On 23rd May 2013 my wife Shireen was standing on the central reservation of a dual carriageway waiting to cross two lanes of traffic and was run over when a car travelling in excess of 62 mph hit her from behind.

She suffered multiple injuries ( a compound fracture of her lower left leg, a hairline fracture of her left thigh bone, a fractured skull, a tear in her spline, a deep open wound to her bottom cheek ) and was lucky not to have died in the accident which has left her incontinent, mobility challenged and for the most part bedridden which had she been a UK Citizen would not have posed any serious disability benefit issues.

Unfortunately Shireen is a US Citizen and was in the country on an limited leave to remain VISA (2011) which didn't allow for her to claim benefits of any description to aid her recovery from her injuries.

She remained in hospital for 6 weeks and unfortunately missed the deadline for the renewal of her UK VISA in August of the same year because of her general state of illness.

In 2014 when she was well enough she instructed an immigration solicitor to act on her behalf and attempt to get a new VISA which was only allowed on European humanitarian grounds in order for her to receive medical help with her injuries until she was well again.

In February 2017 applied again for a spousal VISA to stay in the UK and satisfied all the requirements as set out in the application form. We waited and waited and waited for all our documents to be returned with a new VISA but her passport was retained and mine returned in October 2017 with a note to say a decision had been made and we would receive it in 10 days.

In February 2018 we received a refusal letter stating that my wife was not entitled to a new VISA and her US passport withheld by the border agency as she was well enough according to her doctor to return to the USA asap where further treatment could be administered at their cost. Also as she is disabled I will be expected to accompany my wife back to the USA as her carer.

She has the right to appeal the decision but she is unlikely to succeed on medical grounds and therefore is required to leave on or around 27th July 2018...and if she goes voluntarily she can reapply for a VISA in 5 years time, however if she is forcibly deported she can't reapply for 10 years when she will be 75 years old and I will be 70.

We are currently in the process of selling all our worldly goods in the hope of raising enough money to buy a small piece of wooded land and build a homestead where we can live out our days in a healthy environment having purchased the essentials like furniture, cooker, washing machine and animals in order to live off the land as I am getting too old to work in factories.

We estimate that it would cost around £15,000 to get started and any help towards this target would be wonderful.

In an ideal world we would hope to be able to cover the deposit on the land at least prior to leaving the UK and arriving with only the shirts on our backs in the USA.

We believe that Shireen could drive an automatic car/suv/rv as the land will be some distance from the town and we would hope to be able to afford one for about £5,000 when she renews her driving licence in the US.

Also we have looked into developing our popcorn business in the USA where it is a big seller at fairs and motoring events but we would need in the region of £10,000 to purchase the equipment and set up the business with all the extras needed.

I do hope that our friends can find it in their hearts to help us if at all possible as we assure them of a warm welcome should they come to the USA on vacation and experience the ups and downs of off grid life for themselves.