A MOTHER-OF-TWO who has taught English in Turkey for 24 years will finally be allowed to join her husband in Scotland after a U-turn.
Jilda Clark had wanted to join pharmacy academic Dr Philip Clark to be closer to his frail parents Philip Sr, 86, and Irene, 88, from Ayr, but had her application rejected as she could not provide proof she had a basic grasp of the language.
The family protested to Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister Alex Salmond after the UK Border Agency said her English qualifications in Turkey were not good enough.
After The Herald revealed their plight, news of Mrs Clark's ban spread across Turkey.
It was feared she would be separated from her husband and two children, Brendan, 17 and Eilidh, 12, who are in Scotland, for at least six months pending an appeal.
Now officials at the UK consulate in Istanbul have contacted the family to say the way is clear for a visa to be granted, which means no appeal will be necessary.
On Monday, the UK Border Agency was resolute in the defence of its decision, which insisted Mrs Clark had to pass a basic English language test recognised by the agency. That test no longer has to be taken.
Mrs Clark, 48, who as a foreign languages department principal has taught English as a second language at the International Gateway Academy in Istanbul for the past nine years, said: "Praise the Lord and thanks to my family members for the support they have given us so far. You can't imagine the joy of Eilidh and Brendan. Same with us here along with my aunt, my mum and dad."
Mrs Clark, who for five years from 1989 also taught English as a second language to Turkish students at the University of Marmara in Istanbul, still plans to continue with the language test as the family have already paid for it.
The UK Government brought in the language proficiency test for some would-be immigrants two years ago while vowing to tighten immigration.
Anyone applying for a visa for long-term residency has to sit a test to make sure they have a basic grasp of spoken English.
The agency's UK Visas and Immigration section would not accept qualifications provided by Mrs Clark, who has a BA and MA in English language teaching gained at the University of Bosphorus and University of Istanbul.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "Visa applications are considered on their individual merits, in line with our immigration rules. Mrs Clark has now submitted sufficient documents to assure us she meets the requirements of these rules."
The family applied to have Mrs Clark cleared for entry to the UK under immigration rules that allow for "family life as a partner".
Dr Clark, an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy at the Yeditepe University Pharmacy School in Istanbul, said: "We appreciate your efforts on our behalf which hopefully it will have the spin off effect of raising awareness and thus creating a more just and compassionate processing of applications."
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