A MAN has spoken of his heartbreak after his fiancée was ordered to leave the country because she applied for the wrong visa.
Hull groom-to-be DJ McKeever, 37, and his Canadian fiancee Britni Basaraba, 29, were told the Government would deport her unless she left the country.
The couple, who had entered the Mail's Win A Wedding competition, have been living together in Anlaby Road, west Hull, for five months after meeting each other in an airport bar two years ago.
But last week, Miss Basaraba had to return to Canada after her visitor's visa ran out.
Her "leave to remain" visa was rejected because she applied for it while in the UK in September, which is not allowed. The couple spent £600 on the application.
Mr McKeever said: "It has been really tough on us both.
"We have been living together for five months, so it is not easy to be apart.
"We are just going to have to do the best we can to get through this and hope she is back here for Christmas.
"As far as we were concerned, when we applied for the visa, we thought she would be accepted."
A week after applying for the visa to remain in the country, the couple travelled to Bridlington to have Miss Basaraba's fingerprints taken as part of the application.
Two weeks after that, Border Control officers visited their home.
She was later called for an interview and cautioned for being in the UK "deceitfully".
Miss Basaraba said: "I couldn't believe it.
"They eventually believed me I was here honestly and my intentions were true. However, the fact that I had to be questioned would leave me with a note on my file.
"I was also told I had until December 18 to be here, but if I didn't leave before then, due to my application being refused, I would be deported.
"I read through my refusal letter and discovered there was no appeal, no refund and the reason for refusal was because I had applied for the wrong visa.
"I have emailed twice now, once pleading for a refund and the other to get an exact answer on which visa I need.
"Shockingly enough, the answer was no to the refund and a whole bunch of run around for the other."
Having spent all of their money on a flight back to Canada and the rejected visa application, they have set up a gofundme.co.uk account and are appealing for donations to help them apply for the £885 spousal visa.
Miss Basaraba, who works in online marketing, said: "This is one thing I never in a million years dreamed we would need to do – beg.
"We know it is a lot, but anything people are able to donate is greatly appreciated.
"It will make two people, who love each other enough to go through this, very incredibly happy and could possibly give us the best Christmas present we could ever ask for – each other."
Miss Basaraba met Mr McKeever while she was travelling around Europe.
She had been mugged and needed to rearrange a flight back to Canada so was waiting for news in the airport bar, where Mr McKeever was also waiting for a flight.
They kept in touch before they finally met up at the beginning of this year.
They met again in New York in June, where Mr McKeever proposed outside the Belvedere Castle in Central Park.
Together, they flew back to England and Miss Basaraba applied for a visitor's visa.
If their application is successful, Miss Basaraba will not be able to work in the UK when they marry. She hopes to be back in Hull for Christmas.
A Home Office spokesman said: "The immigration rules make it clear it isn't possible for a visitor to switch to a spouse visa.
"It remains open to Miss Basaraba to submit a fresh application as a spouse from outside the UK."
Visit www.gofundme.com/h1vk64 to make a donation.
