Man, 90, faces being deported without his carer wife because he ‘isn’t ill enough’ to stay in UK Albert Dolbec is American, and needs constant care from his British wife, Dawn. Now the Home Office wants to deport him

A 90-year-old man with diabetes and arthritis faces being deported to the US and separated from his carer and wife of 25 years, because the Home Office says he isn’t “ill enough’ to remain in the UK.

American Albert Dolbec needs constant care from his British wife, Dawn, 84. They have been married for 25 years and currently live together in Hertfordshire.

But now the Home Office wants to send Albert back, and Dawn is too old to uproot from her family to go with him.

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Albert lived and worked in the UK for around 10 years during the ’60s and ’90s, and moved back here on a six-month visa in 2016 so he and Dawn could be nearer her family.

‘I wouldn’t be able to cope alone’

After it expired he applied for a spousal visa, but it was rejected in December 2017. His appeal was turned down on 5 November, and Albert now faces flying back to the US alone, with no one to care for him.

“I rely on Dawn to help me with my day to day care. I wouldn’t be able to cope alone,” he said.

The Home Office said in its rejection letter that Albert’s “conditions are not life-threatening” and “undertaking a journey” to the States would not “have a huge detrimental impact” on his condition.

But Dawn says this is far from the reality. “I am Albert’s official carer and he requires constant support with his personal care and medical conditions,” she said.

‘This will ruin both of our lives’

“Albert is not capable of caring for himself and I currently do everything for him. Cooking, cleaning, gardening, shopping, making his medical appointments for him as well as making sure that he takes his medication.

“His short-term memory is diminishing and his judgement of what he is capable of is poor.

“Treating a 90-year-old citizen who has worked all of his life as the Home Office has done is disgusting, especially saying that Albert’s illness isn’t life-threatening

“He’s 90 and I don’t think that he would ever make it onto the flight.

“Even if he did make it, where would he go? Where would he live? He would be homeless.

“I cannot return to the USA with Albert because, at 84-years-old, I cannot cope with arriving there with no home or family to support us.

“My family and all my possessions are in the UK. It is only possible for me to care for Albert with the considerable support of my family, who live nearby.

“It’s made me feel so stressed that I cannot sleep knowing any day that he could be detained and deported.

“We just want the Home Office to listen and allow my husband to stay in the UK.

“I have been married for almost 25 years and this will literally ruin both of our lives.”

Albert and Dawn married in the UK in 1994

Albert, originally from Stanford, Connecticut, had always been granted long-term visas when he’s come to the UK in the past.

He and Dawn met in December 1993 in Hatton Locks in Warwickshire, while Albert was the managing executive engineer at the Electrical Power Research Insititute in Birmingham.

They married in 1994 in Stratford-Upon-Avon before moving to San Juan Island near Seattle in 1996.

But when Albert’s health started to decline, Dawn decided they should return to her native UK so she could care for him and be near her family in Hertfordshire.

Home Office: Albert’s conditions are ‘not life-threatening’

Outlining the decision to deny Albert a spousal visa, the Home Office said: “You have provided NHS documents in support of your claim which outlines the conditions and treatments you are receiving.

“The NHS documents that you have provided do not specifically specify that you and your partner are unable to travel or that you and your partner are currently receiving urgent treatment.

“Your conditions are not life-threatening and no evidence has been provided to show that undertaking a journey whilst relocating is likely to have a huge detrimental impact on your condition.”

The couple, who have no children together, have appealed again, and claim they have not been given a date he must leave by.

Dawn said: “They didn’t take into account that I wanted to be near my family as well and that I could care for Albert just as well in the UK.

“If he goes back to the States he would be left with absolutely nothing, with no family, no money and just a bag of clothes and a walking stick.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We do not routinely comment on individual cases.”