FELIXSTOWE: Amusement arcade worker Jeremy Langworthy hasn’t seen his wife for more than six months since she was kicked out of Britain after her visitor visa expired.

Her hopes of returning were today dealt a severe blow after officials rejected her application for a permanent residency visa – asking the couple to prove they had not entered a “marriage of convenience” simply to help her get into Britain.

Mr Langworthy, 50, of Kentford Road, and his wife Piyawadee Apisuk, 30, have appealed against the refusal and are now waiting for a tribunal.

He said it had been a dreadful six months and the couple were missing each other so much.

“We speak on the phone every other day, but I haven’t been able to visit her because I have been unwell with rheumatoid arthritis, though I am now filling in the paperwork and having my injections and hope to be able to go over very soon,” he said.

“The authorities rejected the visa application on the grounds that they didn’t believe it was a true marriage.

“They said the onus was on us to prove it was not a marriage of convenience.

“We have given them all our paperwork, our marriage certificate and photos, all our household bills from the two years we have been together – why would I be paying �50 extra a month council tax if it was not because we were man and wife?

“It is so frustrating because we just don’t know what more we can do to prove this.

“Piyawadee is very fed up and disappointed because we just want to be together and want to live in Britain.”

The couple met two years ago after Piyawadee, who was studying in London, came to Felixstowe for a short stay to work at the Marlborough Hotel.

Frank Hughes, UK Border Agency deputy director Midlands and East, said: “All visa applications are considered on their merits and in accordance with the immigration rules, which are firm but fair and apply to everyone.

“Entry Clearance Officers will refuse an application where they are not satisfied that the applicant meets the requirements of the rules. Ms Apisuk has appealed this decision which will be heard by the courts in due course.”

n Should Piyawadee be allowed to return to Britain? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@ eveningstar.co.uk