HELLO.............

 8 months later! So sorry. Well what a bloody year eh! My goodness. Paula is home:):):):):):):):):):)

Seven and a half months he was gone. Although it dragged this year has gone so so fast! Do you think? It's been mental.

So I've sort of forgot where I got up to. Basically we applied for the Spouse Visa. We paid an extra fee to get it fast tracked which you get a decision made within 30 working days. Then Covid put us into lock down and fucked things up just that little bit more. Put everything on hold. All applications. It was god damn hard but this time I knew we had things right. Our immigration agent Nazya was amazing!! Can't thank or recommend her enough. Fusco Browne in Stockport, Manchester. She was our actual angel.

I won't bore you too much with the in's and out's but Nazya chased up our case and so did Paul. Theres not much I can do and they won't give me answers with it being confidential. So in August we found out a decision had been made but they couldn't tell us what until he received it in the post. Being in Tonga and in a global pandemic was very bloody difficult and it took weeks for him to finally receive his decision. We had to pay over £100 to get it sent from Fiji to Tonga. It was such a ball ache as because of flights at this time, it didn't come direct and went from Fiji to New Zealand and with the boarders being closed it was stuck there for weeks. Paul was in touch with a girl called Emily who had been dealing with this in Fiji. She told him his passport had been stamped on the 27th July (if it's been stamped this is usually good news) We were estactic but couldn't be too chuffed in case it wasn't a YES. After all the bad luck we had had we had to play it cool. Emily had told Paul this news on the 27th August, exactly one month later. Jeeee whiz how much longer were we going to have to wait!

On the 14th September Paul went to the Depot to collect his Passport. And there it was...........

A BIG FAT YESSSSSSSSSSSSS! Absolutely over the moon!!

He face timed me and we couldn't stop smiling. My face hurt. He was actually coming home. We were going to be a family again.

As always I rushed in getting him back. So many disagreements with family. Trying to get him on the best flight and the safest route. I wanted to get him through New Zealand but the fastest route was through America. Absolutely no way was I risking America. Eventually with a couple of days of racking my brains I decided to book the flight that left Tonga on Tuesday 22nd September and got to England three days later. 58 hours later!!!!!! God love him. The flight went from Tonga to New Zealand. Stop off there for 24 hours. This is where the Transit Visa came in (if you can remember I spoke about this earlier on as we had a massive issue with this the first time round) from New Zealand to Brisbane. A very quick plane change. From Brisbane to Doha and then Doha to Manchester.

I wanted a massive family reunion at the airport for him. It didn't go that way. Not like the 'Love Actually' way at all. Only myself and Milla could go down to the Airport. We got there far too early and I knew he would get held up at immigration as thats always been the case but this time thank goodness it wasn't for too long. Milla was a right pain in the arse but bless her she won't have known what was going on. Paul messaged when he got off the flight! He'd made it! He'd actually made it. It was such a weird feeling. You weren't allowed to wait at the terminal (cheers Covid) so we were waiting right outside the double doors. And out he strutted. Looking like terminator. He was home. Actually home♥️

