Hi,

I write this in hope that someone can give us some accurate information on what is the best course of action, as we are very worried.

My Husband is a British citizen and we have been together for 12 years, married for 5 yrs, we met whilst working abroad. We have two children that were both born in the UK. We settled in the UK 4 years ago (I'm an Australian citizen) after getting a British spouse Visa. Time went by and we got on with our lives.. it was only on our return to the UK after visiting family (in Oz) that we realised I no longer had a valid visa.

We're now really confused as to what to do? It seems that I will have to fly back to Australia and try and apply for another spouse visa, but due to the fact that I've overstayed there's a real possibility that they will not issue me with a re-newel? Immigration have allowed me to enter the UK but said even if I was successful in receiving a spouse visa when i returned to Oz I would still have problems this end when I tried to re-enter?

I know that we've been extremely stupid and we should have paid much closer attention to the expiry date of the visa, but now it seems we may have really messed up our future.

The only solution I can think of is for my husband to try and get a Australian spouse visa so we can all stay together. I feel sick in the stomach to think that due to my stupidity it could split my family up.

Would it affect my husbands application if they know I've overstayed? Any info on this would also be appreciated.

For the people out there that understand the in's and out's of immigration could you advise what you would do in our situation, Although I realise you would have never got yourself into this mess in the first place!

Yours Sincerely

A very worried Ozzie mum