UK Overstayer In need of Advice

[SmegHead]

Hi. I am new to this forum and would really appreciate some advice as I am in quite a desperate situation and don't know what to do. So, thank you in advance to anybody who can help me.

I came to the UK 7 years ago with my Mother from Zimbabwe and had a one year visa. When my visa expired I became an overstayer and have been living with my mother ever since trying to keep a low profile. I have not worked or done anything illegal (apart from overstaying) as my Mother has suported me. I am now 30 years of age.

My Mother has just got her indefinate leave to remain and so I am wondering what is my best course of action. My Mother is now elderly and will soon be unable to work, so I really need to be able to work to support her, as she has supported me. A big problem is that we are seriously in dept and have absolutely no money to pay any legal fees (a sponser funded mum's application)

What should I do?? Do I hand myself in to the Police? If I do that will I have any grounds to appeal on the basis of supporting my Mother (she is my only family)?

I should probably say, that we came to the UK to escape the fallout from my father being convicted of child abuse and child murder. Obviously we would not want to return to Zimbabwe for that reason alone.

Please help if you can. Thanks

[egoneo]

Hi. I am new to this forum and would really appreciate some advice as I am in quite a desperate situation and don't know what to do. So, thank you in advance to anybody who can help me.

I came to the UK 7 years ago with my Mother from Zimbabwe and had a one year visa. When my visa expired I became an overstayer and have been living with my mother ever since trying to keep a low profile. I have not worked or done anything illegal (apart from overstaying) as my Mother has suported me. I am now 30 years of age.

My Mother has just got her indefinate leave to remain and so I am wondering what is my best course of action. My Mother is now elderly and will soon be unable to work, so I really need to be able to work to support her, as she has supported me. A big problem is that we are seriously in dept and have absolutely no money to pay any legal fees (a sponser funded mum's application)

What should I do?? Do I hand myself in to the Police? If I do that will I have any grounds to appeal on the basis of supporting my Mother (she is my only family)?

I should probably say, that we came to the UK to escape the fallout from my father being convicted of child abuse and child murder. Obviously we would not want to return to Zimbabwe for that reason alone.

Please help if you can. Thanks

don't hand yourself into the police. The good news is that there are actually several routes available to you that will enable you to legalise your stay. The bad news is that you will need a solicitor if you want to explore any of them and ensure you get leave to remain.

do you have friends/family members etc that can lend you some money for the application?

[SmegHead]

Thanks.

Mums application was funded by our church and they are willing to fund the £500 ish fee that sending in an application would cost. I know it would be rejected and that is where the solicitor comes in.

The church wouldn't be able to help with solicitors costs as it would no doubt be far too much.

I have no other family etc that could help financially. I'm a bit stuck really.

[egoneo]

Thanks.

Mums application was funded by our church and they are willing to fund the £500 ish fee that sending in an application would cost. I know it would be rejected and that is where the solicitor comes in.

The church wouldn't be able to help with solicitors costs as it would no doubt be far too much.

I have no other family etc that could help financially. I'm a bit stuck really.

if the church could help you squeeze a bit extra for solicitor it would be good. Typically a solicitor could cost anywhere between £500 - 6k just depends which one you choose. Alternatively you could just start saving up monthly towards the solicitor.

just curious if you havent been working or studying what have you been doing for the past seven years?

[diggingdeep]

Do you have patner,

You real need to talk to immigration advisor,

The organisations below offer free advice, google to find free advice for your particular area. Most solicitor also offer free immigration chat for the frst timers callers up to 30. So contact few of them, You will have better idea where you stand and options available to you.

http://www.lawcentres.org.uk/lawcentres/detail/find/ or
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
http://www.gmiau.org/
http://www.smlc.org.uk/
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

[SmegHead]

Thankyou to all have offered advice.

In answer to what have I been doing since my visa ran out is, I'm ashamed to say, not a lot. My Mum and I have not had the resources to pay for assistance and living in fear of being caught has taken its toll on us both. Obviously her wages have had to support us both and we ended up in quite a lot of debt, which of course meant that finding money to pay for legal help was getting harder and harder. It has become something of a viscous circle. The push to finally get things straightened out has of course been greatly helped by our sponsors who have pushed us to get on with things.

Our sponsors would not be able to help with the cost of lawyers but can cover an intitial application. I am going to the Law Centre here in Gloucester next week to try and see if I can get some help. Does anybody know if I would be able to access any kind of legal aid in my situation.

I do not have a partner unfortuanely, diggingdeep, but I am trying!!

Thanks