Isolation

Funny word that. A lot of us will have all experienced isolation. Right now we all are. What crazy times. Covid 19. Nasty bastard. I plea for people to listen to the government advice. STAY AT HOME. It's quite simple really. If someone said to us a month ago, right would you like to stay at home with your house hold for a few weeks we'd be like YES! Please. Well I know I would be. Right now I'm at home with Milla, my Mam and Dad. I still have to go to work at the pharmacy. It's been hectic!! Like you wouldn't believe. The street is still full of people. You see the same faces walking past every day. Some holding nothing. Some holding a dog and some with bags of shopping. ESSENTIALS!! Come on man, milk, bread. Surely we can't be buying this every day. We could make it last a week. And stop STOCK PILING!! Don't be so selfish. What has this world came to. We're all in this together. All in the same boat. Whatever you want to refer it to. Stop being greedy. There's absolutely no need.
Today came more shit news. All applications for UK Visa's have stopped. The offices are closed. My heart feels like it's been ripped out. When will Paula be back. My husband, Milla's Daddy. We have no idea. Last week the priority service was no more. We paid extra to get a faster decision. A decision is usually made within 30 working days and without the priority service it is up to 60 working days. Now as the visa is no longer being looked at we can't put a time on it. At this rate we'll be lucky if Paula even gets back this year. Devastating. Milla still asks for him every single day. She has done since he left on the 11th February. To watch my Daughter grow without her Daddy is soul destroying. Am I doing the right thing? Am I raising her right? What would Paula think? I have a constant battle with myself daily. I know I work too much! 10 hours a day. I'm out the house 11. The salon has been closed for a week now. Before that I was off a week as I had Corona symptoms. May I add the most horrific illness I've ever experienced. It maybe wasn't the Coronavirus but I was terribly ill. So I was off work. Now I still have to go and work with customers daily. Worrying what I might be taking home as the rest of my household are self isolating. What a worry for everyone.
I've been wanting to post for a good few weeks now but I've been holding back. Just figuring out life as a single parent again. Today felt like the best time to write as when I do it helps so so much. I don't need people to read this nor do I need sympathy. Everyone is struggling one way or another. Reach out. Talk to people. A stranger, a friend. An old friend. Never be silent. This is my safe place and my space to vent (without actually having a mental breakdown) So thank you Blogger for giving me this platform.
As awful as this situation is for all of us, I've actually enjoyed catching up with old pals. Tik Tok is giving me daily lol's and group FaceTime/Snapchat/Whatsapp video chats are giving me life. It's funny really coz every time Paula goes back this is how I feel. Isolated. It doesn't feel much different for me. For other people I feel they are now living my life. It's strange. Usually I feel so so alone as everyone has their own families and lives but at the moment people have got time for each other. It's beautiful. I think after all this chaos we will have learnt some lessons. One being, making time for others and most importantly yourselves. I think people will realise how much they rely on others, beauty and hair salons but sadly I don't think people will stick with natural beauty and i'm pretty damn sure no one wants roots down to their shoulders but thats ok. We are all beautiful one way or another.
So stay safe everyone. Look after each other and in a world where we can be anything. BE KIND xx

Thank you thank you thank you♥️

I am overwhelmed by all the love and support we have received from our petition. It means the world! We’ve had no news as of yet. It’s still early days and still, nothing may come of it but it’s worth a try.
Just an update from my previous entries.....
I am now medication free🙌🏼 I felt they weren’t needed when Paul came back and my medicine seems to be this blog. It’s doesn’t half help writing everything down.  I speak the truth and say exactly how I’m feeling.
I left the care company and started as a trainee pharmacy dispenser. I still work the two jobs, in Swain and in the Pharmacy to earn the £18,600 per year. Our social life is very much on hold as all our money has to be saved to be able to reapply for the Visa come February. We can’t apply for it until Paul is out of the country (they are just the rules).
Life is difficult but isn’t it for all of us. It’s a bloody get at times. As long as we have each other it’s all good♥️

Praying for a miracle

We got back to Grandma's. Mam was waiting at the front door with Milla. Obvs I got my camera out. Paul walked towards her. She was staring and acting shy. He gave my Mam a huge hug and Milla smiled. He put his arms out to her and off she went. What a beautiful thing I was experiencing. Finally with his girl💖
We went inside and got settled. Going over and over what had just happened. "It's just not right" Dad said. We read through the paper work again. Over and over. We just couldn't believe the officers reasonings. There was a number to call. We had an early night. We were all completely drained.
The next morning Dad called the number. He spoke to an Officer who wasn't on duty the day before but had heard about our case and suggested we emailed BF Man Sea. We did just that. A couple of hours later as my Dad and Paul were packing up our car to leave, I got an email. "Quick I've got an email." I couldn't read it. I wanted everyone to be present. Milla was upstairs taking a nap. All four of us stood in the hall way. I lent down and read it out. Susie one of the Higher Officers based at Manchester Airport reviewed Paula's case after having no prior involvement yesterday. She explained all and assured us that she had taken our views into consideration. "I have taken the decision to overturn Paula's refusal of leave to enter on this occasion, and I have granted him leave to enter for six months" 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 We love you Susie!! And Dad if it wasn't for you taking it further he'd only have a few days left. We are so grateful.
Well.............. I shot up, all four of us jumped up and down screaming. Dad was in tears, Mam was in shock, I felt like I'd been knocked over and Paul actually did fall over!! We all cried and hugged then we heard our baby girl awake from her nap. Paul went to get her and held her so tight as we all told her the news. WOW! Can you actually believe it. Yesterday was the worst day of our lives and today the best. An absolute rollercoaster of emotions. I'm so exhausted with a constant bad head but I'm sure it'll all pass soon. The stress and strain on our bodies for the last 7months have been unbearable but now its time for all that to leave, chill and enjoy the ride💟

