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"💖
