The wife of an Epsom man who is living under continued threat of deportation says she will die if he is forced out of the country.

Atif Iqbal Yousaf is locked in a long-running row with the Home Office over his immigration status and to his horror received a letter earlier this month demanding he leave the UK or face prison, a fine and deportation.

Mr Yousaf, of Farriers Road, Epsom, claims government officials have refused to listen to his case to remain and are even alleging his marriage is not a legitimate one.

The unemployed 37-year-old, who is not entitled to benefits - and says he doesn’t want them - first arrived in the UK from Pakistan on a short-term visa in 1996.

He stayed with his brother and sister in Buckinghamshire, both of whom already have full British citizenship.

He met Fazila, 60, the woman who would become his wife, via mutual friends in 2010 and after moving in together the following year decided to make his first formal application to stay in the UK.

This was refused in February 2012 but he appealed the decision, only to find that immediately rejected a few weeks later.

Since then, life has become an endless round of sending off various documents, including council tax and utility bill payments, only to get nowhere.

However, what hurt the most was the accusation by the Home Office that the couple’s marriage was suspect.

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Mr Yousaf, who has no children, said: "We sent them our wedding certificate, but they say it is a Muslim one and not an officially recognised UK one; so we offered to have a ceremony here too, but they said it wouldn’t make any difference.

"I have a barrister working on my case, but I do not understand the system fully and live in fear of being arrested at any minute.

"My wife would never be able to cope back in Pakistan and if I am sent back alone and she is left here she says she knows it will kill her."

The Guardian spoke to Mr Yousaf’s MP, Chris Grayling, who represents Epsom and Ewell, who said: "My initial reaction without knowing the full background is that people who are in this country without proper permission to stay really should not be surprised when the Home Office says they can’t.

"I make no promises, but if this man gets in touch with me I will be happy to examine his case in more detail and see what I can do."

The Home Office refutes Mr Yousaf’s version of events, especially his date of entry and claims of providing evidence of marriage to a settled person. A spokesman said: "All applications for leave to remain in the UK are considered on their individual merits and according to the evidence provided. Mr Yousaf’s application was refused because he failed to provide the required evidence to support his application. The refusal decision has been supported consistently in the courts."