'I came here for dream jo The Home Office killed it'

A Brazilian student who worked for a leading art gallery has waited seven months to find out if she can remain in the UK

- HOLLY BANCROFT

A Brazilian fine art student has said her "dreams are on hold" after being left in limbo for seven months due to Home Office visa errors.

Julia Couto, 25, came to the UK five years ago to study at UCL's Slade School of Fine Art and hoped to stay and work in London on a graduate visa. Such a visa allows a foreign student to stay in the country for at least two years after they complete their course.

But the Home Office refused her application last October, saying she had not completed her course at UCL - although she had - and told her to leave the country within days. After this error was rectified by the university, Ms Couto applied for a second time but was again rejected in December after officials relied on the end date of her physical residency card rather than her visa.

Ms Couto applied for a review but, six months on, has not had a decision. She is now jobless, struggling for money and unable to make any plans for her future, including seeing her family.

She told The Independent: "It has been a very emotionally difficult period in my life, maybe the hardest point in my life. Applying for a review means waiting and waiting and hearing nothing back.