Happy Ending for 92-Year-Old South African in the UK…She Can Stay!

After public outrage, world headlines, a petition and relentless support from her barrister, 92-year-old Myrtle Cothill is now allowed to remain in the UK with her daughter.

Her barrister, Jan Doerfel, posted the following message to the petition page on Change.org today:

“Right in time for [UK] Mother’s Day, we have been told by the Home Office that the original refusal of leave to remain has been reconsidered in light of the fresh evidence provided and that “subject to final security checks and enrolment of biometrics, Myrtle Cothill will be granted leave to remain without recourse to public funds.”

“This is a wonderful result and *THANK YOU* for all your vital and overwhelming support empowering this campaign. Every single one of your messages and comments have meant the world to Mary and Myrtle, we are all grateful beyond words.

“We will now be planning to present this Petition to the Government urging them to change this law which has caused Mary and Myrtle and so many others like them, such heartache and suffering.

“When we told Myrtle of the Home Office decision to grant her leave to remain, she said through tears: “I feel like a weight has been lifted off me. I want to thank everyone who has supported me and God bless them all. It has made such a tremendous difference to me. It’s too wonderful.”

“Her daughter, Mary, thanked us all and added: “Words cannot explain how I am feeling. I am overwhelmed. It is the best Mother’s Day present we could have hoped for.”

“As Myrtle’s barrister, I think what this amazing campaign has shown is that family values have won after a long battle. The unequivocal strength of sentiment expressed by all of you, shows that the public does not support Immigration Rules which do not allow family members to care for and look after their vulnerable relatives. We are now hoping that the Government is listening to you and will reverse the change to the current Adult Dependent Relative Rule.

“For now, let’s all celebrate this amazing joint effort without which, Myrtle and Mary would never have achieved the best Mother’s Day gift of their lives. Thank you, Jan Doerfel.”

Doerfel also tweeted the following full press release which includes more details of the case:

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms in the UK!