A mother-to-be is facing the terrifying prospect of giving birth alone because new immigration laws could force the deportation of her Japanese husband.

Marianne Bailey, 35, from Wandsworth, met Kei Yamamoto, 30, when she was working as an industrial designer in Japan in 2009.

The couple married in October last year and are expecting their first child in July.

But changes to the spousal visa system last year now mean that if a UK citizen marries a foreign citizen they are only allowed to remain in the country if the British resident has an income of more than £18,600 a year.

Alternatively they must have a whopping £62,500 of cash savings in a bank account for six months and more if they have children.

Ms Bailey said: “I do earn well over £18,600 but my income comes from multiple sources. I also own two properties in London; we live in one, mortgage-free and rent the other.

“However, the UK Border Agency only take into account the income from my rent and ignore three of four of my other incomes, ignore our savings of over £16,000, which count as zero savings under the new rules and ignore both of my property assets.

“The rent alone isn’t enough to take us over the income threshold – even if I was forced to sell our home, which is against British law and common moral sense, we would still not have £62,500 for the six months required before the birth of our baby.”

Unless Ms Bailey can persuade Home Secretary Theresa May to overturn the decision her husband will have to leave just a month before the birth.

A petition calling on the rules to be changed has been signed by more than 2,500 people.

Ms Bailey said: “I’m heavily pregnant with my first child – and I’m terrified at the prospect of giving birth without having Kei here to support me and looking after our new born alone.

“There is a deep injustice here. These rules are brutally cruel. They separate loving husbands and wives – and in some cases they tear families apart.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Under the free movement directive, European nationals are able to bring their family members to the UK.

“However European nationals do not have unrestricted access to the UK – they must be exercising their treaty rights by working, studying or being self-sufficient.”

To sign the petition visit you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/theresa-may-don-t-force-me-to-give-birth- without-my-husband.