David Ward MP has highlighted the plight of some families who have been torn apart because wives have been unable to join their husbands in the country due to spouse visa delays.

At the Home Office’s Question Time in the House of Commons this week, the Bradford MP questioned the Home Office Minister, James Brokenshire, about delays to the issuing of spouse visa’s to some of his constituents which has caused even further unintended grief for some of his constituents.

The problem arose due to delays of over a year in the issuing of Spouse Visa’s which has meant that in some cases people have been forced to have a child abroad instead of within the UK.

This has resulted in families having to apply for a child’s UK passport abroad which can take many months to complete.

Therefore, in many cases, after the year long delay, visas have been issued to spouses but they can no longer travel to the UK when their visa starts, because they are waiting for a passport for their new child.

Such delays in entering the country can mean that spouses will have trouble in applying for permanent residency or in some cases may mean applying for a brand new visa which can cost many thousands of pounds.

Responding to David, the Home Office Minister, James Brokenshire said that he would be happy to look into individual cases and committed to examine the issues further.

Mr Ward said, “It’s unacceptable that families in Bradford are being punished through no fault of their own.

“The Government had delayed the issuing of Spouse visas for over a year which has meant that some have been forced to have their child in a foreign country which creates even further delays as the child needs its own passport.

“This means that families face an agonising choice of either adhering to their original visa requirements by entering the UK without their young baby or waiting for their child’s passport which takes ages and has severe consequences on family life.

“The Government is penalising my constituents and I will continue to press them into providing more support and assistance to these families”.