Helping Daddy open his Birthday and Father Day presents💚

14/08/2019

Paul's coming home😃😃😃
Me, Milla, Mam and Dad went down to Grandma's the night before. I didn't sleep much that night. Lying in my Grandma'a bed with Milla beside me in her travel cot. My brain was doing overtime. Not even the Anti-depressants were helping. I kept visioning him here with us and planning all the lovely things we were going to do. But I was also visioning him not being here and having that feeling of emptiness as I have done for six and a half months. It was safe to say, I was shitting myself!!
Me and Milla were awake at 5.45am. We lay there, me in silence and her chatting away to herself. What a cute little voice she has. Gosh Paul will see a MASSIVE difference in her. He will be so so proud.
We got up and got ready. Mam and Dad were nervous wrecks but we all kept it together.
His flight was getting in from Abu Dhabi at 7.25am. We got to the airport about 7.45. We parked up, put Milla her pram and flew over to arrivals. We waited, and waited. 9.30 he still wasn't here. I couldn't even tell you how many people walked through that gate. Where was Paul? It wasn't this long last time and they'd called me by now. I had my phone gripped in the palm of my hand on loud. No call was made to that phone. I knew he'd be with Immigration. It happened last time. I was petrified but was feeling positive. Surely it's got to be good news. He'll walk through those gates any minute now. Milla was loving life. Showing off walking around and eating snack after snack until there wasn't any left. I even packed her dinner (just incase) Its a good job I did.  I went to the Information Desk. "Hi. My Husbands flight got in at 7.25 from Abu Dhabi. I was just wondering if you could find out where he is please. He will more than likely be with Immigration but I just want to check" "No problem. Whats his name and nationality?" "Paula Niua, He's Tongan" "I'll call them now"
"Yes he's in Immigration" she said whilst putting the phone down. "They are just doing some checks" "Right ok" "Come back again in the next hour and I'll update you" "Fab. Thanks a lot"
I was starving. There was a Greggs. Winning. I got us all a bacon sarnie. Dad had sausage. We waited some more. I nipped into Boots to get Milla some baby snacks. "This is where Mammy's going to work soon." Yes I stayed in the care company for 4 weeks. I wasn't earning enough money so had to go. I absolutely loved it as well so it was a shame. Such a rewarding job. I applied for Boots as a Trainee Pharmacy Dispenser and got it:) I am so grateful and lucky. So I'll now be working there and Swain. Earning the money I need to to apply for another Spouse Visa around March next year.
We went and sat on some chairs. Still waiting. An hour later I went back. I went up to that information desk I don't know how many times and each time it was someone different sitting there. They called them again for me and had a go at the girl and said they would call when they needed too!! Paul was texting me. This doesn't look good babe, he said. I'm so so hungry. Then later on he called and said it had been refused. Before I jumped to any conclusions I said take a photo of the letter and send it to me. His head must have been all over the place. I was sad cause he won't of understood the letter. He had no internet to be able to send me the photos. Mam, Dad and Milla left at about 12.30. Milla was asleep but was getting very bored so we agreed they would leave and I would stay. Keep in contact with them and call my Dad when I, or we needed picked up. The most shocking part was, I'd been there that long, he was just the other side of those gates, we hadn't seen each other for six and a half months and all I wanted to know was is is ok?
Texts flew back an forth. He had 4% battery. I honestly don't know how it lasted as long as it did.  I then got a phone call from a number. They had found Paul's suitcase. So I had to arrange that to go over to Immigration. Basically he hadn't claimed it as he had been detained.
15.30 and a girl I had spoken to at the Information Desk said Charlotte, and waved me over. She handed me the phone. "Hello" "Hi is that Charlotte" "Yeah it is" "Hi, I'm one of the Immigration Officers here at Manchester Airport. I have your Husband here. I have gone through all evidence and checks and I'm not satisfied that he is a genuine visitor" I burst into tears. "He has also recently had a Spouse Visa refused." I explained why, but she'll already know why. "But he hasn't seen his Daughter for six and a half months" "I can see that and as I think this is exceptional I have granted him to one week on Immigration Bail. I will sort out the flight you already have booked for his return but it will be in a weeks time." "Who will look after my Daughter now while I have to go to work?" She couldn't answer me. "I now work two jobs to earn the £18,600 to be able to apply for a Spouse Visa next year once Paul arrives in Tonga. He was coming over to care for our Daughter for six months to make this possible. What do you expect me to do now?" "I can tell you are very upset" NO SHIT SHERLOCK. "You have to make sure he comes back Charlotte in a weeks time to get back on his flight to Tonga" Well now I felt like a criminal. The most frustrating part was we've done everything by the books. Followed every rule. Cut no corners. And it's done us no good.
There was now another woman stood in front of me. "Are you ok? Whats happened?" I told her the crack. She was so lovely. I could hardly talk. Tears streaming down my face. She went and grabbed me a tissue. As she came back with a piece of blue roll a lady handed me a nice packet of tissues. "Thank you so much" I stuttered. Janice, the lady was called at the Information Desk. She was my saviour. She looked after me. I felt even more alone and needed Paul in my arms so I could comfort him. I text him and told him. They hadn't even let him know. They had just gave him the refusal papers. I said not to worry and we would get through this. We are stronger than ever and have came this far. Maybe we could live in Tonga, Australia or New Zealand. We will talk about it through the week. I went and waited again on the seats. I kept burning into tears. So many people were around me. All different races. Families waiting for their loved ones with 'Welcome Home' signs. I was crying at their reactions. It was beautiful to see the love.
Janice had finished her shift and came and gave me a MASSIVE hug and told me to take care of myself. She said she will be crying all the way home. Bless her. Janice if you're reading this,
Thank You for being so kind😘

