A Ukrainian teenager is finally set to be reunited with his family it Britain two months after he should have got here - and weeks after his pet dog arrived.
Ivan Pavliuk has been 'stranded' in Germany following a visa error after the frightened 17-year-old was forced to flee his home country, StokeOnTrent Live report.
Home Office red tape delayed his arrival after his visa was issued with the wrong date of birth and he was forced to travel 40 miles to collect a replacement which didn't exist.
The blunder still has not been corrected months later but he is on the move to Stoke-On-Trent following an intervention by a local MP.
Last week the teen, who is staying with his aunt until he can reach his mother and step-father in Ball Green, was told to travel to the visa application centre in Dusselsdorf 40 miles away to collect his replacement UK visa in person.
However when he got there on Friday he was told there wasn't one waiting for him.
Stoke-on-Trent North MP Jonathan Gullis decided to act and the family have now been told that Ivan should return to Dusseldorf where his visa will be waiting.
He will finally be able to join his family 10 weeks after the incorrect visa was issued.
Ivan left the home he shared with his 25-year-old brother Slavik in Ivano-Frankivsk when war broke out with just the clothes he was wearing, his birth certificate, passport and his pet dog under his arm. He has been living with Svitlana's sister in Germany ever since.
His pet dachshund, Cheze, is already living in Stoke-on-Trent after receiving a pet passport in Germany.
Step-father Jonathan told StokeOnTrentLive that Ivan showed the staff the printed email sent by the visa application centre to the family's solicitor on Wednesday, June 15 but was told that he already had his visa and could travel on that despite the incorrect date of birth.
However they gave him nothing in writing and when Jonathan's solicitor contacted the Home Office for advice she was told that Ivan must not travel on the visa with the wrong details, which had been issued on April 11. The family say they have checked all the information they supplied when they applied for the Ukrainian family scheme visa on March 18, and that the error lies with the Home Office, who issued the vital document showing Ivan's correct day and year of birth but the wrong month.
Jonathan said he contacted Jo Gideon, who was his MP at the time as they were then living in Hartshill, on April 30 to ask for help and did not received a response. But after contacting his new MP Jonathan Gullis at the weekend the family were told this week that they will soon be reunited with Ivan.
The 55-year-old said: "I just want to thank MP Jonathan Gullis for his speedy response in helping resolve this matter and giving some common sense to the situation.
"This has been an unnecessary stress and emotional rollercoaster for months and could have easily been resolved more quickly if someone in the UK Immigration Department just managed to do their job competently.
"This is a huge sigh of relief for me and my wife Svitlana. We are so happy that we will be a family again soon, but will not be celebrating just yet until Ivan has his UK visa in his hand. We are looking forward to welcoming Ivan home."
Stoke-on-Trent North MP Jonathan Gullis said he had contacted the Home Office on the family's behalf. He said: “I am very sorry to hear how poorly Ivan has been treated to date. I cannot begin to imagine the distress of his mother, Svitlana.
"After receiving contact regarding this case, I contacted Home Office officials and Parliamentary aides to the Home Office about Ivan’s case.
"My office have today spoken directly with the Home Office who escalated the case and in a further update this afternoon I have been informed Ivan’s rectified visa can now be collected from the visa application centre in Dusseldorf. The family have been informed with the details and are understandably relieved.
"I will be raising this unacceptable situation with the relevant Minister as mistakes which have caused considerable anxiety and stress for this family should never have happened."
