Oldmeldrum family left stranded in Moldova due to Brexit red tape
Parents Nicolae & Tatiana have the right to live here, but son Damian - born in Aberdeen - is the one struggling to gain settled status.
Last updated 13th Aug 2021
An Oldmeldrum family have seen their UK born son blocked from living in the UK.
They believe it's down to complications around Brexit.
Nicolae Cojocaru, a Scottish wrestling champion, is a British Citizen, and his Wife Tatiana has settled status.
The family have been left trapped in Moldova, Tatiana's home country, because when the June 30th deadline for applications for British settled status passed, they didn't think Damian was eligible for a passport here.
Tatiana and Damian traveled to Moldova in June, looking to obtain a Moldovan passport for the toddler.
Their intentions were to then send the passport back to Nicolae in Scotland, who would then apply for settled status for Damian.
But only then were the family made aware they'd also need biometric data - like a finger print - to be carried out in the UK.
This presented a further issue, with Nicolae under the belief his son won't be granted access into the country without a fast track visa.
They've applied for that, but have no idea when it might arrive.
There's extra pressure on getting home as pregnant Tatiana risks losing her job if she can't return soon.
Nicolae told us:
"It's so difficult, we are stuck in Moldova, my wife and son have been in Moldova for two months, and they can't come back.
"My wife is almost going to lose her job, she must come back to college and for work.
"It was very difficult to get in touch with Visa immigration, they didn't help much or tell us what to do"
The Home Office said: “We do not need fingerprints for children under the age of six, however they do have to have a digital photo taken of their face, which would then be used on their digital status.
“European Economic Area travellers can still enter the UK without a visa for six months with the production of a valid passport or national identity card.
“EEA citizens and family who have a pending application to the EU Settlement Scheme continue to have right of admission until the outcome of their application – which means they do not require a visa.”
But Nicolae says that is completely the opposite of what they've heard from UK Visas and immigration. He claims they told him his son will need a visa to enter the UK.
And Northsound have learned today the family attempted to board a flight, having purchased tickets and paid for covid tests, only to be told at the Airport than Damian could not board the flight - in contrast to the home office claims.
Aberdeenshire MSP Gillian Martin has written to the Home Secretary Priti Patel as she looks to help the family.
"I'd like to say I was shocked, but sadly the bureaucratic nightmare of the settled status and the home office doesn't shock me anymore" said the politician.
She continued: "I am certainly very angry about it, and I'm determined to help the family get through this bureaucratic nightmare and get Damian and Tatiana home to Meldrum where they belong.
"I'm hopeful that certainly with a lot of the publicity, we can get Aberdeen born Damian home, and to nursery where he has a place waiting for him.
"We can get Tatiana back working and at college."