A doting dad with an 11-month-old daughter faces the heart-breaking prospect of having his family torn apart after his Canadian wife was refused permission to remain in the UK.

Mark and Deanna Harper, of Kingsley Crescent, Birkenshaw, met over the internet in July 2007 and arranged to meet up in Canada five months later, where they fell in love and got engaged.

Mrs Harper, aged 32, became pregnant to Mark, 39, while visiting him in England on a six-month temporary visa in early 2008 and the couple were given a special licence to marry at Bradford Register Office a short time later.

But just 11 months after their daughter, Elianna, was born at Leeds General Infirmary, Deanna has received devastating news from the Home Office.

Her application to extend her UK visa has been refused on the grounds that her circumstances are “not compassionate or compelling enough” for the Secretary of State to exercise his discretion 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 claimed 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 her and her daughter would be away from Mr Harper.

Mr Harper, a self-employed gardener who would be unable to leave his business to travel with them to Canada, said: “We are very upset.If she goes back to Canada, it’s going to take at least three months and it’s just not right that I can’t see my wife and baby for that time.”

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.

Mr Harper said: “She was issued with a short-term visa whilst she was pregnant but we have just got the letter saying her extension has been knocked back. We are making a decision whether to appeal.

“It seems wrong that all these people come into the UK illegally and are then granted the right to stay and a genuine case where a family wants to stay together is refused.

“She has come here and taken nothing from the state. She has not drained the country at all because I have supported her since her arrival.

“The thing is with Canada is that it’s more or less a British country – they have the same Queen and the Queen’s head is even on all their money. I thought the Commonwealth was supposed to make things like this easier.”

Mrs Harper said: “From my point of view, I am just starting to feel settled here. And what would my daughter think if she wakes up in a different country especially when she has to go that long without her father?

“She’s at a really impressionable age and this would be so disruptive.”

A spokesman for the UK Border Agency said: “There have been no rule changes for those wanting to come or stay on basis of marriage since 2007.

“Anyone seeking to remain in the United Kingdom as a spouse must enter the country with the right visa. It is open to anyone refused permission to remain as a spouse to return home and apply from there for a visa. Applications as a spouse made in Canada are currently being dealt with within three weeks.”