Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Family to fight on as time runs out
AN AUSTRALIAN family facing deportation from the UK say they will not give up their fight to stay, as a deadline to meet visa requirements expired.
Kathryn and Gregg Brain moved to Dingwall with their son Lachlan, now seven, in 2011. They moved from Australia on Mrs Brain’s student visa, but a two-year post-study visa scheme then on offer was later withdrawn by the Government.
Mrs Brain must secure a job in order for the family to stay, but a potential post at a local distillery fell through as it did not meet necessary visa specifications.
Mr Brain said: “At this stage we are still very much hoping an employer will come forward and we’ll be able to continue moving towards a tier two visa application. Of course, what I’d really like is for the Home Office to give us what they promised when we moved here in the first place — a two-year visa with the right to work. We have fulfilled our end of the bargain and we still very much want the Home Office to fulfil theirs.
“Failing being dealt with honourably by the UK Government, what I would like is for an employer to come forward and take Kathryn on to enable us to get a permit and be able to stay.”
The Government announced the discontinuation of the post-study work visa scheme i n March 2011, three months before the Brain family arrived in Scotland. Mr Brain said they applied and had been accepted for the scheme in 2010, and did not become aware of the changes to the rules until two years later, shortly before they came into effect. A day before they were due to be deported on May 31 this year, immigration minister James Brokenshire gave the family leave to remain in the country until August 1. His successor Robert Goodwill has said he would be willing to look at extending this if a concrete job offer was made, Mr Brain said.
Mrs Brain has been trying to secure work which meets tier two visa requirements, including a minimum salary of £20,800. The owner of a large employer in the Highlands is understood to be keen to help the Brains but time looks to have run out.
Mr Brain said: “We spent 10 years trying to plan to get here in the first place — it’s been a dream of ours since years before Lachlan was born. I just cannot accept this — I want the UK Government to give us what they promised us when they enticed us to sell our homes and bring that equity to the UK.”