A poorly pensioner banned from moving his Filipino wife into his bungalow is being forced to live off £1 pizzas to support her from over 7,000 miles away.
Twice-divorced John Ball, 78, says he is the victim of Britain’s ‘ridiculously discriminatory’ spousal law which has left him unable to be by ‘true love’ Anita’s side for two years.
Sending £250-a-month to his wife and following a £9,000 immigration battle which cleared out his savings, John said he is now willing to risk his life and go without vital heart medication in order to move to the Philippines and be with Anita, 61.
The pensioner, who now has just £20 a day to cover all his costs, told MailOnline: ‘It’s hell on earth, I am having to cut down on everything just to send her the money. I’ve got to find the cheapest food there is, like pizzas for less than £1.
‘I will be at serious risk if I can’t get my tablets sent over there. You can get them but it’s very expensive at £100 a week. I’m looking into whether I can get my granddaughter to send my medication out there.
‘And if I can’t, screw it, what else can I do? We can’t go on like this for the rest of my life. Even if it is 12 months, two years, at least we will be together. I’d risk my life for her.’
Dad-of-two John was single for 13 years and had grown tired of dating when friends suggested he join dating app Filipino Cupid.
With nothing to lose, he paid the £10-a-month subscription, got swiping but potential flames just wanted his money.
Twice-divorced John Ball, 78, says he is the victim of Britain’s ‘ridiculously discriminatory’ spousal law which has left him unable to be by ‘true love’ Anita’s side
The granddad flew back to the Philippines in August 2023 and the pair were married that September
He stumbled across widower Anita’s profile and fired off a cheeky ‘hi’
At a loss, he took a break before stumbling across widower Anita’s profile and fired off a cheeky ‘hi’.
Their love blossomed and eight months later John found himself on the paradise island of Cebu meeting Anita and her family.
The retired stablehand, from Hesketh Bank, Lancashire, said of the January 2023 trip: ‘I was over there for a month. The furthest I’ve ever been is Tunisia.
‘From the first time I met her, I felt like I’d known her for years. We got engaged while I was over there.’
The granddad flew back to the Philippines in August 2023 and the pair were married that September in a £2,000 ceremony surrounded by friends and family.
Reflecting on their love in their wedding video, Anita said there was a ‘spark in my heart’ when she matched with John online.
John added: ‘They all wanted money for the internet or food. I’d just about given up hope.
‘I’d been talking for just a couple of days, I turned round and said “do you need any money”, she shouted at me! I said “you’ll do for me my love”. We’ve been talking every night since then.’
Dad-of-two John was single for 13 years and had grown tired of dating when friends suggested he join dating app Filipino Cupid
Anita pictured in her wedding dress ahead of a £2,000 ceremony surrounded by friends and family
But their fairytale romance turned into a nightmare after John tried to move Anita to his one-bed council house bungalow, just outside Southport.
Under UK spousal visa law, a couple must prove they have a combined income of at least £29,000 a year, known as a ‘minimum income requirement’.
For John, who receives a £210-per-week state pension and Anita, who lost her widows pension when she married John, they fall well below the requirement and the Home Office chucked out Anita’s application in January last year.
John, who talks to Anita every morning and night on FaceTime, said: ‘One of the stipulations the government have now said is you need about £160k in the bank and be earning a ridiculous amount of money a year to bring them over.
‘I thought it was against my human rights to be seperated from my wife. Are the government not breaking international law?’
To add insult to injury John claims he lost £9,000 of his savings after employing a solicitor to help fight Anita’s case with the Home Office.
‘It was basically all John’s savings’, revealed Martin Banister, 65, who has been friends with John for decades revealed.
Having lost his Winter Fuel Allowance, John says his life is now a serious struggle as he can only afford to put the heating on for a few hours a week. He previously considered selling his organs to get by.
Reflecting on their love in their wedding video, Anita said there was a ‘spark in my heart’ when she matched with John online
But their fairytale romance turned into a nightmare after John tried to move Anita to his one-bed council house bungalow, just outside Southport
Under UK spousal visa law, a couple must prove they have a combined income of at least £29,000 a year, known as a ‘minimum income requirement’
The 78-year-old now survives on Iceland own-brand frozen pizzas to save £250 each month to send to Anita. The average monthy salary in the Philippines is around £240.
With the Home Office standing firm and local Southport MP Patrick Hurley unable to help any further, John is now willing to forgo his prescription – which includes statins and blood pressure pills – and move to the ‘beautiful’ Philippines.
It is something Anita, who lives in a three bedroom house, is incredibly concerned about.
Speaking from the village of Casili, on the popular tourist island of Cebu, she told MailOnline: ‘It’s been incredibly difficult being apart from John for the last two years, and I can understand why he feels so strongly about wanting to be with me.
‘We’ve had many discussions about the risks involved, and while I’m deeply moved by his determination, I do have concerns about his health and the potential consequences of his decision.
‘At the same time, I understand his desire to be here, and I do support him, though I want to make sure we’re considering all options carefully. It’s a tough decision, but I’m hopeful we can find a way that works for both of us, considering everything at stake.
‘However, if there’s still a possibility of getting my visa approved for the UK, then I would be willing to take the risk.’
The 78-year-old now survives on Iceland own-brand frozen pizzas to save £250 each month to send to Anita
Mr Banister, travelled John to the Philippines last Christmas, says the Labour government should scrap the minimum income requirement rule.
He told MailOnline: ‘It annoys him a lot when these illegals come over and they get everything. He doesn’t want her on benefits or anything he just wants his wife here.
‘There must be thousands of people in John’s position. How many people have £160,000 in the bank? If you’ve got loads of money you can bypass the law, but most people can’t do that.
‘How can anybody deny that it is not discriminatory?’
John, who admits he is lucky to not be ‘begging on the street’ for money, says he faces arrest and deportation from the Philippines if he moves there without the correct visa.
‘What’s the worse they can do? If they put me in prison they still have to feed me!’, he blasted.
The pensioner would have to extend his tourist visa every month if he wants to make the move work.
He would also lose his council-provided bungalow, leaving him at risk of homelessness if he was ever to return to the UK for health reasons as the Philippines has no public health system.
‘If I went over to the Philippines and was over there for three or four months and I got deported, the bungalow wouldn’t be there, I’d be basically homeless’, John admits.
John, who admits he is lucky to not be ‘begging on the street’ for money, says he faces arrest and deportation from the Philippines if he moves there without the correct visa
His family say there is nothing they can do to stop the ‘stubborn’ pensioner in his mission to be with Anita and fully support his decision.
Reflecting on his ordeal, John said: ‘I’m between the devil and the deep blue sea but I am willing to risk everything just to be with my wife. She means the world to me.
‘Because I’ve been over three or four times, I’ve got £400, £500 air miles to claim off Emirates. Flights are £1,500 return.’
A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘It is longstanding government policy that we do not comment on individual cases, but the Minimum Income Requirement for family visas remains an important part of maintaining a controlled, managed and fair immigration system.
‘In cases where refusing a visa would cause unjustifiably harsh consequences for the applicant or their family, permission can still be granted based on exceptional circumstances.’
