A mother and her six-year-old son are at risk of losing their home in the UK after the Home Office ended her lawful residence without proper notification, despite her digital visa showing she had the right to remain. Skye von der Osten, a US-German national, moved to the UK in 2023 on a skilled worker visa, working as a creative director. She was let go from her job in February 2024, leaving her to seek new employment that could sponsor her visa or find another way to stay in the UK. After applying to waive the cost of a family visa, her digital immigration status showed she had the right to remain in Britain. However, the Home Office later informed her that this was incorrect and that she was an overstayer, meaning she was staying in the country without legal permission. She now faces deportation and the need to remove her son from school, disrupting the life they have built in the UK. The Home Office reportedly mixed up her application for a global talent visa endorsement with a formal application to remain in the country. As a result, they ended her fee waiver application, which had been prolonging her right to stay in the UK. Officials informed her in December 2025 that they would no longer make a fee waiver decision but did not explain that she needed to apply to stay in Britain within the next 10 days or become an overstayer. Throughout this period, Ms. Von der Osten’s online visa showed she had the right to be in the UK. A letter dated 23 December stated she "will be contacted regarding your paid application in due course," despite the fact that she had not yet submitted such an application. She was then told in May 2026 that she was considered an overstayer by the Home Office and that any application to stay would be refused. Ms. Von der Osten is now challenging the decision in court and has been forced to crowdfund her living costs after depleting her savings on attempts to remain in the UK. She stated she had been following the rules, had not worked, left the country, or jeopardized her visa application. She said she relied in good faith on the information provided by the Home Office and expressed frustration over the lack of communication. She described the process as cruel, noting that the system forces individuals to give up and does not provide enough information, making it difficult for many to succeed. She added that she has no rights to benefits, cannot work, travel, or access public funding support, and feels that her contributions to the UK, including paying taxes, are not considered. Philip Turpin, a consultant solicitor at Turpin Miller, who is handling her case, stated that there was a clear mistake by the Home Office, which has led to damaging consequences for Skye and her son. A Home Office spokesperson said they do not routinely comment on individual cases and that all visa applicants are provided with appropriate guidance throughout the process. Each application is assessed on its individual merits along with the evidence provided.