Urgent help needed to keep couple together!

[Diana J]

I currently live in PA, and am having a HUGE problem obtaining my fiancee visa for the U.K. My fiance is Scottish and resides in Tayport. We met and fell in love while both residing in Ireland. Colin wasn't happy in Ireland and decided to move back to Scotland while I went back to PA to settle a family estate. The plan was for me to come back and visit for extended periods and then apply for a fiancee visa so we could marry and I could remain in Scotland. As an American citizen, I was allowed to visit for up to 6 months at a time, as long as I didn't seek employment. I'd done this twice, and always checked to make sure the rules hadn't changed before I would go. The last time I went, my brother travelled with me. We had an overnight flight and arrived 31 May 2008. Our plans were to stay for 6 months (maximum time allowed per visit) so that Colin and I could make wedding plans and we could show my brother around Scotland, then travel to Dublin to see my friends there. When we arrived in Edinburgh, we stated that as our reason to visit, which is allowable. A female immigration officer (from Hell) told us she didn't believe why we were there and told us to retrieve our luggage as we were being detained. Our luggage was inspected and I was questioned about everything we had - including prescriptions for my diabetes, heart condition, and high blood pressure, as well as my brother's medication for his recently diagnosed bipolar condition. Each of us had letters from our doctors stating our medical conditions and medications. When we were detained, all money in my possession was taken from me and given to my brother, and I wasn't allowed to have my glucometer or insulin with me, although I clearly stated my medical problems. I explained that due to the brittle nature of my diabetes, I needed to eat on schedule. We were each given a list of rights, which included but was not limited to the standard one phone call and food and beverage if we so required. We were then seperated, not allowed our one phone call each - and we did request so - and I was then "interviewed for 5 hours. Everything I said was disbelieved by Officer Rennie. She would ask me the same questions repeatedly, although I gave the same answers each time. I was not allowed to ring Colin, who I knew would be panicking that something happened with my diabetes or heart. After 2 hours, she left the room then came back in, stating that she had "interviewed" Colin and that he gave the same answers as I did. She asked if EVENTUALLY (stressing that word) I would marry Colin and I replied EVENTUALLY, but not at the present time, as we knew we would have to apply for a visa for that. When my blood sugar dropped dangerously low, I was not allowed food or beverage, which could have resulted in me going into a diabetic coma. When my brother or I needed to go to the restroom, we were escorted by armed guards, as if we were criminals. When my brother had his 5 minute "interview", I was present for that. Officer Rennie asked if he would EVENTUALLY work in Scotland and replied that he was only there to visit and help us with our wedding plans. He then said that if he EVER decided to move to Scotland, he would rrely on Colin and I to help him with the proper paperwork. Officer rennie left the room and when she returned, she took our passports and refused us entry. She wrote on her form that I was there to get married and my brother was there to work and we didn't have the proper paperwork. She then left and wished us a good weekend (as if!) and said that if we applied for visa, they'd be approved and we'd be allowed back in the country. Her supervisor came in and I refuted her reasons, demanding a lie detector test, which was denied. We were fingerprinted and released into Colin's custody. On the paperwork we received, it said that we would report to the airport on 3 June and have an exit interview, and at that time, a decision would be rendered. If we were to leave, the British government would pay our airfare. As it was after 6 pm when we were released, solicitors offices were closed for the weekend. Colin told me that during his "interview" he was asked by Officer Rennie if I wasn't "just a weekend fling". Monday morning, I rang the American Embassy in London, who referred me to the American Consulate, Lisa Vickers, in Edinburgh. When I explained the situation and asked them to intervene, I was told that they knew all about and refused to help me. We then went to Dundee to the local Legal Aid office. We were told the situation was wrong and given a list of solictors we could ask for free help. We found an office who had a solictor who handled immigration. She verified that we were there legally and rang Mahri Ferguson, the head of Immigration, who said that once one of her officers made a decision, she couldn't overrule it. She then told the solicitor that if I purchased airfare for the three of us for a planned holiday, we could stay until Colin's holiday time in July, then return afterwards and stay until October as originally planned. A friend referred us to the Scottish National Party in Dundee, who then referred Colin to MSP Christopher Harvie in Edinburgh, who was in charge of tourism. MSP Harvie found that we WERE there legally, and contacted Lisa Vickers and Mahri Ferguson, as well as the British Home Office, to have our stay approved. After purchasing the airfare (over $5,000), we were told we couldn't stay. I went to a local paper in Leven and they ran a story about our plight. When we arrived at the airport Saturday, we didn't receive an exit interview. To make a long story short, I had to pay for our airfare (over $4,000) and Colin was threatened with a warrant for our arrest, although we were on a plane at that point in flight. We applied and paid for visa applications in September and as part of the application, had to purchase airfare. We even employed a courier service to get a same day answer from the embassy in NY. The day of our flight, we had no passports or visas. We went to one of Senator Spector's offices to obtain help. A few days later, we received a call saying that we would have phone interviews on 2 October. During my interview, the ECO said she I satisfied her that we were a couple but didn't believe we would wed, as Colin was awaiting his final divorce decree, and we didn't have a contract for a wedding venue. I told her that was the reason why we had originally gone to Scotland, so we could view venues. She said she would grant my brother's tourist visa and that I would lose my money and could reapply in the future. I told her this wasn't fair and asked if she wouldn't reconsider and give us time to get the documents. She said she would speak to her manager and ring me the next day. When she rang on 3 October, she said her manager would give us until 31 November (only 30 days in November), verified my email address, and said that at the end of our conversation, she would send me a confirmation email with her name and contact details. When I didn't receive an email by Monday, I rang Senator Spector's office and spoke to his aide, Justin Porembo. I asked Justin to please get the ECO's name and contact details and he assid he would. He never did. A few days before Christmas, I received a visa denial, stating that I never provided the documents requested. The letter was unsigned, and there were no contact details for the embassy. I filed an appeal in January, which went back before the ECO's manager, who turned it down for the same reason. It was then sent on to the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal in Leiceister, England, for a hearing. I cannot attend the hearing, nor will they hold it in the U.S. I have no one to speak for us, and no politicians in this area will speak out and say how wrong it is for me have been told to provide further documentation and not be told where to send it. It could take until June for a hearing, and as I said, there's no one to represent Colin and I or even send a letter on our behalf. My health has suffered greatly, and Colin has experienced great stress as well. I have now been out over $40,000 and as of 8 April, will be homeless. I can no longer afford the rent here as everyone's hours have been cut at work due to the flagging economy. All Colin and I want is to be able to marry and live in Scotland. We would have considered having him move here, but neither of us have the money for his visa application. Colin is the love of my life and we're so afraid of losing each other. We can't even find a solicitor here to take our case on a contingency basis and sue both governments for what they've done. We were expecting twins while I was on my second visit to Scotland, which we unfortunately lost. My father taught me to do the right thing and unfortunately, no one will do the right thing for us. Is there anyone who can help us, or know of an orginization that can? People always talk about achieving the "American dream", and my dream is a simple one. I just want to be with the man I love. Please, please, please...we need help desperately. Thank you!

Diana and Colin