2nd September 12:10
quote:
Drop your Girl friend off at Sangatte, and tell her to ride through the tunnel with some Kosovans.
She'll be guaranteed a warm welcome, including having her rent / legal bills /subsistance paid for. PLUS she may never have to go back to Hungary!
I know what you mean, she was asking nothing from this country other than to be here - that's all. The fact that she couldn't disprove the allegations they threw at her made her guilty in their eyes. All this after they had her basically locked up for 5 hours?
I have no faith in the this incompetant system anymore.
quote:
Your girlfriend would be forgiven for thinking that this place isn't worth staying in if thats how she's gonna be treated.
A letter to your local newspaper with copy to your MP, pointing out the lunacy of her treatment (when illegals seem to come and go as they please) might be a good place to start.
Good luck
Andy 400se
Good idea, I'll get onto it now. She was heart broken when they finally 'released' her, they even tried to make out they were doing her a favour. All she wanted to do was have the opportunity to see some of the country that she didn't get to see while she was an Au Pair and be with me.
Now I am having trouble seeing what the point is in me staying here at all.
You guys are scaring me a bit now. My girlfriend is Polish and all as we can do at the moment is visit for short periods of time. I am looking into moving to Poland until she can come over here permanently in 3 yrs after studying. It seems that I am going to face all sorts of trouble, and I really hope they are part of the EU in three years time, what do you all think the chances of that are? Can any of you guys with more experience help me out? Particularly the guy with a Polish wife. Cheers.
If married, she could apply for British passport, but after 5 years.
With visa applications for one year multiple entry, then a two year and then another two year before looking at your application for residency.
Contact you local MP, it worked for us. The porblem with immigration is that it is one central office processing all types of application and renewalls. There is approximately a 12-14 week delay before they even open your application.
But MP can get around this if they want to.
My wife went through the same thoughts.......does she really want to be here. Like your girlfriend she took othing from this place, came with her own money, pays her taxes and took out private medical care, etc. so as to not be a 'burden'.
Those who come in through the front door are hounded because the authorities can get at you. Too difficult to catch the bogus people.
With visa applications for one year multiple entry, then a two year and then another two year before looking at your application for residency.
Contact you local MP, it worked for us. The porblem with immigration is that it is one central office processing all types of application and renewalls. There is approximately a 12-14 week delay before they even open your application.
But MP can get around this if they want to.
My wife went through the same thoughts.......does she really want to be here. Like your girlfriend she took othing from this place, came with her own money, pays her taxes and took out private medical care, etc. so as to not be a 'burden'.
Those who come in through the front door are hounded because the authorities can get at you. Too difficult to catch the bogus people.
John,
I don't think Poland will be in the EU in 3 years time (not to my understanding anyway). Not sure if being in the EU will not spoil what many find appealing about Poland, but thats O/T.
How are you going to deal with the language and work situation out in Poland?
What specific questions do you have? If you don't want to discuss here then drop me a line and I'll try to help. There is nothing really tricky, but the Polish just love their paperwork!
And then you get stuck in the back log of the UK system. Certainly put grey hairs on my head!
I don't think Poland will be in the EU in 3 years time (not to my understanding anyway). Not sure if being in the EU will not spoil what many find appealing about Poland, but thats O/T.
How are you going to deal with the language and work situation out in Poland?
What specific questions do you have? If you don't want to discuss here then drop me a line and I'll try to help. There is nothing really tricky, but the Polish just love their paperwork!
And then you get stuck in the back log of the UK system. Certainly put grey hairs on my head!
Cheers 135sport. I will mail you when I get home ith a nice list of questions. The thing that worries me most though is work. Kasia (the girly) seems to think I will get a job quite easily as a native speaker of English. She lives in Poznan and most people there seem to speak English too so hopefully language won't be too much of a problem. The main problem then comes in having to pay a couple of English bills. Ideally I would find a job in IT in Poznan. What do you think are the chances?
I cannot really comment on the language situation (I have been with my girly for nearly 5 years) and my Polish is poor. Starting formal lessons this September (hopefully). I know I should get the wife to teach me, but it does'nt work.
From what I know Poznan is one of the more industrial / commercial cities, so maybe work could be less of a problem.
I guess you could try to find English origin / speaking companies that have offices in Poznan and target them first.
Other thing, maybe contact the Polish consulate / embassy and make out you are thinking of emmigrating to poland and could they furnish you with a list of agencies that specialise in finding sutiable jobs. Not sure if such a thing exists but it could be worth asking, as I'm sure your not the first to try this.
Could she not finish her study in the UK?
From what I know Poznan is one of the more industrial / commercial cities, so maybe work could be less of a problem.
I guess you could try to find English origin / speaking companies that have offices in Poznan and target them first.
Other thing, maybe contact the Polish consulate / embassy and make out you are thinking of emmigrating to poland and could they furnish you with a list of agencies that specialise in finding sutiable jobs. Not sure if such a thing exists but it could be worth asking, as I'm sure your not the first to try this.
Could she not finish her study in the UK?
They all sound like good ideas, plus she is going to have a look for me when she gets home from her mums. Her English is absolutely perfect, better than mine (I'm from Wigan though 
) so she should be able to help out a bit.
Unfortunately, cos Poland is a non-EU country, it would cost her over £30,000 to study here. Unfortunately neither of us has that sort of money spare
) so she should be able to help out a bit. Unfortunately, cos Poland is a non-EU country, it would cost her over £30,000 to study here. Unfortunately neither of us has that sort of money spare
Not wanting to put the sh1ts up anyone, but a mate of mine resorted to getting his Mum to arrange a quick registry office wedding in order to get his Canadian/Czech girlfriend back into the UK.
No one other than immediate family were told. A couple of years later they announced their engagement and invited all of us to their wedding. We all turned up none the wiser, and watched the vicar do a blessing and then they went off and pretended to do the legal stuff with a registrar. As we went in to lunch, the groom announced that he and the wife had already been married for a couple of years. Loudest spontaneous group gasp I've ever heard. Classic.
No one other than immediate family were told. A couple of years later they announced their engagement and invited all of us to their wedding. We all turned up none the wiser, and watched the vicar do a blessing and then they went off and pretended to do the legal stuff with a registrar. As we went in to lunch, the groom announced that he and the wife had already been married for a couple of years. Loudest spontaneous group gasp I've ever heard. Classic.
UPDATE:
Sent off the appeal forms with letters of reference, sponsorship and also a letter from a language school showing that she had enrolled and was going to study.
Got a letter back this morning saying that my girlfriend can stay for the duration of her course!!! I'm soooo happy!!
Thanks for all your help guys, you've been fantastic.
Sent off the appeal forms with letters of reference, sponsorship and also a letter from a language school showing that she had enrolled and was going to study.
Got a letter back this morning saying that my girlfriend can stay for the duration of her course!!! I'm soooo happy!!
Thanks for all your help guys, you've been fantastic.
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