Devastating news

[Susie]

Hi Friends

I am so sorry not to have been posting recently due to my husbands illness
and devastated to report that my dear husband passed away on 13th May
2006 after a short illness.

Ian was such a kind man, full of life, fun, honest, caring and always helping and thinking of others before himself. He was an ex policeman and helped many people over the years but never expected anything in return. His motto was "do unto others as you would like them to do unto you"

He served on our sub division on the ARB for 8 years. The last three years was also president of the HOA

Please bear with me, I will be back soon, as now more than ever this site needs to raise awareness of the broklen immigration system in Ian's memory. It is my understanding that as Ian was the petitioner for my son, the case die's with Ian and I may have to start again. Ian's only wish for himself was that our only remaining son with immigration problems be allowed his green card.

So thank you all for your support in partaking and passing the word to all your contacts, friends and family.

The funeral is due to take place on Sunday 28th May 2006 at 2pm. In the Orlando area. Should anyone wish to attend or require further info please pm me for details

[JulieC]

Susie, I am so sorry. Did you get the two emails I sent you on your business website email, one when Ian was ill and the other after he died? I didnt want you to reply, I know you may not have felt up to doing so, just as long as you know I was thinking of you.

We will try and come to the funeral. I have the details Pattie posted on the other site. Barring emergencies, you know I am in the same business as you are and how it is.

[Susie]

Hi Julie

I am not sure if I got your e-mails but will check

At the moment I am on crutches. Three days before Ian passed I knocked my four toes on the hospice bed and feet badly swelled. The swelling has got worse and now right up to above my knee

The day after Ian died I was in hospital being xrayed and scanned for bold clots. They could not find any breaks or blood clots but thought the trama to my foot along with bites caused the swelling. I need to go back for a follow up as the swelling is still bad

I do hope you can make the funeral, also Zoe or anyone else is welcome to come back to my home afterwards

Will call you, and others when I feel able

Thanks to Zoe for her efforts on emergency visa for my son etc., will update when I get news

[JulieC]

Oh Susie. I dont believe how unfortunate you have been to have been hurt yourself with all that was going on, I do wish you a speedy recovery. I am not sure if i sent the emails to .com or .co uk. I had email addresses for you cookied but not sure if current, but they did not bounce back.

[sandy]

Sue,
I just logged into your site to register, and I saw your very sad news. I wanted you to know that my thoughts are with you. In case you do not remember me, I also have a child who aged out, and you and I have talked on the phone before.
Sandy


Hi Friends

I am so sorry not to have been posting recently due to my husbands illness
and devastated to report that my dear husband passed away on 13th May
2006 after a short illness.

Ian was such a kind man, full of life, fun, honest, caring and always helping and thinking of others before himself. He was an ex policeman and helped many people over the years but never expected anything in return. His motto was "do unto others as you would like them to do unto you"

He served on our sub division on the ARB for 8 years. The last three years was also president of the HOA

Please bear with me, I will be back soon, as now more than ever this site needs to raise awareness of the broklen immigration system in Ian's memory. It is my understanding that as Ian was the petitioner for my son, the case die's with Ian and I may have to start again. Ian's only wish for himself was that our only remaining son with immigration problems be allowed his green card.

So thank you all for your support in partaking and passing the word to all your contacts, friends and family.

The funeral is due to take place on Sunday 28th May 2006 at 2pm. In the Orlando area. Should anyone wish to attend or require further info please pm me for details

[katya]

Dear Susie,

I am so sorry to hear your news. I cannot imagine what you must be going through right now. You are always here for everyone and should know that we are all here for you.
We never did get to speak in the end, although when you are ready I am here (I am the girl from Chingford)

I do hope this country can maybe put there red tape aside for your son's sake.

When you are ready drop us a line and let us know how you are,

Deepest Sympathy

Regards
Katya

[mark]

Hi

I am Susie's son and would like to thank you all for your support. Mum met my dad when she was 13 years old so you can imagine how heartbroken she is. My dad was the petitioner for my brother who is now stuck in the UK on his own. He flew out to be with us all when dad took ill but was on the visa waiver.

We only found out on 4th May that my dad was terminal so my aunt booked an emergency appointment with the American embassy in London to try and get him a B visa. It took 4 weeks to get seen and went for the appointment on 6th June. The visa has been denied.

The reasons given was.

1. My brother cannot prove enough ties to the UK . He is umarried, lives in the family home and pays all bills, director of our UK company and overseas the running etc.,

2. He came to visit in Nov 05 for his annual visit for Thanks giving, Christmas and New year and because he came back as dad was ill. He has now been in the US for 5 months within the last 12 months. Apparently you can only stay a max of 6 months in the past 12 months



On 11th May my mum had a severe accident. She tripped and fell over the castor of the hospice bed and damaged her foot. My dad passed on 13th May and by this time the swelling was so bad the nurse made my mum promise to get herself checked out on 13th May on 11th May Even though my brother took a doctors letter in support of visa

My parents recently heard in Oct 2005 that my brother #aged out # of the CSPA (Child status protection act) Apparently as dad was the petitioner and brother beneficiary all pending cases died the day my dad did and mum will have start again.

