ILR set(M) App Oct 2012, Homeless/broke mother of 3...HELP

[vitorikoteo]

Hi all,

I have been trying to follow and read many posts on this board as well as elsewhere and I am yet to read about a case similar to mine and in as desperate a situation as the one I have found myself in.
I am still hoping someone here will have heard of a similar situation to mine and if nothing, give me hope, advice or anything to keep me going until I hear anything from the UKBA.

I have arrived in the UK in September 2010 on a two year spouse visa on my south-east European (non EU) passport. I arrived here with my three kids that were on the same visa, all three being children of my husband who was living here with an ILR status. He was working at the time and everything was going fine for two years, we led a normal modest family life. We sent the postal ILR SET M application in time on October 2012 providing all the documents requested.
At the time of application my husband was only working part time and was claiming Housing benefit and child tax credit/child benefit.

Just a few weeks after my application was sent to the UKBA my husband was arrested for unrelated matters and subsequently found guilty of a minor unrelated criminal activity, nothing that I had not been aware of.

Mid December he was sentenced to more than two years in prison and soon after this- his housing benefit stopped, followed by all other benefits. Four months later we got taken to court by the landlord and the judge kicked us out of the flat with my three kids since My application for housing benefit for the same flat had been rejected since I had no status. I stayed at the flat until mid May until the last day given by the judge who was not worried at all in making a young mother with three kids of 8,6 an 5 homeless.
I should mention that in mid February I filled/supplied Biometrics as requested and sent them to the UKBA.
Meanwhile, myself and three kids were left at the mercy of friends and family, friends who soon after started to turn their back on us one after the other. We stayed a few days here, few day there. Luckily, a friend of my husbands let us stay at an empty flat of his for a couple of months, and it meant the most days we had to walk with the kids for an hour to and from school, I made sure my kids never missed a day at school. I borrowed money from family, friends, husbands family and their friends hoping for the day I am going to get some good news with ILR. I have also changed the solicitors who were dealing with my case since the previous one never did a thing but take £600 advance.
Right now, I am staying in a house miles outside London overstaying my welcome again and my kids school term started today.
I am broke, I cant take my kids to school no more and I can only stay here for a few days more.
There's still no reply from UKBA. Last time I called them they said that the case is with a caseworker in Liverpool and the delays might or might not have to do with the fact that my husband is in prison.
I was also told I maybe could write another letter and was given a PO BOX address in Liverpool. Three "strong" letters have been already written by my solicitors.

I was kicked out by the Housing Homeless Office at Barnet Council-since they said they have no legal framework to house me-they ironically offered to take my kids in shelter---as if..
I was also told by CAB that I was not entitled to any public fund support whatsoever. Barnet Council said I should go sleep/complain at my home country Embassy---even though I have applied for the ILR-which if and when is decided it would be followed by a Travel Document that would say--Travel to all countries but my home country.

I am simply stuck now--in no man's land..no money, no support, in debt, homeless, paperless, status-less and hopeless. Kids want to go to school and I cannot take them..cant afford to travel, buy them uniform nor feed them any extra.
I am asking all of you---anyone that knows anything... is there anyone anywhere offering help to someone like me and my kids...is there any assistance available anywhere, anyone had any similar case to mine--ie husband/spouse/sponsor imprisoned?? Any assistance available to my kids...they haven't even received any Child Benefit since December...
I wish I could even go back to my home country, but even that is not a possibility now...I am just stuck here in no man's land, with no rights whatsoever...
I hope anyone had the patience to read all this --probably the longest ever post in this board----and please please I beg you... anyone please post anything helpful..any useful info...anything will do...thanks everyone
Bless you all...

[akhurshid]

I am really sorry to hear all about your troubles.
I am speechless to know that even in country like this, there is no help at all sometimes.
I dont have much experience in these sort of things and the only thing that comes into my mind is to speak to you MP.

I hope somebody else have better sugestion to help you out.
Hope you get a decision soon from HO.

[Amber]

Are the children British?

Have you suffered domestic abuse at all?

[vitorikoteo]

Are the children British?

Have you suffered domestic abuse at all?

No, children are not British. They have he same status as me..i.e. no status...I wish I knew if they have any more rights than I do. In my 2 yr spouse visa it had said that I had no recourse to public funds. They were 6,5 and 3 when they rrived in the UK..They were all born abroad at my home country. Their father has received ILR-full refugee status in 1997 and has lived in the UK since 1992, and he has obviously been back home -and back and forth during the 2000s where we had met and got married and started a family.

And thank you for your concern, but no, the kids were always well looked after and never ever suffered any form of domestic abuse. And so far, having lived in different places, different families I have made sure that they have been well protected and looked after.
My husband's sentencing and imprisonment is not related in any way to any domestic violence or a family problem, nothing involving us as a family, race, religion, immigration or other--it was more of a straightforward criminal matter, something none of us were aware of at the time.

Thanks a lot for your support and care...

[Amber]

Well contact social services as they've got a statutory duty to help with the children. The UKBA could grant the ILR for you which would be perfect otherwise they could use their discretion and grant FLR(O) which is not so good as current article 8 leave is no recourse to public funds. You should consider one of your friends who is not subject to immigration control claiming Child Benefit and Tax credits if they help by being responsible for your children, that would then be some access to funds.

You see, if you had suffered domestic violence there are special provisions to help you claim public funds and also to settle in the UK. What Country are you native to?