"Could you give Immigration a call for me please and see how long he'll be?" I said to the girl from earlier. I told her his Visa had been refused. "They are just sorting his flight out and then they will release him and the Chief of Immigration is coming to see you"
Ohhhhh I was ready for him.
I went back to the seats. I'd literally sat on every one. I called my Mam and told her the crack. Dad was out walking the dogs. She text me a little later to say he was on the phone to our Immigration Agent. He then called me. Basically they have tried to find any reason not to let him in the country. They have gave him a week because there is only two flights a week to Tonga. Also with the return flight I had booked they would only need to pay a change of date fee but if they had sent him back today they'd have had to pay for his flight. It can cost thousands. She also said it was a load off bull shit and we have just caught an Officer on a bad day. There is absolutely no reason why he can't come into this country on a Visitor Visa because it has nothing to do with a Spouse Visa.
I got talking to a lovely lady who had came from Wales to pick up her son and daughter. I know you're reading this so thank you for being with me and listening😊
16.30. I kept my eyes on those gates and out he walked. Looking disorientated and completely knackered! "He's here!!" I gave my new friend a big hug and ran over to him. I held him tight. He had doubled in size. We both cried. "Are you ok?" I said. "Yeah" He sobbed, wiping his eyes. The Chief had gone and stood at the side. I soon followed him. I couldn't believe my Husband was here. He explained everything and said he doesn't normally come out here. I explained my story and he couldn't answer me. I could tell he was actually gutted about the decision that had been made. I said he's left England before and went back to Tonga so why wouldn't he go back again? "Because he has said he wants to reside in the UK with his Daughter and Wife, we believe that he won't go back" I kept my cool but I wanted to shout WHAT A LOAD OF BULL SHIT! I said we've done everything by the rules, look at us we are genuine with a genuine relationship, with a Daughter and Married. "I know how you're feeling because I married my wife who's from overseas and we have a Daughter too." "Things need to change. We as a family have been a tick sheet! Each case needs to be treated individually. It's just so unfair" The guy was actually a decent man. He made sure I knew Paul had to return to the airport to get on the flight next week. They hadn't managed to sort the flight out but he said they will email me with the date and times. Paul shook his hand (what a gentleman) and off we went. To Greggs🤣 We sat there before I called my Dad. Kissed and hugged. Paul ate his sandwich and me my Belgium bun, MMMMM! I facetimed my Mam. She was crying and couldn't speak. Milla was napping. Wow I can't wait for her to see her Daddy. They had kept him in a room with security with no food and water for 9hours! After a 35 hour flight.  He had to ask for water. I was disgusted.
"Now lets go home and make the most of our week together"💖