We have been advised that mum may be able to re-instate the case, but will cost a fortune to try. If this works, she may be able to challenge the CSPA in court. The problem now is getting the funds together as a lot of funds are now frozen until she gets probate in the USA and UK The sad part about all this is my brothers immigration cases

The amount of cards, flowers, e-mails we have received are overwelming but help us all a great deal.

My dad was fine till mid March. He began to feel unwell and his primary care doctor had moved so went to The Heart of Florida Hospital for a check up. He had various tests including xrays, blood work etc., They told my dad that there was nothing wrong with him just merely a tummy bug so rest, drink plenty of water etc.,

Less than one week later he ended up in Celebration hopspital who carried out emergncy surgery to see what was going on.

[JulieC]

I cannot believe what a lack of compassion the Americans have shown in this case. It is fairly typical of the embassys current stance though so perhaps we ought not be surprised. Tell Susie how sorry I am, Mark, I know how she was counting on your brother getting the B2.

[floridapete]

Hello Mark, I would like, with your permission, to bring this story to the attention of "Emigrate America" and the Orlando Sentinel "Across the pond" blog.

The first is currently highlighting the ridiculous situation at the US Embassy in London (and it was through the call from Zoe Adams on behalf of Susie on a Sunday a few weeks ago, that I made the introduction through Emigrate America to the US Embassy Consular Officer to get an emergency interview in an effort to get that B2 visa issued). I think that they will be very interested in this case to further highlight the totally obtuse stand that the Embassy seems to be taking with legitimate, honest British citizens.

The second is to bring to the attention of the US side what difficulties are now being experienced by Brits with good, honest and legitimate wishes to visit the USA being denied visas for spurious reasons.

I would ensure that names are not identified.

However, I will await your consideration and permission before doing so.

With our best wishes to Mum and your family.

P.S. How is her foot now ? Is she still on crutches ?

[mark]

Hi Peter



Mums foot is really bad, not just the foot though. Due to the injury her whole leg is swollen from top to bottom. She has had scans of her leg twice for blod clots , now xrays of her calf as the emergency room only took xrays of her foot, the new doctor has taken xrays of her leg as he felt there may have been a shock wave that caused a break further up her leg. The doctor knows there is somethinh going on with her leg and trying to still find out what is going on. Her whole leg is still extremley swollen and still back and forth to hospital. Back again on Monday.

It appears that she has either a torn ligament that can take 12 weeks or so to heal or it is RSD (perminant nerve damage caused by a trauma to her foot) She cannot very well unaided.


Sorry I forgot to mention the 3rd reason for denial of B visa which was

Your mother has two adult children living in the USA so they have to help her



Unfortunatley we cannot help with probate. I am doing my normal workload and some of what my father used to do and 18 hrs a day and am also taking mum backwards and forwards to hospital. My brother ( for medical reasons) is unable to help

As we work from home mum is not able to get someone in to help as she is so distressed at present and cannot deal with strangers at the moment.

The problem is none of us know all the work my dad did on the computer, so how could we get someone in to help, bit like the blind leading the blind

Can you imagine, my brother is greiving alone in the UK? we (boys) all need each other now for emotional support and help my get better.

I spoke to mum who asked I thank you all and please bear with her, keep posting and she will be back as soon as she feels able

Mum also said she would like to speak with you so you will be getting a call from her in the next few days

Mark

[Sharon]

I have been away so just catching up . I cannot beleive what has happened, is there nothing that can be done on? Doesa anyone know?

I am so shocked, if there is anything I can to to ease your pain, anything, just let me know

Sharon

[floridapete]

Mark, help me here with the times scale involved.

I remember that your brother was in Florida at the time that Ian fell ill and was first diagnosed and had (at that time) 'about four weeks' left.

That was when I got the call from Zoe to try to help.

At that time he had entered (as always) on Visa Waiver which was about to elapse and he was worried about still being there - or able to get back to the UK and back to the US again on a B2 visa in time for the funeral, whenever that was going to be.

My feeling is that Ian didn't actually last out that four weeks. Am I right ?

Was your brother by then back in the UK when Dad died - and did he make it back for the funeral at all on the 28th May? Or did he not see Dad after about two weeks before he died and didn't get back for the funeral either because he was refused a B2 visa and may not have been able to return on Visa Waiver ?

My advice had been that he may have decided to overstay on the Visa waiver while he was already there - and then hope to get the one-time only VWP Parole the next time he entered.

Sorry to ask these questions but I just want to get the situation clear in my mind.

