An elderly couple
who fled Australia because social workers wanted to put them in separate homes
face being torn apart again after Home Office bosses knocked back the wife’s
visa application.
Frail John
Cruickshank, 81, and his wife Cheryl, 66, moved to Scotland when local
authorities said they weren’t capable of living unsupervised.
Despite their
ruling, the couple were able to travel round the world, spending some of their
life savings and cash from the sale of their home in Maryborough, Queensland.
They live unaided because they fear authorities here might move John into a
care home.
John, who was born
in Rathven, near Buckie, Banffshire, and who emigrated in 1964, has been with
Aussie Cheryl for more than 20 years.
The couple decided
to flee the country in 2012 and moved to Forres, Moray.
The couple
initially managed to get round Home Office red tape by flying to Cyprus and
renewing Cheryl’s visitors’ visa every few months.
They tied the knot
in Paphos in 2015. It was hoped their wedding would boost Cheryl’s chances of
remaining in the UK permanently.
But officials have
refused her bid to stay on compassionate grounds and she was told to make
arrangements to have left the country by the end of December.
Cheryl, who is also
John’s carer, says they face an uncertain future.
They claim they’ve
already paid Manchester firm Immigration Advice Service £2000 to lodge an
appeal.
Cheryl said: “I
don’t know how John would cope if I have to leave. I’m his sole carer. We don’t
want him to go into a home.
“I dress him, wash him, give him his
medication and even have to cut all of his food up and put it in the blender.
“I have to put him
to bed and dress and undress him.”
Housebound John was
cared for by a neighbour while Cheryl was hospitalised for six weeks in 2015.
The dad of four has had a series of strokes since he returned to Scotland.
Cheryl, who has had
epilepsy since her teens, added: “We came back to Scotland because they were
going to put John in a home and me in a women’s hostel. They said we couldn’t
look after each other.
“He used to care
for me when I had bad seizures and now the roles are reversed and I care for
John. We don’t want to be apart and we can’t go back to Australia. We’ve got
great neighbours and we have support – John has children and grandchildren in
Fife and Aberdeenshire.”
John said: “I need
Cheryl, she looks after me, she’s my carer. We don’t know what we will do if
she goes.”
Cheryl said she can
stay in the UK while her appeal is processed although the Home Office say they
have yet to receive any paperwork. She added: “I’ve been told I can stay here
for around six to eight months while it’s dealt with.
“I bring money into the country because of my
pension from Australia. We don’t know where to turn for help, we just want to
be together.”
The SNP’s Angus
Robertson, the pair’s constituency MP, is asking the Home Office to grant
Cheryl’s visa.
He said: “It seems
to me that Cheryl’s application to reside in Scotland is perfectly reasonable.
They married relatively recently but have been together for many years. This is
good reason in itself to be able to live in Scotland.
“Over and above
this, Mr Cruickshank has unfortunately suffered significant ill health and, as
a result, Cheryl is his carer. This is a deserving case and I’m urging the
Home Office to take a sympathetic view of their case.”
The Home Office
said: “All applications are considered on their individual merits, including
any exceptional or compassionate circumstances, and in line with the
Immigration Rules.”
SOURCE: Daily Record, Lynn Mc Pherson
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