COPD Gran's Plea to UK: 'Let My 46-Year-Old Love In

The Agonizing Wait: Eight Years and Over 2,000 Miles Separate Couple-After eight years of marriage and a connection that spans over 2,100 miles, British grandmother Karen Aghzzaf, 70, is in a heartbreaking "race against time" to live with her Moroccan husband, Brahim Aghzzaf, 46. The couple's efforts to reunite have been repeatedly thwarted after Brahim twice failed the mandatory English language test required for a UK spouse visa, which they attribute to his dyslexia.

Karen, a retiree now living in Blackpool, Lancashire, first connected with Brahim on Facebook in July 2015, instantly hitting it off despite the 24-year age gap. Brahim, who lives in Khemisset, Morocco, is only five years older than Karen's eldest son, Dominic, 41. Despite initial public speculation that Brahim was pursuing her for money or citizenship, Karen insists their bond is genuine.

The Visa Vexation-The couple married in November 2017 at a registry office in Ouarzazate, Morocco, after Karen made a trip to meet him in person in Marrakesh in July 2016. They thought their legal marriage would simplify the process, but the bureaucratic 'carry-on' continued with the visa application.

The primary obstacle has been the Home Office's English language requirement for a spouse visa. Brahim first sat the test on January 17, 2021, and failed, followed by a second failure on July 18, 2021. The couple is convinced Brahim's dyslexia is the root cause of his struggles, leading them to appeal to the Home Office for an exemption.

Karen stated: "I'm not stupid—Brahim wants to work, he wants to take care of me, and I deserve to have my husband living with me. We're trying to get the Home Office to make an exception for Brahim because of his dyslexia. But he's lost so much confidence because of all this."

The Home Office Stance on Exemptions-The UK Home Office does offer exemptions from the English language requirement, including for applicants who are aged 65 or over (which applies to Karen, but not Brahim) or those who have a "long-term physical or mental condition which prevents the applicant from meeting the requirement."

While this provision allows for exemptions based on medical grounds, including certain mental impairments, legal guidance suggests that conditions like dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning difficulties do not automatically qualify. An applicant must submit comprehensive medical evidence demonstrating a "long-standing, permanent condition" that permanently prevents them from learning English or taking an approved test, not simply requiring reasonable adjustments or educational support. Brahim's family has provided doctor's notes, but it appears the Home Office has not yet granted the exemption.

A Race Against Time and Health-The emotional toll of the prolonged separation is compounded by a growing health crisis. The couple has not seen each other in person for over five years. Karen was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in July 2019, shortly after her last in-person visit with Brahim.

"I do feel like it's a race against time because I'm really suffering with it," Karen admitted, expressing her desperate need for her husband's presence and support. Brahim echoed the pain of separation: "I feel so lost—and so much loneliness. We haven't seen each other for over five years—in all that time, we've not been together and it's really hard for me. I'm just waiting for the day that I can see her again, live with her and spend the rest of my life with her."

Despite the hurdles, the couple remains committed, with Karen ruling out moving to Morocco, citing her love for her home. They now await a decision on their appeal for a dyslexia-based exemption, hoping to overcome the barrier of the failed English tests and finally end their five-year-plus separation.