A DESPERATE husband is "willing to do anything" to get his wife a UK visa so he can bring her to Cornwall and start a family.
The friendship between Chin Wei Cheung, known as Will, of Redruth, and Si Ling Michelle Yeo, from Singapore, started nine years ago in an internet chat room, and after becoming a couple in 2007, Mr Cheung flew to meet her for the first time a year later.
The 26-year-old said: "When I was at the airport in Singapore I was very nervous, but when I saw her for the first time I was speechless. I couldn't get over how beautiful she was."
After five meetings and thousands of pounds spent on phone calls and text messages, they married at the Victoria Hotel in Newquay last June, only to then be told Si Ling's visa application was rejected.
Now the heartbroken manager of family takeaway business Hong Sing Chinese, Redruth, has started a petition on change.org to appeal the decision.
Mr Cheung said: "I am willing to do anything to get her to Cornwall. She is the love of my life and we want to settle here and have a baby."
But he does not earn the minimum of £18,600 per year required for a visa.
He said: "I work day and night and weekends and overtime. I also design websites for businesses, all to make sure I have enough money saved to bring her over and it's tough.
"It's hard to find a job which pays that much in Cornwall due to the low wages."
To make matters worse, the letter rejecting Si Ling's visa said the Home Office did not believe she was a "genuine person".
Mr Cheung refutes this and claims he provided ample proof their relationship was genuine, including more than 20 testimonies from friends.
"My wife is a genuine person she would never overstay in any country," Mr Cheung said.
"She has a degree and works in HR in Singapore and wants to work in England. There is no way she would sit around and claim benefits.
"I speak with her every day on Skype, but it isn't the same. We want to live as a married couple. "We were hoping she would be over this month in time for my sister's graduation and we wanted to spend our first Christmas together this year." and Valentine's Day."
Mr Cheung intends to reapply for a visa for Si Ling and use his online petition to lobby the Government.
He has also asked his MP, George Eustice, for help.
The Home Office failed to respond to inquiries at the time of going to press.
To sign Mr Cheung's petition visit www.change.org and type in Will (Chin Wei) Cheung.
