A MARRIED couple face being separated due to deportation after a visa application was thrown out twice by Home Office officials.

Dean and Grace Smith met in China more than ten years ago when they worked at Shaanxi Normal University.

As a married couple the pair returned to the UK in 2015 when Mr Smith’s father was dying of cancer.

But now, Chinese national Mrs Smith is waiting to find out if her third visa application has been successful after having the first two bids refused.

The 34-year-old’s initial bid for a visa was refused in February by the Home Office.

A Home Office spokesman said her application for leave to remain as a spouse was refused on March 18 as the financial requirement of the rules was not met.

Last month, she submitted a further application on the basis of her private and family life in the UK which is still being considered.

Mr Smith, 53, of Merivale Road, Lawford, said: “We are waiting to hear back from the Home Offices bosses and they could reject her again.

“It’s disgusting when you do things the right way and the system is fundamentally flawed.”

Mr Smith is a self-employed exercise specialist and Mrs Smith works full-time at Marks and Spencer.

To remain in the UK, the couple must earn a combined income of £18,600.

The pair told the Home Office they earned more than the required amount, but this claim was rejected.

Mr Smith added: “The amount of support we have had in the local community has been outstanding but we are disgusted with the immigration system.

“The biggest issue is we both work and they could throw her out.

“You get respect by working hard and that’s why we have had support from dozens of people.”

The couple has received letters of support and character references from Mr Smith’s clients, his doctor, residents, councillors and Harwich and North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin.

Carlo Guglielmi, Tendring councillor for Lawford, said: “People misuse the system continuously and here you have two people working their backsides off and they are being penalised for being good citizens.”

“It could be some time before they hear the outcome of their latest visa application and they have to try and carry on with their lives like nothing is happening – it must make them very anxious.

“People have been trying to help by writing letters to support them and have given the pair character references.”