via CAAI News Media
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
A DISABLED Derby mother-of- two has been told she faces being kicked out of the country – because she cannot study for a citizenship test.
Sokkha Cooper, from Cambodia, lost her right arm in a train accident as a child and suffered from polio while growing up, leaving her virtually unable to walk.
She has lived with her husband, Paul, in the UK for more than two years. The couple have two children and, three months ago, Sokkha applied for a visa to allow her to permanently settle.
However, the Home Office said she would be refused permission to stay in the UK because she has not taken the Life in the UK test.
The Sinfin couple thought Sokkha, 23, would be exempt because of her disabilities.
She can walk only about 20 metres at a time and Paul cannot take time off work to take her to classes to help her pass the test.
The couple sent statements from both her GP and the Department of Work and Pensions as evidence she should be excused from the test. But they were told that the Home Office was not satisfied and that she had to leave the country "as soon as possible".
Last night, after the Derby Telegraph took up her case, the Home Office appeared to soften its position and suggested that Sokkha might be able to appeal.
Sokkha said she was devastated by the thought of being separated from her children, Angel, three, and Dylan, one. She said: "I know I'm not from England but I feel it is my home. I don't want to leave it."
No comments:
Post a Comment