'Torture' for Oswestry charity worker after permission to marry Cambodian fiancee refused

Reverend Ross Rennie, 63, who recently moved to Shropshire, has spent much of the last few years working with his charity, Grace Missions, in Cambodia, where he met his partner, Huot Chanthoeun, 44, who works for the charity.

The couple have even arranged their wedding at the registry office at Shirehall in Shrewsbury, only to have to cancel when the couple were told by the Home Office that Miss Chanthoeun is not eligible for a visa.

Mr Rennie, from Unicorn Road, Oswestry, says he has not seen his fiancee for more than eight months, and says all he want to do is spent the rest of his life with her, travelling between their two countries.

As well as contacted north Shropshire MP Owen Paterson, he has written several times to Theresa May and Home Secretary Sajid Javid pleading with them to resolve the situation.

He said: "I am the founder of a charity in that country and I have every intention of abiding by British law. All we have asked them for is a marriage visitor’s visa. We have complied with all the Home Office requirements. "

Mr Rennie said it was illegal for him to marry his fiancee in Cambodia.

"She has stated clearly that all she wants is to be legally married. I do not believe that is too much to ask for in this day and age," he added.

Exasperated

He said he was becoming so exasperated that he was looking at going to the Court of Human Rights.

"I believe this is a fundamental right of any British citizen. I wish to obey the law and I want to use this as a test case to prove that there are decent, honest people in the United Kingdom and if the system is fair and transparent and free from corruption then I believe British citizens will obey the system.

"I have not seen my fiancée for over eight months. By the time Christmas comes it will be a whole year. This is tantamount to torture when you love somebody and you cannot be with them."

The Home Office said that the visit visa had been refused because the immigration department was not satisfied that Miss Chanthoeun met the requirements of the immigration rules.

In the refusal letter it went on to state that doubts had been cast on her income and that funds were not available to her.

It also stated: "I am not satisfied that you are genuinely seeking entry as a visitor for the limited periods as stated by you or that you intend to leave thereafter."