A ‘gagging order’ has been imposed by a judge on the fate of an Angus woman’s appeal to stay in the UK.
It is the latest twist in Angela Faye Smith’s ongoing battle to stay in the UK since separating from her husband.
Mrs Smith, who is originally from America, has lived in Arbroath since 2007 but her latest visa application was refused at the beginning of the year.
Her solicitor, Jamie Kerr, formally lodged an appeal against the decision and the first-tier tribunal was heard in Glasgow last month.
Although a judgment was given following the hearing, the judge granted an anonymity order on the case which means the outcome cannot be reported.
Mr Kerr told The Courier: “For legal reasons, I am not permitted to comment on the outcome of Mrs Smith’s appeal.
“That is unfortunate, but I am afraid that I cannot say any more.”
A first-tier tribunal is an independent tribunal dealing with appeals against decisions made by the Home Secretary and her officials in immigration, asylum and nationality matters.
Appeals are heard by one or more judges, who are sometimes accompanied by non-legal members of the tribunal.
The Angus Council worker, 47, is the primary carer for her 13-year-old daughter Ceilidh, who is a UK citizen.
Her visa application was refused as the Home Office said there was no reason why Ceilidh could not remain in the UK with her father, Angela’s ex-husband.
Angela said: “I’m very frustrated and I’m hoping the anonymity order can be overturned. I’ve received fantastic support from the local community and I’d desperately love to let people know what’s happening.
“What the public don’t realise is that these things are happening to thousands of people across the UK.
“I’m lucky that my partner is paying for me to stay and fight but so many people simply run out of money and have to leave.”
Angela first came to the country in the late 1980s as the wife of a member of the US military.
She married her second husband, who is from Arbroath, in 1997 but left him in 2008.
She was planning to buy a house and marry partner Matthew Tribble before the Home Office turned their world upside down.
The Home Office would not comment on the case. A spokesman for Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service said: “An anonymity order was granted by the judge.”