A Dream becomes a reality
The suspense of the huge in-conclusive news of last month as to whether the Home Office were to appeal my wife settlement visa appeal win.
Well…….the suspense almost killed me, so your all going to get it as I did and suffer a little while longer as this newsletter progresses
Remember readers it was the 15th July 2008we got the news we had won “Lek” my wife appeal, and an agonizing 10 working days plus another 2 days wait, followed that to allow for a deemed date of receipt of a “Possible” Home Office appeal to contest our appeal win.
Therefore Monday 4th August was the earliest date we could check with the immigration Tribunal to whether our appeal win was conclusive and the Home Office had definitely not lodged a counter appeal.
4th of August!, Monday another long agonizing day and countless mostly infuriating un-answered calls to our solicitor with no conclusion.
I and my family were frantic for news!!
20 days had now passed, 20 slow agonizing anxious days!! Finally we got through to our solicitor, who’s now latest word was ……….Yes she had checked with the tribunal and great news no appeal had been lodged …….But she now thought to be 100% sure we should wait a further week before making a final call to the Home Office of their intentions.
BLOODY HELL !! more agonizing days to come!!
Lek (my wife) I should add at this stage was oblivious to all this, as I wanted to be 100% sure her settlement visa was in the bag and Lek was clear to come to England (before telling her).
As far as Lek understood her appeal which took place on the 21st May where the judge reserved her determination, well this was the latest news as far as Lek understood.
Lek had no knowledge we (she) had won her appeal on the 15th July.
With so many times in the past year or so Lek’s hopes had been raised only to be dashed later.
This time I wanted to be sure!!
Yet another bloody week to wait for confirmation.
I can’t take much more of this!! Monday August 11th would now be the day it will all be finalized.
I am sure if the shoe was on the other foot and we had 10 working days to which to appeal by, it would have to be precisely adhered to that 10 days.
Oh!! Well!! Nothing we can do about it.
8th of August!, my usual morning telephone call to my parents from the factory I work within the prison. Mum and dad were on holiday in Hunstanton, calling mums mobile, not the usual land line meant the call would be expensive and therefore have to be kept short.
“Good morning mum”, “Good morning Steve”, Great news Steve, the solicitor has been in touch via Carla, and the Home Office are definitely not going to appeal”.
I couldn’t believe my ears and got totally choked up in just the most happiest of emotions and tears of joy.
I was so taken by surprise; I wasn’t expecting this news until August 11th.
Wow mum!!, that’s just incredible, WOW!! We done it!!
(I after a long silence finally managed to speak)
Both me mum and dad were all so so choked up with happiness.
I can hardly believe it!!, now it was finally concluded it felt all so surreal!!
The over one year battle for Lek’s settlement visa was finally over.
WE WON!!, IT'S CONCLUSIVE, JUSTICE AT LAST!!
Lek and Oak are now able to come to England
It was too late to call Lek this day, what with the time difference between England and Thailand. That night I hardly slept with anticipation and excitement of telephoning lek the next day.
The call to Lek the next day was just the best feeling ever!! Lek was just so so Happy and Excited, “I’ve never heard such happiness in her voice as this”, “she was thrilled to bits”.
“When do you want to come to England darling” (I asked) WOW!!, how long I’ve waited and dreamed of asking that question.
“NOW” (Lek replied)
By coincidence my best mate George and his Thai wife “Gee” and their daughters were all still holidaying in Thailand. Their scheduled return flight to England, was for26th of August.
How great and helpful it would be to us and Lek, if Lek and Oak could accompany George and his family on the same flight. After all, Oak is still a real handful!!
I wouldn’t envy anybody traveling alone with Oak.
6 weeks was the normal time for a visa to be issued after an appeal win, so we were really up against it with less than 3 weeks until George and Co departure.
An almost impossible task, yet thanks to so many especially lady G and T herself, “Gale Bailey” we achieved the almost impossible. Lek’s visa was issued in record time, thanks to the British Embassy in Bangkok.
Lek and Oak’s flight was successfully sorted out and booked and confirmed, thanks to gale. Lek and Oak could join George and Co on their return to England.
It gave us all real peace of mind to know Lek and Oak would be traveling with George and Co.
“A big thank you to you all”
I had to keep pinching myself to be sure this was all now happening
OAK AND BAGGAGE READY FOR ENGLAND
26th of August!, my mum, uncle Mick and aunt Pat who both kindly drove my mum to Heathrow Airport to await the arrival of Lek and Oak and my mate George and his family. Thanks Mick and Pat!!, George and Gee and family also many thanks!!
Their arrival went like clockwork, I (we) can hardly believe it’s finally happened!!
Lek and Oak safely in England!!
WOW!! What happiness!!, what a relief.
Look out friends and family!! Oak has landed
28th of August (Thursday) such excitement and a net full of butterflies in my stomach as I walked out to the visit area of Rye Hill prison. There on the far table and chairs was my mum and dad, my wife Lek and our son Oak. I can hardly believe my eyes!!
I can’t describe and write appropriately the joy, happiness, very emotional and shear ecstasy of emotions felt in this 2 hour visit.
I felt truly complete!!, As happy as I could be!!
This was the first time ever; all five of us had all been together at one time.
We’ve all been through so much in the past 5 years and more, to now all be sitting together here in England as a family, was a dream come true and quite remarkable.
Hugging and kissing my wife and son after so long was just beyond words and description.
Lek looked just beautiful, Oak with his long hair and Thai style top knot is just the most handsome little boy you ever clapped eyes on.
Just an incredible Happy visit!!, Perfect!!
Mixed emotions as I sat and watched them depart the visit hall, how much I wished I could go with them. More than anything. I now felt a great sense of relief and happiness for the first time since my arrest and Oaks birth in 2003. I felt that Lek and Oak were now finally safe and in the protective hands of my parents.
A dream come true!!, Lek and Oak now happily living with my mum and dad. Love you to bits mum and dad; you made the dream a reality!!
Full of happiness and hope
Best wishes Readers
Steve Willcox
Note: For full story of our fight regarding my wife settlement-visa to stay in
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