Lossiemouth resident Matt Freeman will find out his future "in the next couple of weeks" after Moray MP Douglas Ross meets Home Secretary Priti Patel
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A LOSSIEMOUTH resident who is fighting against deportation is a "couple of weeks" away from finding out whether he will be allowed to remain in the United Kingdom.
Home Secretary Priti Patel will make a decision regarding Matt Freeman's future in the coming weeks after she met with Moray's MP Douglas Ross this week to discuss the case.
Mr Freeman said he is "happy" that his case is being considered and thanked his friends for their support.
The China-born 47-year-old moved to the UK in 2003, three years after the death of both of his parents, and has lived in Moray since 2012.
However, he has never been successful in his appeal for permanent residency and the Home Office told him in January that he had to return to China.
MORE: Moray man fighting deportation after 17 years living in the UK.
After raising this case in the House of Commons last month, Moray's Conservative MP Douglas Ross met Home Secretary Priti Patel this week to talk in detail about Matt's case.
Ms Patel has reviewed all the documents connected to the case and will respond "in the next couple of weeks".
Matt said: "I am happy to with this news, which is a further step for my case.
"I am so grateful to all my friends who are supporting me.
"I also believe my case is not the only case. It relates to mental health, inmigration policy and human rights."
Douglas Ross said: "I have worked on Matt's case for the past four years and have written many letters of support for his efforts to remain here in Moray.
"I was very pleased that the Home Secretary agreed to meet me to discuss the case. There was a huge amount of paperwork to review.
“We have gone through all the documents on Matt’s case and the Home Secretary has agreed to respond to me in the next couple of weeks.
"I hope we can get a positive outcome for Matt to remain here in Moray, where he is a big part of the community.
"I have concerns about his welfare should he be sent back to his native China. He has no immediate family there, so no reason to return.
"However, he has a really good network of support here which is why I think it’s so important that Matt can stay here in Moray."
Matt co-founded local charity Moray Wellbeing Hub in 2017, while, in 2018, he was elected as director at VOX Scotland, a national mental health charity.
A petition calling for Matt to be allowed to remain in the UK has received more than 4000 signatures.
