A frail Moray man has been left frantic with worry at the prospect of his Australian wife being forced back to her homeland by the government.
Housebound John Cruickshank, 81, is from Rathven, and lives in Forres with his 66-year-old wife, Cheryl.
Mr Cruickshank has suffered four strokes in recent years, and requires round-the-clock care from his spouse.
But the Westminster government has refused to allow Mrs Cruickshank to remain in Scotland on compassionate grounds, leaving the couple with no option but to lodge a £2,000 appeal.
Moray MP, Angus Robertson, has taken on their cause and has encouraged the Home Office to take a second look at the issue.
He said: “This is a deserving case and I am urging the Home Office to take a sympathetic view.”
Mr Cruickshank emigrated to Australia in 1964, and has been with his wife for more than 20 years – though they only married in 2015.
Mrs Cruickshank also has health troubles, and has suffered epilepsy since her teens.
They left Australia and moved to Forres in 2012, after the authorities there decided the vulnerable couple were not capable of living together unsupervised.
They wanted to put Mr Cruickshank in a care home, and his wife in a women’s hostel.
But, after relocating to Forres, the couple initially managed to get round Home Office legislation by flying to Cyprus and renewing Mrs Cruickshank’s visitors’ visa every few months.
She was asked to leave Scotland in December, but is being allowed to remain until her appeal is dealt with – which could take six months.
Mr Cruickshank said: “I need Cheryl, she looks after me, she’s my carer. We don’t know what we will do if she goes.”
The Home Office commented: “All applications are considered on their individual merits, including any exceptional or compassionate circumstances, and in line with the Immigration Rules.”
