Thread: Thia Malan, an NHS consultant anaesthetist who has cared for critically-ill children and babies for 20 years, was told by the Home Office her husband's visa application was rejected because he's not from a majority English-speaking country. He's South African.

The @ukhomeoffice said it rejected the visa because they weren't convinced Peter, an English teacher with a degree in English Literature, could prove knowledge of English. He had been given, and completed, the wrong language test at a centre in China.

The case has put enormous strain on Thia's wellbeing, forcing her to take more than five months off work. She says: 'I was having awful nightmares of trying to scream but not being heard, like everything was closing in on me.'

I contacted the Home Office to get a comment for a piece I was writing for the  @guardian. Within two days, their case had been expedited and Peter has just been told they have changed their minds and he will now be granted the visa.

While this is a great result - and shows the power of the media to hold government to account - it also shows how utterly flawed the immigration system is. Tens of thousands of families have been left in limbo, with limited information and no contact for months on end.

Many thanks to @ameliagentleman for her guidance and to @MaryCAtkinson @JCWI_UK, @ReuniteDivFamilies,  @ColinYeo1 and all those who have supported this work.

And all the best to @tielies2000 and Peter for their reunion. I hope it happens as soon as the Home Office have promised it will.