An Australian family who faced deportation have won their long-running battle to stay in Scotland.
The Home Office has granted Kathryn Brain, her husband Gregg and son Lachlan – whose first language is Gaelic – leave to remain in the UK.
She has been given a Tier 2 visa after being offered a qualifying job with a hotel group.
A Home Office spokesman said: “We have always been clear with the Brain family that if a suitable job offer was received an application to remain in the UK would be considered.
“We gave them a number of extensions on an exceptional basis to allow them to try to secure a job that would allow them to meet the immigration rules.
“Mrs Brain was subsequently offered a job with a hotel group. This has been considered and we are satisfied that it meets the conditions for a Tier 2 visa.
“We have written to Mrs Brain and confirmed that she and her family have been granted leave to remain in the UK.”
The family, who are based in the Highlands, came to Scotland in 2011 on Mrs Brain’s student visa.
She had intended to transfer to a two-year post-study work visa upon completion of her degree, but the scheme was scrapped in 2012.
The decision was announced in 2011, three months before the family’s arrival, but they were not aware of it until they were already in Scotland.
They then opted to try to apply for a Tier 2 visa, for people from outside the European Economic Area offered a skilled job in the UK.
When time ran out earlier this year, the Brains were told they would have to take steps to depart voluntarily.
But after a campaign – backed by the family’s MP Ian Blackford – some employers came forward.
