A mother could face deportation and separation from her family after a letter relating to her visa application went astray.

Mother-of-four Alison Hawkins, 42, has lived in the UK for 13 years, having moved from South Africa with husband Wayne, a British national, and their children, who are British citizens.

Mrs Hawkins, who works at Haighs in Workington, applied in July to renew her visa, aiming to apply for citizenship in two years.

The former Southfield Technology College governor went to Penrith to have fingerprints and photographs taken, but heard nothing until a letter arrived from the Home Office last week informing her that her application had been rejected because she had failed to pay a £500 NHS surcharge.

The Home Office said it wrote in July about the new charge but Mrs Hawkins never received a letter.

Mrs Hawkins, of Distington, said: "I wouldn't just have ignored something as simple as a surcharge. We wouldn't have risked not paying it after all the money we have already laid out."

She paid more than £600 for her visa application. Her previous application, handled by a solicitor, cost much more than that.

Mrs Hawkins has been told she will have to submit a new application if she wants to remain in the country.

Due to system changes, she would have to wait 10 years, rather than two, before applying for citizenship.

If she does not reapply she must leave the country and will not be able to return for 12 months.

Because her discretionary leave to remain has not been renewed, Mrs Hawkins has been told she is no longer allowed to work.

She said: "I just want a fair chance. I have paid all my taxes and national insurance. I have never claimed any benefits even though my visa allowed me to do so.

"We came here with three suitcases. We have worked for every single thing we have."

She is also waiting for the return of the certificate from a £200 exam to prove she speaks English.

Without the certificate, she cannot reapply.

She said: "The only thing I want is to be able to pay the NHS surcharge to make my application valid."

Mrs Hawkins has contacted her MP, Jamie Reed, and asked him to take up her case.

Mr Hawkins said: "It would be devastating if Alison couldn't stay.

"The younger children have just started at Workington Academy. To uproot to another country is just not fair on them.

"We don't want to leave. We have got nothing in South Africa.

"I'm British, the kids are British. It's against their human rights to lose their mother.

"We have achieved so much in 13 years. It was hard enough for the children to start in a new country when they were little. It's just not right."

Mrs Hawkins added: "If we left we'd have to leave together. I'm upset because it's over something so small."

Eldest children Kimberley, 21, who works at Next, and Shelby, 19, who is doing a sports degree at Lakes College, Lillyhall, would stay in West Cumbria if their parents and siblings Jordan, 16, and Dana, 14, had to leave.

Mrs Hawkins would not be able to return for at least 12 months, leaving her unable to visit her daughters.

If she did not leave voluntarily and was deported, she would face a 10-year ban from the UK.

A petition on website www.ipetitions.com set up by Kimberley attracted more than 400 signatures in 24 hours.

Mrs Hawkins has had letters and pledges of support from community figures including Distington parish councillors and Haighs owner Anthony Dalzell.

She said: "We have been really overwhelmed by the support."

Mr and Mrs Hawkins met in South Africa in 1991 and married in 1993, having their children there.

After experiencing crime and seeing their pub restaurant go into insolvency, the couple decided to make a fresh start in the UK, travelling to London before moving to West Cumbria.

After initially working in Keswick, Mr Hawkins, a butcher, moved to Haighs 12 years ago.

His wife, whose grandfather was born in the UK, stayed up home to raise their children before getting a job alongside her husband last summer.

A spokesman for Mr Reed said: “Any constituent that contacts Jamie Reed for assistance will get as much help and support as we can give them. Though we can’t comment on individual cases, everyone should be assured that Jamie utilises all avenues open to a Member of Parliament to support his constituents.

"Visa applications are raised with the Home Office directly and constituents are kept informed of everything we do."