US couple win battle to stay in Scotland
An American couple who faced being deported have won their battle to stay in Scotland. Russell and Ellen Felber were overjoyed when their last-ditch appeal to remain in Britain was granted on Friday. The couple had moved from New York to Inverness in 2011 to run an award-winning B&B. But their legal battle began in 2016 after the Home Office refused to extend their visas because they did not employ enough people in their business. The fight took its toll on Ellen’s health and she was not well enough to attend the immigration tribunal hearing in Glasgow. When Russell rang to tell her the good news, she cried; “It’s not a dream, it’s not a dream. It’s over.” Yesterday he said: “It’s still sinking in. “There’s been so much uncertainty. “Ellen has finally realised that it’s true. She knows it’s not a dream. It is such a relief.” Russell and Ellen, who run the Torridon Guest House, received a letter from the Home Office in December 2016 telling them they had 30 days to leave the country. The Court of Session upheld the decision, which was based on a 2014 rule-change on how many people should be employed by those living on entrepreneur visas. But last week’s successful appeal by the couple was made under European human rights legislation. Their lawyer Damir Duheric, an immigration specialist, said: “It is great news. “These people came here and invested a huge amount, they provided employment and they built a successful business. “It didn’t make sense.” The Home Office will have 14 days to appeal the decision, but Mr Duheric believes it is unlikely to happen.