Newbury optician Valarie Jerome gets British citizenship following an 11-year wait after moving here from the US

Valarie Jerome, owner of private opticians Valarie Jerome Optometrists in Northbrook Street, Newbury, faced many struggles in her dream of moving and opening her own business in the UK, writes Ace Beattie.

But, a long 11-year wait for her British citizenship was finally rewarded on Tuesday, April 1, at Shaw House.

After originally moving from America in 2009, she returned to Britain from her home in Florida in 2014, beginning her British citizenship application in the same year.

In 2016, she attempted to renew her visa and was faced with two options of deportation or a humanitarian visa, similar to a Windrush visa, due to her infant child.

“In 2016, when I went to renew my visa, I had changed from self-employed to director of a limited company within a tax year, so they counted my income as zero and couldn’t extend my visa,” she said.

She stated the citizenship cost her £20,000 overall, including lawyers’ fees.

She was also required to pre-pay for each visa renewal and for the NHS services, which came to £250 and has since gone up.

She added: “Some people ask me, ‘doesn’t it make you angry that you’ve paid and other people haven’t?’ Not at all.

“I would do whatever it took to be with my family. And no one’s immigration journey is easy.”

Finally, her hard work was rewarded, and she was awarded her citizenship by chairman of West Berkshire Council Billy Drummond and deputy lord lieutenant of Berkshire Harry Henderson, along with 26 other people.