A COUPLE fighting to stay in the UK have thanked residents for supporting them after having two visa applications turned down.

Dean and Grace Smith, of Merivale Road, Lawford, met in China more than ten years ago when they worked at Shaanxi Normal University.

As a married couple the pair returned to the UK in 2015 when Mr Smith’s father was dying of cancer.

But now, Chinese national Mrs Smith is waiting to find out if her third visa application has been successful after having the first two bids thrown out.

The 34-year-old’s first bid for an extension of her initial spouse visa was refused in February by Home Office bosses.

Her application for leave to remain as a spouse was then refused in March as the financial requirement of the rules was not met - they have to reach a combined income of £18,600

Mr Smith said these refusals were because his business showed a financial loss in its first year due to investment in advertising and he said he was refused a deadline extension to prove his earnings were enough this year.

Last month Mrs Smith submitted an application on the basis of her private and family life in the UK, which remains under consideration.

Mr Smith, 53, said: “We are waiting to hear back from the Home Offices bosses and they could reject her again. It’s disgusting when you do things the right way and the system is fundamentally flawed.

Mr Smith is a self-employed exercise specialist and Mrs Smith works full time in Marks and Spencer.

“The amount of support we have had in the local community has been outstanding but we are disgusted with the immigration system.”

“The biggest issue is we both work and they could throw her out.

“You get respect by working hard and that’s why we have had support from dozens of people.”

The couple have had support letters and references from Mr Smith’s clients, his doctor, residents, councillors and MP Bernard Jenkin.

Carlo Guglielmi, Tendring councillor for Lawford, said it is astounding that the Home Office should find them not meeting the criteria required for a visa.

He said: “People misuse the system continuously and here you have two people working their backsides off and they are being penalised for being good citizens.

“It could be some time before they hear the outcome of their latest visa application and they have to try and carry on with their lives like nothing is happening – it must make them very anxious.

“People have been trying to help by writing letters to support them and have given the pair character references.”