A father has been separated from his children for seven weeks after being denied boarding a flight from Barbados due to a visa rule change. Ryan Cameron, a professional tiler from Blackwater, Cornwall, says he has lived in the UK since moving from Denver, Colorado, as an 18-month-old and has indefinite right to remain.
Mr Cameron claims he was prevented from boarding his flight home on March 16 because his physical paperwork was no longer valid. The Home Office is transitioning from physical documents to eVisas, a digital record, and says it is taking a “phased approach” to the change. The department maintains that physical documents are still valid, but Mr Cameron says he was told he needed a No Time Limit visa, which he can only apply for from within the UK.
Mr Cameron’s children flew home with his mother, leaving him stranded in Barbados. He says the situation is “heartbreaking”, with his children crying during FaceTime calls. He has raised £2,600 towards a £3,000 GoFundMe target to support his business, which he says is at “serious risk” due to lost work.
The Home Office said it is “working with carriers to resolve the issue”. Mr Cameron claims he has received conflicting advice from the Home Office and UK Visa and Immigration staff, and that authorities have shown a lack of compassion. He has been unable to find any notification about the rule change.
