AN Australian family who last year overcame major obstacles to remain in the Highlands have appealed for help to make their Scottish home permanent.
The Brain family – Gregg and Kathryn and young Lachlan – face a bill of thousands of pounds to pay for their Tier 2 Visa extension and legal costs after crowdfunding and a tidal wave of public support swept them over the first hurdle last year. They have set up another crowdfunding page at justgiving.com to raise £12,000 needed for the Home Office to extend the 12-month visa.
Gregg wrote on the website: “We were astounded by the support we received last year, and hoped that our troubles then would be the end of our story, and we would be able to manage once we had our visas.
"This last 12 months has been really tough on our family, with still not having any certainty or permanency. I hate doing this, but I have to ask again for your help.
"If we cannot meet the Home Office’s fees and charges for this visa application, everything that we all did last year will have been for nothing.
"Kathryn’s employer is more than happy to extend their sponsorship for four more years. After this, we will be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain and finally settle here.”
The family has lived in Dingwall for six years, but faced being thrown out last year after the UK Government scrapped the post-study work visa scheme they had pinned their hopes on.
Gregg added: “During that year, we lost over £26,000 in income because of the Home Office prohibition, and incurred huge expenses to battle the Home Office and pay our visa applications.”
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, who led their fight to stay, told The National: “The fact they’re trying to build a life for themselves, pay off their previous debts and now their fees for another expensive hurdle to retain the right to stay in Scotland – it’s something I think all of us would prefer was behind them and I would encourage those who can support them to do so, so the family can look forward to a long and prosperous future here as part of our community in the Highlands.”
The latest crowdfunder can be found at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/gregg-brain
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