A mayor in France expresses support for British woman expulsed over 'low income'

The mayor of a village in central France has spoken out in support of a British woman ordered to leave the country after her small business failed to generate enough income in its first year.

The news of the expulsion order against Emma Hamilton, from Pionnat (Creuse), comes a few months after The Connexion spoke to another British couple from Dordogne who had been ordered to leave after a difficult first year running a gîte and farm business.

Ms Hamilton had a business making and selling jewellery and clothing and had come to France to join her husband, Andrew, who had moved earlier and set up a consulting business. 

He was not targeted by the OQTF (obligation de quitter le territoire français).

The mayor of Pionnat, Laurent Piolé, said: “She’s left now, and from England she will be making a new visa application to come back as soon as she can.” 

She will decide on the best avenue for this application, whether work-related, family reunification etc, he added.

Mr Piolé accompanied Ms Hamilton to a meeting at the prefecture and said officials had vowed to follow the situation closely: “They will try to do what is possible to facilitate her return.”

The prefecture explained she had a “very specific” visa, so they “could only take into account the declared revenues from the business activity for which she came to France”, Mr Piolé said.

Mr Piolé helped organise an “information and support meeting” for Ms Hamilton, as well as a petition. It gained more than 200 signatures in two days before being closed following Ms Hamilton’s decision to leave. The mayor said he had also collected more than 100 signatures on paper.

Prior to the prefecture visit, he told us: “We found it surprising that only the wife was targeted and we contested the fact they were only taking her income into account and not that of the couple.”

He said that Ms Hamilton had decided leaving France and reapplying was a more reliable solution than a court appeal against the OQTF: “She preferred not to take the risk.”

He added: “They sold everything in the UK. They own their home here and have all their belongings here.”

He said Ms Hamilton is “very talented” and sold her creations at local markets.

“This was catastrophic for them. No one expected it; they are fully integrated.

“They are always there when we organise events and attend the war commemorations. When we had a New Year ceremony, they helped serve the drinks and petits fours. They also come to language sessions we run every Monday and have improved their French.”

He added: “It’s clear her business was a kind that takes a while to get going. The chamber of commerce felt it could take up to three years to be profitable. 

"In France we all know that when someone starts a business, it’s complicated and takes time. So of course it is just as hard for our British friends.”