An American couple who have spent the last five years building up their B&B business in Inverness are facing deportation.
Russell and Ellen Felber have had their application to remain in the UK denied – and have received a letter giving them just 30 days to leave the UK.
Inverness MP Drew Hendry has taken on their case and has hit out at the “ruthlessly dogmatic” Home Office for its treatment of the couple, originally from New York.
The Felbers own Torridon Guest House on Kenneth Street and have built the business up over the last five years.
Mr Felber said they already have half of their available bookings taken for next summer.
The couple came to the UK on a five-year entrepreneur visa and applied for leave to become permanent residents earlier this year.
The sticking point is over requirements around employment.
Their visa requires them to take on full time staff as a condition
They met the requirement when extending their original visa from its initial three-year period.
But now they have been told they need have four employees for 12 months each.
Mr Felber said: “This is our life here. We pay our National Insurance and our taxes.
“We’re not taking any public money and we’re contributing to society in our way.”
Mr Hendry, MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, said: “This is yet another case where a couple, working hard, being successful and adding to our community and local economy are being forced out of Scotland by a ruthlessly dogmatic Home Office with utter disregard.”
A spokesman for the Home Office said: “All applications are carefully considered on their individual merits, in line with the UK immigration rules and based on evidence provided by the applicant.”
