From Telford to India: Newlyweds face life 4,000 miles apart as visa is denied
They thought they’d only have to wait three weeks to start their lives together – but nearly a year later newlyweds Hitesh Maggu and Chavi Meattle are still 4,000 miles apart.
The couple, who married in India on Valentine’s Day, applied for a spouse’s visa so they could live in Shropshire together, but after months of waiting the application was turned down.
Hitesh, 31, said that “unjust decisions” by the Home Office had stalled his family life, leaving him to carry out a “Skype relationship” with his wife from his Hollinswood home.
“There was nothing to worry about,” he said.
“I was so confident that after the wedding I told her that she would be with me in three weeks.
“My friend had done the same thing with his wife – three weeks and they were together.
“I left India, came back to Telford. We waited and we waited and in October they refused the application.”
The Home Office said the couple didn’t earn enough for Chavi to be given her visa.
They also told Hitesh that he had not provided suitable evidence for his first divorce, because it happened in India and not in the UK.
“I earn almost three times what they say the minimum salary is,” Hitesh said.
“My previous marriage was in India, I was an Indian Citizen. My ex-wife is still an Indian citizen. We asked for a divorce there and it was granted there. The refusal letter said I have not had a UK divorce.”
The couple have to make do with occasional visits and online chats.
“I have no personal life,” Hitesh said.
“Two years ago I bought a house to live in with my wife but it is just empty
“There is a five and a half hour difference. Either I’m working or she’s working. We have to wait for the weekend. We have phone calls or Skype. There’s nothing else. I go and see her every two or three months.
“Chavi is equally frustrated and disturbed. She is furious.”
The couple met in October, 2015 while Ms Meattle was studying at the London School of Economics.
Hitesh has had UK citizenship since January 2017, but has lived in the country for almost a decade.
In its decision notice, the Home Office said the couple did not earn at least £18,600 a year, and so the visa could not be granted. It said checks with HMRC showed Hitesh had been paid a gross total of £12,000 in 2016/17.
But the IT Consultancy firm director said he had made £46,000 through his salary and dividends, which had not been taken into account.
“They’ve overlooked my financial documents, my previous marriage documents,” he said.
“I checked on the website, I checked the documentation, they said I can use my salary and dividends. From start to finish I did everything they asked me, and I sent the last two financial years accounts just to be safe.
“To my surprise they have overlooked everything.
“How can they do this inhuman thing to someone? I don’t even know how long I will have to wait.”
Hitesh is appealing the decision and challenging their dismissal of his documents.
The Home Office said it would not comment while the appeal was in progress.
