I have had a positive response to this petition. It has been suggested that this could be part of the UK's sanctions against Russia. Stranger things have happened ? I did consider launching an appeal but this would mean further expense and I am somewhere in the region of £500 out of pocket already. The Clearing Officer who decided to refuse a visa for my wife did so on the basis that she is impecunious and has no money of her own. When he/she refers to the cost of the trip he refers to me as the third party. I hold the purse strings in our relationship and neither my wife or I have a problem with that so why should an Immigration Officer object to our personal arrangements. It is also mentioned that there is no correspondence confirming us being accommodated by my step daughter. We prefer to stay at a hotel so that we have our own space. We have a choice or at least we should have. When I started enquiring about my wife visiting the UK I thought a French carte de sejour would suffice and everyone I have spoken to are amazed that an UK citizen is prevented from taking his spouse to the UK on a visit. I also found it disturbing that the first thing that happens when you start an application for a visa is that one is referred to Visa Bureau from whom I received the following e-mail - Dear Ekaterina Olkhovickova, Thank you for contacting the UK Visa Bureau. While the UK Visa Bureau are not currently assisting with these type of applications, our long-term partners Platt& Associates are. We have worked with Platt& Associates for a number of years and have referred many clients to their service. Platt& Associates are an exceptionally qualified and respected consultancy specialising in a wide variety of UK immigration service, with over 20 years experience working within the relevant UK Government departments and ten years experience of working as a private legal practice. They are also registered with the OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner), and all their advisors are highly experienced and knowledgeable in the immigration field. If you’d like to begin your application with Platt& Associates, you can contact them by emailing infovb@plattassociates.co.uk Kind regards, Visa Bureau Jenny Espiner Visa Manager Licensed Immigration Advisor IAA Licence # 201002103 Email: jenny.espiner@visabureau.com Direct Line: +44 (0)207 731 9043 Fax Line: +44 (0)207 731 9001 Web: www.visabureau.com Address: 15 Harwood Road Fulham SW6 4QP Map Location OISC Licence: F200600117 The question has to be asked why it is deemed necessary to engage a private company to complete a 15 page document applying for a visa. Presumably it is because they know about certain documentation that the Immigration Agency expects to get but does not ask for from a private applicant ? I do not like the odour that is emitting from this situation.