Widow's family stuck in India as visa set to expire

Thousands of people have signed a petition calling for a widow and her children not to be deported to India following the death of her husband.

Sunil Rastogi died on 18 February in Southmead Hospital, Bristol, hours after suffering a cardiac arrest.

His wife Priya Rastogi and their family, who have lived in South Gloucestershire for more than three years, are tied to Sunil's work visa which they depend on to live in the UK, but it expires in August meaning they face deportation.

Mrs Rastogi said: "People are supporting me, they're thinking about me. As a single mum, I feel very strongly to fight for my kids and myself."

Under Home Office rules, Mrs Rastogi, her seven-year-old daughter and eight-week-old son, are set to lose their right to stay in the UK because of his death.

The Home Office has been contacted for comment.

Mrs Rastogi returned to India to be with Sunil's family and take part in religious ceremonies following his death, and is now the subject of a petition asking Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to grant them compassionate Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK.

She said: "It's been very tough actually for me, especially with the two children.

"It's not just a loss, it's everything lost - our security, our trust, the future of my child.

"My daughter is missing her school, her pals and her home. Life has turned upside down. It's not about the grief, it's about being displaced."

"Our life is very much over there [the UK]."

An online crowdfunder has so far raised more than £47,750 for the family and petition by a cross-party group of South Gloucestershire councillors has received more than 24,000 signatures.

Filton and Bradley Stoke MP Claire Hazelgrove, said she is trying to get clarity on the visa rules so the family "can plan their future", and has raised their case with the Home Office.

South Gloucestershire councillor Sanjay Shambhu, said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper "has discretion to gift someone the right to remain" in the UK.

He said: "This is a very unfortunate situation with profound impact on this family. A very young family. We're supporting the family.

"This family has been a contributor to our economy, society and community."

Raman Kumar, a family friend, said: "Sunil's vision was to have a future here. He had his first kid in India but he migrated here, he was a taxpayer working hard to build his family here."

North Bristol NHS Trust, which runs Southmead Hospital, said a "comprehensive review" into the circumstances of Mr Rastogi's death is still ongoing, after his family believe he was given minimal medical attention after the cardiac arrest.

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