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To: The Home Office, the Home Secretary Sajid Javid

Reconsider Lizanne Zietsman's Visa Refusal

08/10/19 - Great news!

It is with great elation that I am writing this after my out of country application for a spouse visa has now been approved. Throughout this trying and stressful time we would not have had the courage or strength to continue the battle had it not been for the overwhelming support received by you all. I will be returning home shortly to my much loved home Arran to once again continue the life my husband John and I have built and will yet again be a familiar face in our wee shop 'The Sandwich Station'.

The heartache experienced by seperation from not only one's home but the love of your life, soulmate, friends and community is one that can never be conveyed in words! I hope that we will all continue to stand together and fight for the countless others that have been placed in a similar position. Let us hope that in so doing we can lay the foundations for a society that is strengthend in bond and unity allowing people from all walks of life the freedom to love who they so wish, live where they are wanted but above all help build on the compassion that we all share.

Many thanks to you all, let this be only but the beginning of a bright and beautiful future.

Lizanne

Reconsider the decision to refuse Lizanne Zietsman's right to remain in the UK, and allow her to stay in the country with her British husband, John Malpas, with whom she owns and runs (tirelessly) the much-celebrated Sandwich Station in Lochranza; and maintain her position as a valued member of the close-knit Isle of Arran community.

Why is this important?

In the years since Lizanne and John returned to Corrie, Isle of Arran, they have fully immersed themselves in island life, and have become indispensable to the community. The Home Office have decided that Lizanne is no longer welcome in the UK, and have instructed her to return to South Africa; as well as suggesting John Malpas (a UK citizen) should simply go with her to mitigate any perceived emotional distress this decision may cause.

Lizanne and John's business, the Sandwich Station, has become one of the top food outlets on Arran, and is highly coveted the island over; as well as being fully able to financially support Lizanne and John's lives here. Over and above, the Sandwich Station is able to employ locals, providing a valuable social and economic contribution to this rural location. By removing Lizanne from the country, this invaluable local business will face the very real prospect of closure.

It is clear to the whole community that this decision is fundamentally wrong, and we compel the Home Office, the Home Secretary Sajid Javid, and all other concerned parties, to re-evaluate the worth of allowing Lizanne to continue her life with her husband, here, in her home village of Corrie.
Isle of Arran

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Updates

2019-10-08 14:53:15 +0100

Petition is successful with 18,379 signatures

2019-07-04 20:39:28 +0100

10,000 signatures reached

2019-07-03 23:48:37 +0100

A huge thank you to everyone who has signed and shared so far, we've all be amazed by the volume of support. Your signatures mean a lot, the petition will be presented by Patricia Gibson MP next week. The issue was raised as a Point of Order by Patricia Gibson MP in the House of Commons today, you can watch it here; https://youtu.be/VBhNDT_20xk

2019-07-02 22:14:30 +0100

5,000 signatures reached

2019-06-29 17:29:39 +0100

1,000 signatures reached

2019-06-29 15:19:01 +0100

500 signatures reached

2019-06-29 13:54:42 +0100

100 signatures reached

2019-06-29 13:32:06 +0100

50 signatures reached

2019-06-29 13:22:33 +0100

25 signatures reached

2019-06-29 13:16:34 +0100

10 signatures reached