Philly's Oldest Shelter Resident Thwarted In Attempts To Reunite With Family In England
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - It was to be the happy ending to a long, complicated, sometimes tragic story, when KYW Newsradio reported in January that the oldest person living a city homeless shelter was going to be reunited with his family in England, through the tireless effort of his social workers.
But six months later, Sam Foster, 85, is still in shelter, trying to clear yet another hurdle -- obtaining a visa to go to England.
"I don't know why the government can't issue a visa, to give my son a visit, even to visit and talk with him. That is not right," says Foster in his distinctly Jamaican accent.
Born in Jamaica when it was a British colony, Foster lived in England for 21 years before immigrating to the U.S. in 1980 on a British passport. He says his passport was stolen many years ago, while he was living in West Philadelphia, where he ran a small auto repair shop.
He became homeless, eight years ago, following an accident that left him disabled. He ended up in the care of Resources for Human Development, which contracts with the city to provide shelter for homeless men.
Social workers there, learning that Foster had two sons and several grandchildren in England and spent years trying to reconnect them, including tracking down relatives in Jamaica and England, getting him a Jamaican passport since he no longer qualified for a British one, and raising money for air fare.
Finally, in January, with a flight booked, they helped him apply for a British visitors visa, which they thought would be easily granted, but just before they were scheduled to leave, the British denied the visa.
"I was mad like a dog," says Foster. "We cannot understand what they're doing to turn me down and tell me I can't see my beloved son."
Julius Jackson, who runs RHD Fernwood, where Foster lives, fears Foster may have gotten caught in an escalating anti-immigration fervor in England.
"There's no reason for him not to be able to visit his sons," says Jackson.
British officials declined comment.
Jackson is now helping Foster apply for a Family Visitor Visa, which carries a fee of $3,500. He's engaged an immigration lawyer, this time, and is trying to raise money through a website, but Foster turned 85 last month and Jackson is worried about the length of time it will take.
"It's been a frustrating process," says Jackson. "It's also enlightened me on how wonderful it is to have an American passport and how quickly you can travel around the world without restrictions."
Foster holds on to hope that he will get to England to see his grandchildren before he dies.
"I think I would be died this time but God keep me so I'm not gone yet." he says. "I'm still here."
