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| Matthew and Brian Crane |
A family has received some relief in its battle with the Home Office after a father was granted the right to stay in the UK until 2017.
Brian Crane, of Newmarket, was told a month ago that he would not be granted a visa for the UK and would be deported to Pennsylvania after he overstayed his time in the country.
The 53-year-old American, who lives with his wife Lorna, who is a British citizen, and his son, Matthew, had twice applied for a leave to remain visa for the UK.
But twice he was told he would not qualify because he had “accidentally overstayed” from 2012 until 2014.
After a battle with the Home Office and calling on local MP Matthew Hancock for help, last week, the family received some good news when Mr Crane received a visa through the post.
He told the News: “They have granted me a leave to remain visa.
“It is only valid until August 2017 and I will then have to submit more paper work, but until then the pressure is off.
“I was surprised because we got some of the same responses as last time saying I did not qualify.
“Then in the final paragraph they finally said I was being granted leave to remain.”
The new visa means that Mr Crane is free to seek work again in the UK. He had been forced to leave his job in a civilian role at RAF Lakenheath when he found out his visa had expired.
“This visa allows me to work, I just do not have access to public funds such as the Citizens’ Advice Bureau or Job Seekers’ Allowance if where I was working was to go bust,” he said.
“At the moment I’m hoping to find something a little closer to home in Newmarket.”
In an update, Matthew Crane said: “We received a piece of good news through the post – a signature required letter containing a residence card for my father.
"Whilst this is great news, knowing that he is allowed to stay and work until close to the end of 2017, it leaves many unanswered questions which we will be chasing up."
Mr Crane is hoping to find out whether this visa will mean he has to start his length of stay in the UK all over again so that he can eventually become a permanent citizen.
Matthew also hit out at the latest visa conditions, which are similar to Mr Crane's previous visa conditions.
He added: "There is still one matter that boggles my mind.
"They are happy for him to work, pay tax and national insurance, but when it comes to public funds they have denied him.
"Maybe one day our immigration system will get the repairing it desperately needs."
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