Adam Grydehoj and son Sigurd. The Whitstable father has been stranded in Denmark for six months due to visa complications.

by Adam Williams

awilliams@thekmgroup.co.uk

A Whitstable father and morris dancer is hoping to be reunited with his family following visa complications.

Adam Grydehøj, whose seven-year-old son Sigurd and wife Anne live in Woodlawn Street, has been stranded in Denmark for the past six months.

Just as his case looked to be dragging on due to administrative delays, this week the UK Border Agency agreed to grant him a new visa after reviewing his application.

Anne, 35, a modern languages teacher, was thrilled with the news.

She said: “I’m so happy and absolutely delighted. He should be back here in a few weeks.

“It’s been very, very frustrating, especially for Sigurd, as he’s been asking time and time again when his father is coming home and I’ve not been able to give him an answer.

“Adam has only seen him twice in the last six months and Sigurd has had to fly over to Copenhagen on his own during school holidays just to spend time with him. It’s been absolutely awful.”

American citizen Adam, 29, adopted Anne’s surname and moved to Whitstable from Denmark in May last year on a European Family Permit visa. In March, he was forced to travel to Copenhagen to renew his UK visa. But, what should have been a brief stopover soon turned in to an administrative nightmare.

His application, based on access rights to his son, was rejected.

Adam, originally from Miami, quickly endeared himself to the Whitstable community. He became a keen member of the Dead Horse Morris dance group and a performer with the Shipwright Shanty Crew.

Speaking from Copenhagen before the Border Agency overturned the rejection, Adam admitted he was desperate to get back to life in Whitstable.

He said: “I’ve been paying rent for my flat in town while I’ve had to live out of suitcase over here.

“I miss Whitstable a great deal. The place has been great to me and my family and it’s been wonderful to be a part of the culture. I’ve done a lot of travelling in my life and it felt like a great place to settle down. I can’t wait to return.”

Commenting on the U-turn, UK Border Agency spokesman Richard Crowe said: “Each application to enter the UK is considered on its individual merits and in accordance with the immigration rules, which are firm but fair and apply universally to all those who require a visa to come to the UK.

“We have reviewed Mr Grydehøj’s application and have decided that his visa can be issued.

"We have told him his visa will be issued shortly and his passport will be returned to him in Copenhagen next week.”

Adam is now waiting to apply for a Danish green card before hearing when he can return with his new visa.