"I feel very strongly to fight for my kids and myself."
More than 24,000 people have signed a petition urging the Home Secretary to let a grieving widow and her children remain in the UK after her husband’s sudden death.
Sunil Rastogi died on February 18 at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, just hours after suffering a cardiac arrest.
His wife Priya and their two young children, aged seven and eight weeks, now face deportation to India when his work visa expires in August.
The family, who have lived in South Gloucestershire for over three years, are tied to Sunil’s visa. Under current Home Office rules, they lose the right to remain following his death.
Mrs Rastogi said: “People are supporting me, they’re thinking about me. As a single mum, I feel very strongly to fight for my kids and myself.”
She temporarily returned to India to be with Sunil’s family and attend religious rites.
Since then, campaigners have launched a petition calling on Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to grant the family compassionate Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
The widow continued: “It’s been very tough actually for me, especially with the two children.
“It’s not just a loss, it’s everything lost – our security, our trust, the future of my child.
“My daughter is missing her school, her pals and her home. Life has turned upside down. It’s not about the grief, it’s about being displaced.
“Our life is very much over there [the UK].”
A cross-party group of South Gloucestershire councillors are backing the campaign. So far, the online crowdfunder has raised over £47,750 to support the family.
South Gloucestershire councillor Sanjay Shambhu said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper “has discretion to gift someone the right to remain” in the UK.
He said: “This is a very unfortunate situation with profound impact on this family. A very young family. We’re supporting the family.
“This family has been a contributor to our economy, society and community.”
Filton and Bradley Stoke MP Claire Hazelgrove confirmed she had raised the case with the Home Office. She said she is seeking urgent clarity on visa rules so the family “can plan their future”.
Raman Kumar, a family friend, said: “Sunil’s vision was to have a future here.
“He had his first kid in India but he migrated here, he was a taxpayer working hard to build his family here.”
North Bristol NHS Trust, which runs Southmead Hospital, said it is still conducting a “comprehensive review” into the circumstances of Mr Rastogi’s death. His family believe he was given minimal medical attention following the cardiac arrest.
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