Moray MP Douglas Ross has welcomed news that Matt Freeman has been granted leave to remain by the UK Home Office.
Mr Ross has worked on behalf of Mr Freeman since he was first elected as an MP in 2017.
Mr Freeman first moved to the UK from his native China in 2003 and now lives in Lossiemouth. He had been denied leave to remain in the UK after a battle lasting several years.
Mr Ross raised his case in the House of Commons last month with the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, who agreed to look at the matter again. The Moray MP presented all the documentation in the case to the Home Secretary during a meeting in Westminster last week.
The Home Office has now confirmed that the decision to refuse Mr Freeman leave to remain has been reversed on the basis of "exceptional circumstances outwith the rules".
Scottish Conservative MP for Moray Douglas Ross said:
“This is a great result. I am delighted for Matt, who has waited a long time for this news. It must have been incredibly difficult for him to be told that he had to leave the country.
“I have worked very hard on his behalf for several years now to get to this point.
“I am very grateful to the Home Secretary for agreeing to look at this case again.
“Priti Patel sat down with me recently and we reviewed all the documentation in this case.
"I argued strongly, as I have always done, that Matt should be allowed to stay here in Moray, where he has made his home and been an asset to the local community.
“The Home Office has made the right decision and I’m so pleased for Matt. He can now concentrate on all the positive work he does in our area and hopefully feel more at peace now this burden has been lifted.”
