D-Day is looming for a Bradford couple who face a lengthy separation if their appeal against a Home Office immigration ruling does not succeed.

Mark Harper, of Birkenshaw, said his family would be “torn apart” if his Canadian wife Deanna Harper is unable to overturn a heart-breaking decision not to extend her UK visa.

The couple have raised a 250-name petition of support, signed by neighbours and friends, to take to the immigration appeal hearing on Tuesday.

The couple met over the internet in July 2007 and arranged to meet up in Canada five months later, where they got engaged.

Mrs Harper became pregnant while visiting Mark in England on a six-month temporary visa in 2008 and the couple got married.

But 11 months after their daughter Elianna was born, Mrs Harper heard that her bid to extend her UK visa had been refused on the grounds that her circumstances are “not compassionate or compelling enough” for the Secretary of State to rule in her favour.

A letter entitled ‘Notification of Immigration decision’ informed her that, if her appeal is unsuccessful and she does not leave the UK voluntarily, she will be “removed” to Canada.

Mrs Harper says she would then have to wait at her parents’ home in Winnipeg, central Canada, for at least three months while her application to return to the UK was processed, during which time she and her daughter would be away from Mr Harper.

The UK Border Agency disputed the claim that it would take three months, stating that applications as a spouse made in Canada were currently being dealt with within three weeks.

Today, Mr Harper said: “It really is D-Day on Tuesday and the wait is sending me up the wall – the stress is unbelievable. I just wish it was all over and done with.

“We have got up a petition with 250 names. Neighbours, family, friends, my customers and people who read the paper have all signed it. Everyone is backing us and can’t understand what’s going off.”