[Kriz1]

I don't know Sue or her family..I feel a bit stressed out reading all this and not being able to offer help..being one of the few people who up until a while ago had tons of free time I would of gladly gone down to FL to help Sue in anyway I could..but right now I'm a full time baby sitter..
I may not be in FL now until Sept..but if anything comes up and you have no one around..please feel free to contact me..Julie has my MA number and I will try my best to get down to FL to help out..I hope your mum gets over her nerve damage I've had it in my face since having a tooth out a few weeks ago..its getting better now..but I'd not let them say its can be perment just yet..it can take 6 months to begin showing signs of recovering and the older you are the longer it takes..

[charliesmum]

Pete

Gavin stayed in the US until after the funeral, so he was there when Ian passed away. His visa waiver was running out on the 16th June and his interview for the B visa was on the 6th June. What he was concerned about was if Ian was still alive on the 16th June, he obviously didn't want to go away. That was when we tried to extend his visa waiver.

After Ian died, Gavin said he would go back to the UK for his interview and come back again pretty quickly. I got in touch with Ben at the Emigrate magazine and he got an e-mail from his contact at the Embassy, saying that Gavin could have the visa put straight into his passport if he had letters from doctors etc saying he needed to be back straight away. Susie's Congressman's office also told me that they had written and sent a letter of support for Gavin's case, but the guy who interviewed Gavin obviously hadn't seen it or took no notice of it. He also didn't take any notice of the doctor's letters that Gavin had with him - in fact I think Susie said he didn't even look at them.

The reality now is that Gavin has no way back into the US to help his mum and brothers with the business and probate, or to all be together to grieve.

Susie is waiting to hear from her Congressman again to see if there is any further way he can help.

I'm sure Susie won't mind me writing this on her behalf. I spoke to her on Tuesday after Gavin had been refused the visa and again last night. She is very keen to campaign for a "Compassionate Visa", so that if this happens to someone else they won't have to go through all that she has in the last few weeks. Even through all her own grief, she is still thinking of others.

Zoe

[floridapete]

Thanks, Zoe, that clarifies the order of events for me.

Now, do we know the name (or number) of the interviewing officer at the Embassy ?

Did Gavin get to know it ? Does it show on any papers anywhere ?

[JulieC]

It really is the pits, so much for "special relationships".. Does this mean he cannot even get back in on visa waiver again having been denied the visa??

[mark]

Hi

My brother has now had 3 denials

1. for the CSPA.

2. For an L 1 inter compnay transfer in 2003, case then got lost

3. B visa denied 6/6/06

As Gavin has already been in the USA 5 and half months within the past 6 months the embassy offical said he can come on a visa waiver

Technically he will only be allow to stay 2 weeks, this is not enough time to even find a final resting place for my dads remains.

We are all scared that if and when Gavin tries to come back he will be denied entry as his passort is now stamped for this last denial.

He always get sent for seconday questioning as he travels to the USA on his own, single male 19 to ?? age. They always ask so many questions and according to embassy staff , he does not and cannot prove strong ties to the UK especially as mother and brothers are lawful perm residents and greiving

Mum just does not know where to turn about this immigration but has spoken to the congressman, who is trying to help so wating to see if anything will get resolved soon with his intervention

We only found out dad was terminal on 4th May and died 13th May 06. My mum, myself, and brother were due to fly to the UK for my wedding to my USC girlfriend which took place on 6th May 2006 but only my yougest brother flew to the UK to support us. Mum , dad and middle brother missed our wedding.

Everything is against us right nowTo top it all our house in the US got flooded. My uncle propped up the parasol which fell over knocking the outside tap off the wall.

The night before the funeral we found the bedroom carpet sodden and lounge carpet sodden and had to cut off the water supply and get a specialist to lift up the carpets , bring dehumidifiers. and get someone to trpair the outside tap

To top it all, my dad was the president of our short term property management company #Flamingo Properties# in Florida taking care of many homes in the short term rental industry and had a Corporate insurance with Blue Cross. They would not tak to my mum as dad was the contact name until we could prove his death. In the USA you do not get this until after the funeral. It appears mum was not insured so now faces $6000.00 in medical bills and rising

Everything seems to be going wrong at the moment but we are all trying our best to come to terms with the situation. My mum and dad have done so many nice things for others, and never expect anything in return. Please say a few prayers for her

Thanks

[Kriz1]

Have you tried Ted Kennedy..I know he is nothing to do with FL..but he does a lot of work to do with immagration..not just in this State..
If you want to send me a letter telling your story..seeing as I live in MA and live only 10 miles from his home..he may just read it..its just an idea..I can e-mail and post it to him..

[Kriz1]

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/

You can also get your story out on the soapbox on this web site...I know many people have a fear of using anything like this..but here it is anyway..

[Luisa]

Dear Susie and Mark,
I just joined today and was reading through the website, thus finding the difficult situation you are all going through. My thoughts are with you and I do hope that there will be a way to sort through the red tape in order for your family to be together.
THanks for creating this site. I will check in often.
Sincerely,
Luisa

[Ron]

Hi Louisa and welcome

We are a friendly bunch and trying to support its aims, Sue and her boys

Wow you are from Venezuela. Are you in the states now are are you wanting to be?