Solicitor loses out on dream job due to visa problems

A solicitor says she lost out on her dream job and was unable to enjoy her married life after the Home Office failed to process her visa in time — and is now raising awareness of others who might be in the same situation.

Ukrainian-born Iryna O’Reilly, who has lived in the UK for 16 years, married husband Matt on September 27, 2016, with the permission of the Home Office and applied for a UK spouse visa on October 7.

Iryna graduated in law at the University of Manchester University in 2010. She is a qualified solicitor and has completed her bar training, which means she is also a qualified barrister.

She lived in Swinton before moving to Oldham six years ago.

Iryna was previously working for a law firm in Cheetham Hill, with the relevant work permit, but after getting married had to get the spouse visa to start work at another firm in January this year.

A confirmation letter from the Home Office arrived on October 28, stating that a decision would be made within eight weeks and that in the event that they are unable to do so the Home Office would write to the couple with a new time frame.

However, the Home Office failed to make a decision within the eight weeks and no letter was sent to them to advise otherwise or the reason for the delay.

The couple’s solicitor then sent a letter to the Home Office on November 11 enclosing further payslips and requesting an update.

Emphasis was put on the fact that Iryna was due to start work on January 3, 2017, urging the Home Office to expedite the decision or at least confirm that she was entitled to start work.

On January 19 the Home Office said a decision would be made by February 23 — on the day there was still no decision.

As a result, Iryna was unable to start work. Her potential new employer, a personal injury firm in Manchester, held the post open for as long as they could but, after two months of waiting, said they had to fill the post on February 24.

It was even more disappointing for Iryna, who was granted the visa just four days later.

Iryna, 34, said:

Iryna and Matt went to Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, who highlighted their case in Parliament by making a Point of Order and asking the Speaker to advise her on how the Home Office could be held to account for taking five months to resolve a process that should — by its own standards — take eight weeks.

Mrs Abrahams said:

In response, Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, said:

Although Iryna was granted the visa in February, she and husband Matt want to raise the plight of other couples who may be facing the same predicament.

Matt, 42, who is self employed, said:

Iryna said she feels as though their lives have been put on hold and does not understand why it took her case to be dragged out for so long. She does not believe her situation was complex or difficult.

Iryna continued: