Cynthia and Bright Chinule, along with their three children, are facing the possibility of deportation from the United Kingdom if they fail to raise nearly £26,000 to cover visa fees. The family’s visas are set to expire in just 11 days.
The Chinules, who own the popular restaurant Taste Africana in Leigh, have struggled financially after the roof of their initial restaurant building collapsed last year. Despite relocating and continuing operations, they have been unable to keep up with rising costs, including increased immigration charges and health insurance fees.
Bright, a former NHS worker with two master’s degrees, and Cynthia, a former maths teacher, turned to crowdfunding in a bid to stay in the country. They have launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise the necessary funds. Bright expressed his reluctance to ask for help but emphasized that they have no other option.
The UK Home Office has stated that visa fees are designed to ensure that those who use the immigration system contribute to its costs. The Chinules, who have lived in the UK for six years, are now anxiously awaiting the outcome of their fundraising efforts.
