Mum stranded in Jamaica for more than a year after baby not issued visa

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

A Croydon mum who has lived in England since she was eight has been stranded in Jamaica for more than a year after the Home Office didn’t issue her baby a visa.

Tiffany Ellis gave birth to her son, Xien, in April 2021 and has been trying to return with him to the UK since then.

More than 600 people have signed a petition to bring the mother and baby home, and the Home Office has now finally confirmed it has issued baby Xien a visa.

The pair have been separated from Tiffany’s husband, Zarren Ellis, and five-year-old Xianna, who returned to England in December 2021.

The family were in Jamaica so Tiffany and Zarren could get married in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

They managed to get married in August, and a month later Tiffany became pregnant with Xian. Due to severe pregnancy sickness she stayed in Jamaica until the baby was born.

The petition in support of the family reads: “Xien suffers from a kidney condition for which it has been specified that specialist paediatric treatment for this condition is not available in Jamaica, thus it is urgent that mother and child are returned to the UK immediately.

And the mum of two told The Guardian: “The whole situation is so heartbreaking.

“How can I explain this to my daughter? She thinks I’ve abandoned her.

“I’ve never been apart from her before. Xien tries to hug his dad on the screen when we do video calls.

“I just want to get Xien home before his health worsens.”

A Home Office spokesman previously said it was waiting to reconsider the application. On Tuesday afternoon, it issued a statement which said: “We are in contact with Ms Ellis and have now issued the child’s visa.”

Sarah Jones, the family’s MP, said it took the Home Office four months to reply after she first raised the Ellis’ case and said Tiffany’s treatment has been “utterly unacceptable”.

She previously said: “The Home Office must do all they can to ensure that this mother and child can return home and be reunited with their family as a matter of urgency.”

Pictured top: Tiffany Ellis has been trying to return to the UK from Jamaica since April 2021 (Picture: Flickr.com/Tomash Devenishek)