Immigration news & Gossips ( Musyi Munene)

Tayside woman facing deportation to South Africa will next week meet with the UK Borders and Immigration Agency to review her case.

Josie Pasane, of Broughty Ferry, hopes the meeting with Home Office officials in Glasgow next Thursday will allow her to put forward a strong case for her to remain in the UK.

Miss Pasane, 25, had been ordered to leave the country, while her mother Catherine and sister Mammie were granted indefinite leave to stay in the UK.

They blamed her predicament on advice given to them by immigration officials.

“I’m glad it’s moving and am happy to hear from the Home Office,” she said. “It gives me hope they want to review my case in more detail. This may be my last chance and will be a time for me to put my view across. I have to be optimistic as there’s nothing I can say I’ve done wrong.

“I’ve been trying to remain strong and have got strength from my community and the support I’ve been given. Without that, I’m not sure I would have got this far.”

The family arrived in the UK seven years ago and applied for permanent residence in 2004. They claim they were advised that Miss Pasane’s application could be deferred until her visa ran out this year but her application was refused in January.

A petition circulated in the Broughty Ferry and Dundee areas attracted more than 3,000 signatures, and was submitted to the Home Office by Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie.

The Pasane family’s minister, the Rev Catherine Collins, of Broughty Ferry New Kirk, who was at the forefront of the local campaign, said she believes the public’s reaction had helped Miss Pasane’s cause.

“I’m delighted. That’s what we wanted, to have the case looked at properly and for the Home Office to use its discretion and have Josie stay,” she said.

“What the review will cover I don’t yet know, but I’m pleased she has had a response and that it mentions the petition. That was obviously part of the process.”

Mr Hosie also said he hoped the meeting would have a successful outcome.

“I am delighted the campaign on behalf of Josie has secured an early review,” he said. “I know how hard this period of uncertainty has been for her. “I am pleased that Borders and Immigration have moved speedily to set up this meeting to resolve the matter and I have every hope that the meeting will be successful.”