Cynthia and Bright Chinule, a Nigerian family residing in Leigh, United Kingdom, are facing the distressing possibility of being expelled from the country if they do not secure sufficient funds to obtain new visas. Their current visas are set to expire in 11 days.

The couple operates Taste Africana, a well-regarded restaurant in the area, and they have a mere two weeks to gather nearly £26,000; failure to do so may result in their return to Nigeria after having established their lives in England for six years.

Their financial difficulties began last year when the roof of the original building housing their restaurant collapsed just two months post-opening.

Fortunately, they managed to relocate to a new site on Market Street, where they have been serving customers since November 11.

However, Bright notes that the financial repercussions have hindered their ability to manage the escalating costs of living, visa expenses, and the immigration health surcharge, a fee imposed on migrants residing in the UK for over six months.

“They’ve put up the immigration charges, health insurance used to be around £300 per year,” explained Bright.

“It’s gone all the way up to around £1,800 per person, per year. Think about me who’s got a family of five. If I add visa application fees and lawyer fees it brings everything to up to around £26k.

“The visa expires in 12 days (11 days today) so we need to at least put in an application the night before. At this stage we just don’t have the money to do that.

“The target is to get enough money to get the whole visa thing fixed to give us some peace of mind. The idea that there is a possibility of being kicked out after six years of work has drained all the peace out of me. It takes a huge toll on you, honestly.”

‘How we started’

Prior to its establishment as Taste Africana, the business operated under the name 'Home Food UK', functioning as an online takeaway from the residence of Cynthia and Bright on Glebe Street. The couple relocated to the area in 2021 to nurture their young family.

Cynthia, a former mathematics teacher, was the first to propose entering the food industry during her maternity leave, realizing that returning to her role as a teaching assistant while caring for their children would be unfeasible. She launched Home Food UK, which quickly gained popularity. Bright, who holds two master’s degrees and has a background in the NHS, also decided to join Cynthia in managing Taste Africana.

However, the family now faces the daunting prospect of having to return to Nigeria if they do not submit their applications before the impending deadline, after six years of striving to establish their lives in the UK.

Seeks help

To secure the necessary funds, the Chinules resorted to online fundraising as a final measure. Bright initiated a GoFundMe campaign with a target of £25,620, expressing optimism that his previous acts of generosity would yield positive returns.

“I never thought I’d do this,” Bright wrote.

“As someone who has always tried to stand on my own, it’s not easy for me to ask for help. But with only 14 days left to secure the necessary funds, I’ve come to realize that I can’t do this alone.

“Over the years, I’ve tried to give back to the community in every way possible — offering hot meals to rough sleepers during the cold winter months, supporting struggling families with food donations, and more.

“And I promise to continue paying this kindness forward,” part of the GoFundMe read.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Our visa fees have been informed by the principle that those who use and benefit from the immigration system should contribute towards the cost of operating it, reducing the level of UK taxpayer funding that would otherwise be required.” Yahoo News