Britain refuses to extend visa for Soldier’s wife

Samantha Crozier with her children Celeb and Ethan, wife of a British soldier has been served notice to leave country by 30th April, the day her temporary visa expires after her application for British citizenship was refused.

Her husband, Lance Corporal Andrew Crozier, has been assigned war duty in Iraq after completion of his training. Mrs Crozier, who has a British mother, Antoinette, plans to put her children into care. She is one of the 15 other Army wives facing deportation. She alleges that MoD, despite repeated queries, has failed to tell her the shortcoming in her application and advise her of the complicated procedure to become a British citizen.

Ethan and Celeb, who were born while her husband was posted to Osnabruck, Germany, were awarded full British citizenship. Mrs Crozier was allowed to stay in Germany at the UK base for five years. She was stopped at Newcastle ferry port by Customs and Excise and advised to apply for citizenship. She said she was told that because she her husband was born in Northumberland her application would be successful.

However, her application was rejected on the ground that her application does not meet the requirements set out in the immigration rules citing the requirement that the applicant has limited leave to remain in the United Kingdom other than where that leave is of six months duration or less. Mrs Crozier was granted limited leave to enter as a visitor for a period of six months from 30 October 2007 until 30 April 2008 therefore does not meet the requirements.

She is not even entitled to appeal against the decision.

Mrs Crozier, living in Bordon, near Petersfield, Hants, said: "We rang the MoD to tell them we were coming over and they gave us no advice other than to tell us to have a nice journey.

"I think it is disgraceful. I came here to start a new life with my husband and my two wonderful little boys. My husband is very patriotic and would gladly fight for his country but it seems his country won't fight for him."

A Home Office spokesman said: "Overseas nationals wishing to come to the UK on the basis of marriage should apply for entry clearance from abroad. They will be given leave to enter the UK for two years, after which they can apply for settlement."