British Family Struggles to Reunite Due to UK Visa Rejection for Destitute Eight-Year-Old Girl Left Behind by Hurricane.
An eight-year-old girl from Jamaica, Lati-Yana Stephanie Brown, is facing a heartbreaking situation after being barred from joining her parents in the UK. The young girl was left destitute following Hurricane Melissa, which severely damaged her home and rendered her grandmother unable to care for her.
The girl's mother, Kerrian Bigby, who married Jerome Hardy, Lati-Yana's father, in April 2023, applied for a visa that would allow the eight-year-old to join them in the UK. However, despite saving up £4,000 for the application fee and stating an urgent situation had become an emergency, the Home Office has rejected the visa.
According to officials at the Home Office, while acknowledging the devastating effects of the hurricane on Lati-Yana and her family, they cited evidence that the grandmother can still provide care as a reason for rejecting the application. The parents have expressed devastation over the decision and plan to appeal against it, however, with an appeals backlog of 106,000 cases, their lawyer warned it could take up to two years before the case is heard.
Lati-Yana's mother described the emotional pain she has experienced since being separated from her daughter as 'incredibly painful' adding that she struggles to sleep at night knowing that her eight-year-old is far away and not receiving the care and support needed.
Her lawyer, Naga Kandiah, also criticized the Home Office for appearing to be taking a stricter view of such cases, stating that they were failing to demonstrate compassion for vulnerable young girls who are being separated from their parents due to circumstances beyond their control.
As an appeal is likely to come forward, Lati-Yana's parents will have to pay several thousand pounds more for the process.
An eight-year-old girl from Jamaica, Lati-Yana Stephanie Brown, is facing a heartbreaking situation after being barred from joining her parents in the UK. The young girl was left destitute following Hurricane Melissa, which severely damaged her home and rendered her grandmother unable to care for her.
The girl's mother, Kerrian Bigby, who married Jerome Hardy, Lati-Yana's father, in April 2023, applied for a visa that would allow the eight-year-old to join them in the UK. However, despite saving up £4,000 for the application fee and stating an urgent situation had become an emergency, the Home Office has rejected the visa.
According to officials at the Home Office, while acknowledging the devastating effects of the hurricane on Lati-Yana and her family, they cited evidence that the grandmother can still provide care as a reason for rejecting the application. The parents have expressed devastation over the decision and plan to appeal against it, however, with an appeals backlog of 106,000 cases, their lawyer warned it could take up to two years before the case is heard.
Lati-Yana's mother described the emotional pain she has experienced since being separated from her daughter as 'incredibly painful' adding that she struggles to sleep at night knowing that her eight-year-old is far away and not receiving the care and support needed.
Her lawyer, Naga Kandiah, also criticized the Home Office for appearing to be taking a stricter view of such cases, stating that they were failing to demonstrate compassion for vulnerable young girls who are being separated from their parents due to circumstances beyond their control.
As an appeal is likely to come forward, Lati-Yana's parents will have to pay several thousand pounds more for the process.
This is just heartbreaking 
. I cant belive that the Home Office is taking this long and rejecting the visa in the first place 
. The fact that they're considering Lati-Yana's grandmother being able to care for her as a reason for rejection is just not right 
. It's like they're saying that grandma's love and care aren't good enough, just because there are other options available 
.
. It's just not fair to leave their little girl behind and make her fight for a chance to be reunited with them 
. Two years is way too long to wait for an appeal hearing - it's just unacceptable 
.
.
... I mean, come on, what's the point of having a visa system if it's just gonna leave kids like her out to dry? £4k is nothing for a family trying to rebuild their lives after a hurricane! 
. It just doesn't seem right that she has to go through this much drama while other countries have more relaxed rules.
this is like, so heartbreaking. I mean, can't they see that this little girl is just a kid who needs her family? £4,000 isn't even that much money! 
And what's with the grandma thing? Can't she get some help or something? It's not like it's Lati-Yana's fault that her grandmother can't take care of her. The Home Office should be doing more to help these families, especially when it comes to kids who are going through trauma. I'm literally shaking thinking about this poor little girl 
two years is just too long to wait for a decision...
i mean i get it, we need to be strict but come on! a hurricane hit her and now she's stuck 
this is just heartbreaking & i'm literally sending all my vibes to Lati-Yana & her fam 
they deserve so much better than this 
can't the home office just show some compassion and let lati-yana be with her parents already?!
especially with the grandma being able to care for her, but still not being enough. 
I hope the parents' appeal gets a speedy hearing so Lati-Yana can be reunited with them ASAP 
, can't believe they're prioritizing grandma over a 8-yr-old girl who's been through trauma 
. This is heartbreaking and unacceptable 
. Need some compassion and common sense in decision-making 
They left Jamaica and all they can do now is sit back and watch her suffer? 
I mean, I get that there are rules and everything, but come on! A child is crying herself to sleep every night because she's not with her mum. 
. Its not fair that they got rejected just because granny is still lookin out for her - every child deserves love n care, regardless of what's happenin in their home life 
their lawyer is right, the home office needs to show some compassion here 