EASTBOURNE mother Katy James – facing deportation from the UK – has won her battle to stay.
UK-born Katy, husband Dominic and young daughter Madeline received the news from the Home Office yesterday (Thursday).
‘We are very, very happy, over the moon. We thought the process would take weeks but to hear of the reversal in a matter of days is fantastic,’ said Dominic, 42.
‘This is exactly what we wanted. It means we can now get on with our lives and Katy will be able to get a job and leave the country for a holiday as well if we want.’ Katy’s plight hit the national headlines after the Independent first broke the news of the family’s plight.
The couple had been living between the US and the UK for a number of years, but when she applied for a full visa it was turned down, and she was told she must leave the country within 14 days.
She has now been granted a visa for 30 months, when she will need to apply again, but the family believe this is standard practice.
Eastbourne MP Caroline Ansell - who played a major role in the Home Office changing its mind - said: 'I’m very pleased this decision has been reversed so swiftly and that the immigration minister James Brokenshire saw the exceptional circumstances that Katy, Dominic and Madeleine found themselves in.'
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