A father fears for the life of his wife and son after they were left stranded in Pakistan.
Faridoon Muhammed, who lives in Norbury, believes his family are in danger in their home of Mansehra which is located near Swat Valley, the scene of bloody battles between the army and Taliban fighters.
His wife, Shabnsm Habib, was initially denied a visa to come to the country, while being pregnant at the time, but after an appeal Mr Muhammed was able to overturn the decision.
But he claims delays by the High Commission in issuing the visa meant his child was born in Pakistan before his wife was able to come to the UK.
Mr Muhammed, 31, then applied for a visa for his son Muhammed Shaheer but this was refused, leaving both mother and child stuck in Pakistan.
Mr Muhammed said: “My family is living in very dangerous conditions. If anything happens with my family this government and the British High Commission in Islamabad will be responsible.”
An appeal has been lodged with the High Commission but Mr Muhammed has been left sweating on the decision, as his wife’s visa will soon expire and she could be left unable to come to the UK even if her son’s appeal is successful.
Mr Muhammed is furious with UK Border Agency after his son’s application was refused on the grounds he had produced bank statements which were belived to “not be genuine”.
The decision continued: “In the absence of satisfactory evidence showing that your sponsor is engaged in business, I am not satisfied that your sponsor is in receipt of a regular and secure income.”
But Mr Muhammed has produced a letter from his bank manager assuring the statements are genuine and he has a regular stream of income.
He added the same occurred with his wife’s application, which was succesfully appealed.
Mr Muhammed said: “I was astonished by this. I have raised my concerns with my solicitors and they have written a detailed letter to the British High Commission seeking a review.
“The level of service the British High Commission is providing is absolutely disgraceful.”
Update:
In a statement, the UK Border Agency said: “All applications to enter the United Kingdom are carefully considered on their individual merits, against the immigration rules and taking into account all available evidence.
“Where a child is refused a visa to join their parents in the United Kingdom, they would be entitled to appeal to the independent Courts.”
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