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Home Office appeals Gamu ruling
2011-05-19 11:45:08
19 May 2011 Last updated at 11:16 Share this page Delicious Digg Facebook reddit StumbleUpon Twitter Email Print X Factor's Gamu Nhengu faces Home Office visa appeal Gamu Nhengu will face further uncertainty following the Home Office's decision to appeal Continue reading the main story Related Stories Gamu ruling 'may be challenged' X Factor's Gamu told to leave UK Right to appeal granted to Gamu
A decision to allow former X Factor contestant Gamu Nhengu and her family to stay in Scotland is to be challenged by the Home Office.
An immigration court ruling on 11 May overturned an order that the family should return to Zimbabwe.
But UK Border Agency officials confirmed they would be appealing that decision.
The singer's mother, Nokuthula Ngazana, originally had her visa renewal turned down in August 2010.
Gamu was allowed to stay in the country as a dependant while her mother studied at university.
The 19-year-old singer's family have lived in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, for several years after coming to Scotland from Zimbabwe.
A Home Office spokesman said: "We can confirm that we are appealing the decision. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage of the proceedings.
Continue reading the main story Key dates Aug 2010: Nokuthula Ngazana's visa renewal turned down 3 Oct 2010: Gamu Nhengu rejected from X Factor show 7 Oct 2010: Family lawyers say they will appeal against Home Office decision 26 Nov 2010: Home Office officials reverse August decision and say they will reconsider 1 Mar 2011: Family lawyer confirms new Home Office ruling telling family to leave UK 11 May 2011: Family lawyer says family will be allowed to stay 19 May 2011: Home Office says it will appeal decision to allow family to stay"The UK Border Agency considers every case carefully and where we do not believe someone has the right to stay in the country, and does not require our protection, we expect them to return home."
The family's lawyer, Frances Farrell, was not available to comment on the Home Office's decision to appeal.
Last week, Mrs Farrell said the family were "delighted" at the court's ruling to allow them to stay, and said she hoped the Home Office would not exercise its right to appeal.
She went on to become a household name when X Factor judge Cheryl Cole failed to put her through to the live shows, favouring Cher Lloyd and Katie Waissel.
Gamu's mother's visa expired in August 2010 and the family's application to remain was initially rejected as "out of time" by the Home Office.