A MARRIED couple have finally been reunited following their visa nightmare after their plight was highlighted in the Cambrian News.

For months on end, Californian Carlos Conseulo was forced to live apart from his wife Jayne Smith as he was denied a long-term visa, a decision which caused him and his wife “tremendous stress and fear”.

Carlos and Jayne moved from the United States to Aberdyfi, where Jayne grew up, a couple of years ago where they bought a house and set up two successful businesses in the area.

However, due to a “bureaucratic nightmare” while applying for his family visa, Carlos had not been able to apply for a full visa and was sent home after his temporary visa ran out at the start of the year.

Despite compiling all the information asked of them, Carlos was shocked to find out he was no longer allowed to stay in Wales.

Desperate for help, Carlos and Jayne turned to their MP to help support them in their battle against the “huge dinosaur of bureaucracy” put in front of them by the Home Office.

Returning to the UK last week, Carlos had it confirmed on Tuesday morning that he had received a biometric residence permit, which allows him to stay in the country for three years.

The successful visa battle was bittersweet for Carlos, who has never been apart from Jayne for any great length of time since they met in 2002.

“We can breathe again, it’s good to be home,” he told the Cambrian News.

“Although the process is not over, we have some respite and can start to feel more comfortable.

“The whole system is ridiculous, it cost us an outrageous amount of money to comply with what they asked of us and to live effectively as a homeless man in America for more than five months.

“I was treated as a number, nobody would answer my questions and it’s only due to the support of Liz Saville Roberts, the Cambrian News and the local community, which helped more than you could imagine, that I’m here now.

“The process should not have been so difficult. I urge anyone going through the same to talk to people in person and not rely on mail.”

On hearing about Carlos’ return, Mrs Saville Roberts said: “I am delighted to hear Carlos and Jayne have been reunited following what can only be described as a series of bureaucratic breakdowns by the Home Office, compounded by a catalogue of un­acceptable procedural delays.

“Sadly, unexplained delays and failures of communication are becoming increasingly common, leaving families facing emotional, social and financial difficulties in what should be straightforward immigration application claims.”

A Home Office spokesperson said it had processed Mr Consuelo’s application “‘as quickly as possibly”.

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