Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 14:34:18 +0100 From: Mark Watson Subject: 19 Case granted' Stonewall Press release Embargo: immediate release 19th Cases Granted! Chair of the Stonewall Immigration Group and boyfriend finally allowed to stay together! Former immigration officer and chair of the Stonewall Immigration Group, Mark Watson (30), and his boyfriend of 6 years Ander Da Silva (26) are today celebrating as the 19th couple granted by the Home Office. Ander Da Silva, a Brazilian national, was forced to leave the UK in January 1994 and Mark Watson was sentenced to six months imprisonment in April 1994 for forging Ander's passport in order that they could stay together. Upon his release from prison Mark worked to set up the Stonewall Immigration Group which now has almost 600 couples and Ander returned to the UK and applied to the Home Office for leave to remain based on their long term and committed relationship. The Home Office refused their application in July 1995 and they have since been fighting the case through the appeals system with the aid of Matthew Davies, solicitor. Today the Home Office granted Ander 12 months leave to remain in the UK in line with the other the cases so far granted. Mark Watson stated "We are obviously very pleased - the immigration problem has been with us right from the start of our relationship. We were not expecting this at all and it seems so strange after such a long battle to finally have our case resolved. However there are still over 100 other applications still pending and 500 other couples in the group and the fight will continue until all couples have their relationships respected in the immigration rules. " For more details contact Mark Watson on 0171 336 8860 ENDS Mark Watson Campaigns Manager Stonewall 16 Clerkenwell Close London EC1R 0AA Tel. 0171 336 8860 Fax. 0171 336 8864 Immig. 0171 336 0620 mark@stonewall.org.uk http://www.stonewall.org.uk