And so, we wait.
There is no ceremony to this stage. No confirmation beyond what has already been received. No clear timeline that feels certain. Just the knowledge that somewhere, within the system, our application is being considered.
Waiting is not passive.
It is lived in small moments — checking emails more often than necessary, replaying the process in your mind, wondering if everything was as clear as it could have been, reminding yourself that you have done all that was required.
By this point, the journey has already been long.
It began with a decision shaped by policy. It continued through separation, uncertainty, job searching, rebuilding, and careful preparation. It moved through forms, payments, tests, documents and appointments.
Now it rests in a single question.
Will we be allowed to live together?
That is what it comes down to. Not the complexity of the process, nor the volume of documentation, nor the financial thresholds that had to be met — but something much simpler.
A husband. A wife. A child.
A family waiting for permission to be a family again.
And so we wait for the email. I should also add that within the waiting there is trust that the decision will be made fairly and faith that in the end, we will be together.
Lloyd Hobbard-Mitchell
The Rest of the Diary of an Estranged Briton:
When Politics Hits Home This is the first post in our ‘Diary of an estranged…
The Day I Left This is the second post in our ‘Diary of an estranged…
The Search for Work This is the third post in our ‘Diary of an estranged…
Held Together by Others This is the forth post in our ‘Diary of an estranged…
Driving to Stand Still This is the fifth post in our ‘Diary of an estranged…
Building Stability in Support This is the sixth post in our ‘Diary of an estranged…
The Quiet Before This is the seventh post in our ‘Diary of an estranged Briton’,…
The System Reveals This is the eighth post in our ‘Diary of an estranged Briton’,…
The Day of Submission This is the ninth post in our ‘Diary of an estranged…
The Waiting This is the tenth post in our ‘Diary of an estranged Briton’, detailing…
The Cost of Provinga Family This is the eleventh post in our ‘Diary of an…
How You Can Get On Board
The British Overseas Voters Forum has a viable strategy for change which recognises that UK politicians will not support remedies for overseas based British citizens unless these citizens become voters and then campaign intelligently.
Register New Account
Register a new account with the BOVF [ihc-register]
Register to vote
Register to Vote It can take 3-steps to register to vote. Follow our guide below…
Supporter Registration (FREE)
Register as a Supporter (FREE) By getting on board, you help our campaign for change….
Join BOVF
Join BOVF By getting on board, you help our campaigns. Be part of the solution….
Help Us Grow
Your Voice Is Powerful
Use Your Voice Your Voice Is Powerful – Use It At the British Overseas Voters…
Take It Further:
Start a BOVF Chain Reaction Once you’ve told your ten, challenge them to do the…
Tell Ten Friends
Our ‘Tell Ten Friends’ Challenge Help us grow a movement—one conversation at a time. More…
What To Say
What To Say You might try copying and pasting the following into an email or…
Why Supporters Matter
Why Supporters Matter When someone signs up as a Supporter or Member of BOVF: They…
THE DISCUSSION FORUMS