A couple have won a battle to be allowed to bring their baby grandson from the USA to live with them. Clive and Suzy Langley, from Newton Harcourt, have spent months living on opposite sides of the Atlantic and have paid out 9,000 in legal fees to try to secure 10-month-old Chase Holland-Langley permission to come to this country. Their battle has had a happy ending, with the family set to be reunited this week.
Immigration officials had refused to grant Chase permission to enter the UK despite. The UK Government initially said it was not persuaded the couple had been granted permanent custody by California courts. Clive, 60, said: “When we got that rejection it was like getting punched in the gut.
“Chase had been over with us on a temporary visa but we had to take him back for the court hearing to get permanent custody.
“Apart from a trip over there in July I haven’t seen him or Suzy since June.
“The only contact I have had with him is on Face Time.
“I have really missed them both. This is when I want to get to know my little boy.”
Clive Langley
Chase, who has a US passport, is being looked after by Suzy in San Diego, where they are staying in hotel rooms and relying on the good will of friends from church. They have been in California since June when a family court gave the couple permanent custody of the child. They were given temporary order granting them custody at Chase’s birth when a court agreed the baby’s mother Heather, 30 Suzy’s daughter was unable to care for him
Clive then returned to the family home in Leicestershire to make arrangements for his wife and Chase to follow.
But their plans stalled a month ago when Home Office blocked Chase’s entry into the UK. Clive said: “This has divided our family for months and cost me 9,000 so far in legal fees and court fees getting the paperwork for the Border Agency.
“I am lucky because I have the money to challenge the decision but many don’t.”
Clive, a financial adviser, said he hoped Chase and Suzy would come to Leicestershire in the next week. A letter from the International and Visa office said: “Having reviewed the new evidence you have provided, namely the court document issued by the Superior Court of California, I am satisfied Chase’s grandparents have both permanent custody of him and permission for him to reside outside of California.
“As such I have overturned the decision to refuse entry.
Clive said: “Chase is already a little Leicester City fan. He’s got home and away kits but I can’t wait to take him down the King Power.”
Clive was poised to be a UKIP parliamentary candidate in Harborough last year before withdrawing, but turned to former rival, MP Sir Edward Garnier,2 for help. He said: “Sir Edward has done a great job for me by contacting the authorities and helping to get the decision overturned. Sir Edward said: “It is good to be able to produce some happy news.”This is the day-to-day work of an MP.
What is unusual in this case is Clive stood against me.
“I hope this demonstrates MPs are there to help all their constituents.”
Clive said: “All this has softened my views on immigration.
We need proper border security but we do need a system with more compassion.”
The Mercury was unable to contact Heather.
Read more: Victoria Park revamp slips 240,000 over budget3
References
- ^ Comments (0) (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ Sir Edward Garnier, (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ Victoria Park revamp slips 240,000 over budget (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)