AN AMERICAN woman living in Malvern fears she could be kicked out of the UK and be unable to care for her beloved husband who suffers from Asperger’s syndrome.
Karen Officer has been living with Bruce Officer in the town since 2012 but claimed she had her ‘extenuating circumstances’ application to stay in the country rejected by the Home Office.
The 52-year-old now faces being ordered to leave England and has subsequently launched a petition urging people to support her case so she could continue to look after her 46-year-old husband, who she married in September last year.
“We are both frustrated, confused and really angered,” Mrs Officer told The Observer. “I feel like me providing him the care and support he needs daily keeps him from needing support through the NHS.
“No one else is there to care for him when he needs it in the middle of the night and no one would be if I was not there.
“The situation is made much more difficult due to Bruce’s Aspergers. His anxiety was bad anyway and the uncertainty surrounding this exacerbates that anxiety.
“It scares both of us.”
The pair met in June 2010 and Mrs Officer would travel across from America on several occasions, before a trip in July 2012 saw her stay in the town.
“I was going to return to the states at the end of the summer to apply for a fiancée visa and prepare to marry and then take steps to immigrate to the UK,” she added.
“During this visit, however, I realised Bruce’s situation had deteriorated even more so I was not only concerned for his well-being, but afraid to leave him alone, so decided to stay in the UK.”
The former teacher went to an immigration solicitor who helped fill out an application to remain in the country, however it was rejected by the Home Office in October 2013.
An immigration tribunal is now set for October 23 in Birmingham and Mrs Officer admitted she would be ‘devastated’ if she is ordered to leave.
“The two of us have cried on numerous occasions over this situation,” she said. “We feel it has taken over our lives.
“The decision scares me because of my husband. He doesn’t have family in this area and because he has Asperger’s it is difficult for him to make close friends.
“Neither one of us can believe it has happened, it is very confusing and scary.”
A Home Office spokesman added: “All applications are considered on their individual merits and in accordance with the immigration rules.
“This case is ongoing and so it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Visit www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/american-wife-carer-uk-citizen-with-aspergers to sign the petition and read more about Mrs Officer’s story.