.............

So....... The whole Family are sat round at my Grandma's, the eve of her funeral. Paul messages me. The post office have called him to say his documents are there and ready to collect. He'll ring me when he gets them. 10.30am his time and our 22.30. WhatsApp Video call. I can't even remember what he said now. I was numb. "Send me screen shots" I said. 'Your human rights claim in an application for entry clearance made on 15/03/2019 is refused'. That's all I could read. Is this some kind of sick joke. Paul's face. If only I could hug him right now. The numbness only became stronger. My brother took my phone off me and read through the reasons why. "WOW" he said. "What, tell me what!" I was frantic. "Shut up and let me sink this in then I'll explain" I felt shit. He was only trying to help. "Right" he said. Then explained everything. So here goes- He met eligibility for our relationship and eligibility for the English test. He passed on everything that was needed but the financial side. With a spouse visa you need to have a sponsor and with that I was to sponsor him but because I didn't earn the £18,600 per year I couldn't so my Dad would as third party. We had spoken to a retired immigration agent previous and she said that was fine. So we went ahead and did so. Because Paul had wrote a cover letter saying myself and Milla would be cared for by my parents and living in their home he knew we would be safe. He also said that he would worry about not being in Milla's life and her growing up without him and that she needed stability and believes a family should not be torn apart. My Dad also wrote a cover letter stating that me and Milla would live in his family home and we would be cared for until Paul came back and was able to work. This has gone against us. Another reason to the visa being refused was- 'Based on the information you have provided we have decided that there are no such exceptional circumstances in your case.' So basically if me and Milla were living on the streets they would consider that as exceptional. And breath........... I'll let you take that in too. It gets worse- 'We have reached this decision because you have demonstrated your sponsor and child is being financially supported by her parents, moreover you have noted about the separation between you and your child. I note you are a non-visa national and your wife is able to travel too. I further note you are able to keep in contact via social media and other means. Through this you can still exercise a family life with your sponsor and child. I am not satisfied a refusal would result in unjustifiably harsh consequences for you, your sponsor or any other family member. There are no exceptional circumstances in your case.' WOW (now I know what part my brother was reading.) It took me days to read through the reasons for refusal. It still baffles me. "A social media relationship" FUCK ME! Who was this decision maker. A robot? Someone with no soul. No humanity? No children? God forbid me for not falling in love with a British citizen! How criminal. So yeah. That's basically it. We decided we were going to appeal. We would talk about this another day. Tonight and tomorrow were about Grandma. We called Paul back and reassured him. "Thank you Jonathan" We were all so upset. He was helpless and there was nothing we could do right now.
The next day was a very sad one. We all had heavy hearts. What a beautiful send off for our head of the family. We all miss her terribly.
Later that day we were back at her wonderful home and Jonathan said call the Immigration Agent. He'd been looking for them the night before. I can't remember if I've said previously but we didn't pay for one when applying for Paul's visa (we won't be doing that again). I called one up in Manchester. I got an appointment for the very next day at 15.00. Perfect!
Me and Dad drove through. We went to a little office (this agent was recommended on the government website so we knew she was legit). She asked the situation (I've gotten really good at telling a very long story in approximately 7 seconds). I showed her the screen shots of the visa. "Right ok. You (she pointed to me) need to go and get a new job. You need to make at least £18,600 per year. Paul can't apply for another visa until you can prove this wage with 6months of wage slips." Shocked but surprisingly calm I was. Dad was a mess. He asked so many questions. "Can we appeal?" "I'm going to be honest with you . You could, but you might get a really nice judge that day in court with some humanity who will feel sorry for you BUT he still has to obey by the rules. It can also take up to a year for an appeal to even happen" Basically the government changed the rules (they do this quite often) 4-5 years ago. You were able to have a third party sponsor on a spouse visa but now the sponsor has to be the spouse. I have to go and find another job earning this amount or more. That means going full time and leaving my baby girl. Obviously its not what I want to do but I am prepared to do anything to get our family back together. Paul can come over on another visitor visa (6 months). We have to get the timing right because we are going to use this Immigration Agent (£650) to fill in the visa application with me and Paul present. So I got a new job only yesterday morning. Working as a carer in the community. I am absolutely devastated to have to leave a job that I truly love and to leave such an amazing team. I will miss you Swain Fam💚 but I am also really excited for a new adventure. My first wage slip will be the end of August. My sixth wage slip will be the end of January. So Paul will come over the middle of August and leave again the middle of February. He has to be out of the country to apply for a visa. We will fast track it this time which will give us a quicker decision but will also cost us £500. We have lost all the money for that application and Paul will have to start a fresh one. Our immigration agent will go through it all with Paul while he is here in this country and scan all his documents which get uploaded onto the system which is better then sending all the forms off and costing us more money (another new change in the system thats just came in in the last couple of weeks).

