The pair have had to cancel their wedding plans after Gareth MacRae was deported. Photo / Facebook
The pair have had to cancel their wedding plans after Gareth MacRae was deported. Photo / Facebook
A bride-to-be has been forced to cancel her wedding plans after immigration officers deported her partner of six years in front of her.
Lliwen Roberts had been dreaming of marrying her partner Gareth MacRae in a traditional ceremony in front of friends and family since her fiance popped the question in Bali last year.
The couple applied for three sets of visas and spent thousands on creating the perfect day.
But their wedding plans have been left in tatters after Mr MacRae, from New Zealand, was deported in front of his fiancee's eyes.
Ms Roberts was forced to look on in horror as her 30-year-old partner was ushered through Manchester Airport "like a criminal" after the pair had spent over a year filling in paperwork and applying for visas.
"We were both working in New Zealand and saved up over £30,000 in the hope of being able to get married and start a life together in Wales.
"We booked the wedding venue as soon as we got engaged because we didn't think we would have any problems with visas. New Zealand is a Commonwealth country and I am a British citizen. Gareth has worked and paid taxes in the UK.
Lliwen Roberts and her Kiwi fiance Gareth MacRae. Photo / Facebook
"We booked the chapel, a marquee, caterers, entertainment and bought wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses and jewellery. We were so excited to say our vows and 16 members of Gareth's family and friends booked flights from New Zealand.
"Gareth and I have lived together in Wales before, and he even learned Welsh and joined a local rugby team because he was so keen to integrate himself and embrace the local culture.
"Gareth and I want to have children and bring them up in Wales with my family. We are both hard workers and we just want to be together."
Personal assistant Lliwen and Gareth, 30, got engaged in Bali last year and began planning their nuptials straight away.
The bride was keen to have a traditional church wedding this July surrounded by close family and friends, and spent £10,000 in catering fees, dresses, jewellery, venues and entertainment.
But Gareth's application for a Marriage Settlement visa was rejected because the couple did not have enough money in savings.
Immigration officials told the couple they would have to have more than £62,000 in savings if they are to marry and stay in the UK legally.
"When we had the visa rejected the first time we decided to apply for a Special Visitor Marriage visa," she added.
"It meant we would be able to get married but Gareth would have to leave the country within six months. It wasn't ideal but Gareth's family had already booked flights from New Zealand to come and see us get married and we didn't want to let anybody down.
"In April we discovered that the visa had been rejected because Immigration thought Gareth would overstay after six months. We were gobsmacked."
The pair have had to cancel their wedding plans after Gareth MacRae was deported. Photo / Facebook
Oil rig worker Mr MacRae had then applied for a Special Visitor Marriage visa, which would allow him to marry in the UK but he would have to leave after six months.
Again the visa was refused so in desperation, the couple applied for a standard holiday visa.
This would have allowed him to stay in the UK for five months, but when he arrived at Manchester Airport last week he was detained for three hours and on May 5, a heartbroken Ms Roberts watched as Mr MacRae was put on a plane back to New Zealand.
Ms Roberts said: "I was waiting for Gareth at Manchester Airport but he was nowhere to be seen.
"He had all the documents with him: a letter off his boss saying he had to return to work in New Zealand, a return ticket, a letter from the minister at the chapel saying we were having a blessing not a wedding, bank statements showing that we had over £30,000 in savings.
"I thought that would be enough but two days later we found out Gareth was being deported because Immigration were concerned that we were going to get married illegally.
"We got a train to London at 4am to go to the New Zealand Embassy to seek advice but we were told there was nothing they could do. We were absolutely heartbroken and that night I had to watch Gareth being taken away. We are both distraught.'
The couple has now had to cancel the wedding and Ms Roberts said she does not know when she will see her fiancé again.
She said: "When I think about it, I feel sick. Gareth and I don't know when we are going to be able to see each other again but we are going to do everything we can to be together.
"I am going to hold on to my wedding dress in the hope that I will be able to wear it one day."
