A woman and her family have been left “in limbo” after a court battle to deport her failed to start yesterday.
Angela Smith, 46, who is living illegally in Arbroath, is fighting to stay in the UK after her latest visa application was refused.
She went to Glasgow to fight her case but was dismissed after five hours due to the Home Office solicitor stating the case was “not prepared”.
Ms Smith must now wait until she is recalled, at an unspecified date.
“All of us are in limbo,” she said last night.
“I just wanted to get my life back get back to work.
“My daughter wants the pressure to stop because she’s basically in limbo too, and wants a conclusion.
“We aren’t sure if we can go on holiday in July our whole lives are revolving around the case.”
The American native has lived in Arbroath since 2007 but has faced an ongoing battle to stay since separating from her husband.
Angela is the primary carer for her 13-year-old daughter Ceilidh, who is a fully-fledged UK citizen, but would have to leave her behind and go back to America.
The application was refused as the Home Office said there was no reason why Ceilidh could not remain in the UK with Angela’s ex-husband, who still lives locally.
Angela was planning to buy a house and get married to partner Matthew Tribble, 40, before the Home Office letter turned their world upside down.
Jamie Kerr, of Tayside solicitors Thorntons, formally lodged an appeal to the tribunal on Ms Smith’s behalf against the decision of the Home Office.
The Angus Council worker said she would “try to take some positives” from the nerve-racking experience.
She said: “For two hours I was looking at one woman in court who was absolutely tortured.
“She looked like she was going to burst into tears, and once she was dealt with she left giggling and with happy faces completely different people.
“They had a happy ending and I hope we do too.”
The Home Office were approached to comment on the case but did not do so.