So thats where we are up to now. This country has failed me and my family. This whole situation has effected so many people on so many levels. I'm going to be honest (thats what this is about) I had to give in and go to the doctors last week. A good friend said to me if you had a chest infection you'd go and get antibiotics. If you had a water infection, you'd go and get antibiotics. So class anti-depressants as antibiotics. You have an infected brain so take antibiotics. They are slowly kicking in. They aren't forever but I have suffered for longer than I should have and I needed the help and there is absolutely no harm in asking for help. We all need to. And you know what, it makes you feel so much better just talking about it. For anyone reading this and wants to talk, please do. I'm always here. What I said to the doctor was (as I got very upset and promised myself I wouldn't) that if Paul was here this wouldn't be happening. My mental and physical health wouldn't be affected and I wouldn't be costing the NHS. By Paul not being here it is costing the government more money as because he is out of the country I'm classed as a single parent and I'm entitled to universal credits. More fool them.


Fingers crossed my next post will be Paul💙

Bloody hell what a farce

He got to Tonga. He made the epic journey in 35hours. He was there 6weeks before he submitted the visa. We just wanted to get it right. A Family Settlement Visa and my Dad would be sponsoring him as his Spouse (me) didn't earn the £18,600 per year. There are lots of different rules to the different type of visas. It completely fucks with your head. Mainly they want money out of you. I wouldn't even say they were protecting our country. I have no idea in what the logic is behind our system. Personally I think its a load of bull shit!
His Visa was done and submitted online on the 21st March. £1,300 it cost. He then had to make an appointment for Fiji Uk Embassy as that was the closest one to Tonga. He did that, then I booked him a flight. He would stay with family for two nights. $600 for a return flight which took 2 hours to get there. Off he went. He had already filled in his paper visa and collected all evidence. Marriage certificate, birth certificates, cover letters, proof of address, employment contract, the list goes on. He had a file full and all the evidence and the evidence for my Dad to sponsor him. Utility bills, proof of earnings etc. He then had to do his Biometrics (photo and finger prints). He was in that appointment 10 minutes!! All this money and effort for a 10minute appointment! Ridiculous. The guy said right well I'll get all this sent off to the UK Australia Embassy in Sydney. He couldn't send his passport off as obviously he needed to get back to Tonga the following day. So he gave him a large envelope and said to send it all off once he was back home. He did exactly that. It cost him $140 to send it!!!! And it still took a week to get there. I was tracking it from here. Thankfully it had got there. So all we needed to do now was wait on a decision. Up to 60 working days. That took us to the 13th June. Cool, surely with our situation they'll make this quick.
It was May and we still hadn't heard anything. I called Immigration myself. £1.47 per minute it costs to speak to someone. They couldn't give or tell me any information on the status of Paul's visa. Smart. I'm only his Wife, raising his child without him, trying to get him back. I was getting emails as I'd emailed them previously. £5.48 it costs to send an email to Immigration then if its about the same case its no further cost. I got an email back to say his Visa was awaiting a decision. There was no rush here clearly. They knew everything about us. They literally had our lives in front of them. A cover letter to say how me and Milla would be cared for by my parents until Paul came back and started his job and we were able to get our own place. Paul saying how hurt and upset he feels about being pulled away from his Daughter and Wife and how these are the most important times to be a father. Watching your child grow and learn. The list goes on.
