Michelle Ricablanca wins battle to stay in the UK

Michelle Ricablanca was threatened with deportation from the UK. She is aged just 14 and lives in Manchester. She was born in the Philippines and her mother Norma married Brian Scallon in 1995. Together Norma and Brian have a son, John, who was born in 1996.

The family had problems obtaining visas and so did not move to Britain until 1997. Unfortunately the marriage experienced difficulties, and Norma returned to the Philippines. Michelle chose to stay with her stepfather and half-brother. After a lengthy battle with the Home Office, Michelle was granted a year's stay in this country, after which time her case will be reviewed.

Mike O'Brien, Home Office Minister said: "I am prepared to allow Michelle to remain in the United Kingdom exceptionally for an initial period of 12 months. Towards the end of this leave we will require a report from Social Services commenting on the situation and this report together with the appropriate application form for further leave to remain should be forwarded to the Integrated Casework Directorate."

This is a great victory for Michelle. However the sad news is that although Brian and Norma have since reconciled, officials in Manila have refused to let Norma re-enter Britain.

Although they were married for nearly two years before the relationship broke down, they do not meet the criteria of the twelve months rule. This immigration rule states that non-British spouses must live as a family in this country for 12 months before they are given permanent residential status. The sole reason for this failure is because the granting of visas to enter this country was delayed by the Foreign Office.

Now that the couple are reconciled, and long to be reunited, they are being kept apart. The Home Office have questioned whether the marriage is subsisting and whether Brian can afford to maintain his family. Brian works for the National Health Service.

Brian is understandably angry: "I'm in a limbo situation. As a Roman Catholic, the church says we can never be divorced. As far as the state is concerned we can never be together. This goes against all the government says about the family."

The family is now appealing against the Home Office's decision to prevent Mrs Scallon from entering the country.

Shirin & Farida
Our first campaign in Leicester, Shirin & Farida, turned out to be one of our most spectacular. Their first public meeting was attended by over 120 people who immediately organised a demonstration outside British Airways, (who were to remove Shirin & Farida) in Birmingham. Over 200 people brought crowds to a standstill in Birmingham city centre.

Faridas school were fully behind the campaign with local papers and television giving them lots of coverage.

People were angry that the Home Office would want to remove someone who had been born in the UK, could be forced to leave. The campaign from start to victory lasted two months.

Lepa Dzolic, from Yugoslavia after a four year battle with the Home Office, has been given leave to remain with her husband in Birmingham.

Joyful end to 18 month deportation battle - The Iqbal family threatened with deportation have won the right to stay in the UK.
Father-of-four Javed Iqbal, of Bury, Greater Manchester, spoke of his relief at hearing the good news. Mr Iqbal was told by Bury North MP David Chaytor that he had been granted residency in the UK.

"It is very good news for us and a huge relief," Mr Iqbal said. "We can now look forward to the future and start our life without fearing what tomorrow will bring."

Seven years ago Mr Iqbal fled Pakistan on a business visa with his wife, Samia and two sons Usama (12) and Talha (10) to escape problems. The couple, who have since had two other children started a new life in Bury. Mr Iqbal has made a living as a self-employed taxi driver and is deputy chairman of the Bury Independent Hackney Driver's Association.

The family's settled home life was shattered in 1997 when the Home Office refused an application for residency and said they had to leave the country.

This would have meant his children would have to leave the community in which they were happily growing up.

His children attend local schools. Usama is at Derby High School, Talha is at St Chad's CE Junior School, and British-born Ameena (8) is a pupil at Fishpool County Infant School. The couple's fourth child is three year old Aneesa.
For 18 months the family, with the support of their neighbours have been fighting the deportation order. They enlisted the help of Mr Chaytor, and Councillor Derek Boden leader of the council promised to back the fight to keep the family in the UK.

The MP said: "I am absolutely delighted that the Home Office Minister has listened to my pleas and is allowing the Iqbal family to stay. I know he will have been influenced by the overwhelming support that their campaign has attracted."
He added: "This is a great day for the Iqbals and their many supporters.Their long years of uncertainty and frustration are now over and I wish them a long and happy life in Bury."

Mr Iqbal concluded: "We are very happy. We are very grateful for the support we have received from the people of Bury, and are looking forward to starting our life properly."

Lian Hu Su and Family Must Stay
Mr Su fled persecution in China in 1992. Following the Tiannemen Square massacre, he helped students escape from the police and army by smuggling them away in his truck at night. He and his family fear for their lives if they are forced to return.

They currently have temporary admission up to the 24 August 1999. His son Zhaohung, aged 9, attends Lyndhurst County Primary and Community School, and his daughter Miaohung, aged 14, and son Ginghung, aged 12 attend Astley High School. Both schools are fully supporting the Campaign.
Although Mr Su has been here for over seven years, his wife and children did not arrive until 1995, and so we cannot seek to take advantage of the recent Home Office policy change.

Petitions are being collected and letters can be sent to the:
Home Office,
50 Queen Anne's Gate
London SW1H 9AT
quoting reference number S786505.
Su Family Must Stay Campaign c/o GMIAU
400 Cheetham Hill Rd
Manchester M8 9L