After reading the case of Lisa Barrett, whose spousal visa has been turned down, it occurred to me to wonder what proportion of negative decisions by the Home Office are ever reversed on appeal (Final visa verdict for transatlantic couple, Croydon Guardian, November 1).

My experience of Home Office decision making leads me to suppose that once a decision is made nothing on earth will get them to change their minds.

They simply spend more and more public money dragging up less and less relevant or plausible excuses until the appeal system is exhausted. A case of face-saving at the expense of justice.

JACQUELINE STANIFORTH Turnpike Link Croydon