Now in May and still nothing. I sent an email to Theresa May. I got a reply from her admin worker. Asking for some more details, Visa Reference, full name etc and that he would pass the following information onto the correct Immigration department. I got an email back. I was getting that many emails off different people because I was frantic and wanted answers. I had emailed loads but it was very rare that you'd get a reply from the same person you were once emailing. So dysfunctional. We didn't seem to be getting anywhere. Then the week before we were supposed to have our decision Paul got an email off a woman from Sheffield Embassy to say they hadn't received my Dad's sponsor details. He assured her that they were all sent along with the visa application to Sydney and that he had proof of postage. She asked for that so Paul sent her it. He got an email back to confirm the documents had been found and faxed over to Sheffield and sorry for the delay. The day after that he received an email to say his application was in the hands of the decision maker. All this waiting, all these weeks, months finally felt like they were coming to an end.
In this time my Nannie was in a terrible state in hospital, really really ill. Luckily she made a miraculous recovery. She's doing great now. But my Grandma down in Cheshire passed away suddenly. My heart is broken. So many emotions, I couldn't control them. I was exhausted. Trying to hold everything together for Paul and Milla's sake. Surely we're due some good news. I needed to get away. I went and spent some time down at Grandma's with Milla and my Dad. Her house is my happy place. I lived there with her before I went to Australia. I walked in for the first time and she wasn't sat in her chair. I broke down. I was a mess. I didn't want my Dad to see me so upset as this was an awful time for him. His one Mum, her only Son. I put Milla down on the floor. She sat looking confused staring at my Grandma's chair, babbling away to herself. Jeeeeez, this was awful. We stayed for two nights then I went back to work for two weeks before her funeral. Her only Brother was in Canada visiting his son and he wouldn't be back until the 1st July. Her funeral was the 2nd.
I called immigration so many times. One time it cost me £20 and I spoke to a Jamaican man who couldn't understand what I was saying and I couldn't understand what he was saying. He wanted Paul's IHS number. I said I haven't got that. He would gibe out any more information as I didn't have it. I called the next day and spoke to an English man. I was thrilled. I explained I needed this IHS number and the previous guy wouldn't give me it and the guy said he would send it back out to Paul via email. He's still waiting for that email. Two weeks before my Grandma's funeral I called Immigration AGAIN and spoke to a girl who I'd actually spoken to the week before as it was passed the 13th June and we still hadn't heard anything and she said she would send like a reminder to hurry things a long. I told her we still hadn't heard and she remembered me. I told her in a nut shell the situation and she said "He hasn't seen his baby since the 2nd February!!!!! That is disgusting!" I got upset on the phone and said he needed to be home for a family bereavement. We spoke for a short while and she said she would cancel my last enquiry as it still hadn't been looked at put it through as urgent. The following day I was at work and I go a message off Paul to say he had got an email. He forwarded it onto me and it said-

A decision was made on your application on 18th June 2019 and you will be contacted shortly regarding the return of your documents.

I felt physically sick! Why haven't they told us if its a yes or a no! How long is this going to take to get to him? Does this mean its a yes? Are the documents the return of his documents? Does this mean the documents are saying its been refused and why?
I googled How long does it take to get your documents back after applying for a visa. Up to two weeks was the answer for most. Is he going to get his passport and the visa will be stamped in it? I was so so excited. We could literally be back together in a couple of weeks. Even though I had negative thoughts I tried to stay positive. The Law of Attraction and all that.