A mother who is 37 weeks pregnant is in a race against time to be reunited with her seven-year-old daughter who lives in Jamaica before the birth of her baby.

With just three weeks to go to her due date, Shirla Graham of Walthamstow is calling on the Home Office to treat her application as a priority after she mistakenly filled out the wrong form.

The 28-year-old carer moved to the UK from her native Jamaica in 2016.

After saving for two years, in June she sent a fee of £2,389 with an application for ‘indefinite leave to remain’ but should instead have filled out an ‘indefinite leave to enter’ form.

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After weeks of uncertainty, Ms Graham was told last week that the Home Office would refund her the money so she can use it to file another application.

But a week later she is still waiting for the money to be transferred and time is ticking closer to her son’s arrival.

“I’ve always wanted to bring her here,” she said of her daughter Natori McLean who lives with her grandaunt.

“No one will look after your child as well as you will. She doesn’t smile anymore and she cried when I was on the phone to her recently.

“It doesn’t get any better. I feel guilty even though I know I left Jamaica for the right reasons.

“To be honest I think I am a bit excited (about the baby) but it’s all about my daughter right now. I just want to get her here and I’m really stressed.

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“I’m not able to sleep and I feel guilty having my baby when by daughter isn’t here.”

Ms Graham’s grandmother belonged to the Windrush generation and after settling in the UK she gave birth to a daughter – Ms Graham’s mother.

Her mother returned to her native country, where Ms Graham and her siblings were born and brought up.

Ms Graham discovered she was pregnant in January, shortly after she returned from a trip to Jamaica to visit her daughter and boyfriend.

Although she receives support from family members in London, she said it was the help of her sister’s neighbour, Sheilla Potts of upper Walthamstow, which gave her hope.

“Sheilla has been a huge help to me,” she said.

After being moved by Ms Graham’s story, Ms Potts raised the case with Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy last week.

Just hours later they received confirmation that the money would be refunded.

Ms Potts, 42, said: “When she told me her story I cried. My heart broke. I understand how it is to have a child – you’re not yourself because you are hormonal.

“Here is someone in maternity, about to have a child, and she does not have another £2,000 to spare. They need to give her back her money.

“I believe that if you treat someone like they’re not a human being you hurt their spirit.

“I could not sleep thinking about her and was waiting for 9am on Monday to ask Stella for help. She has been brilliant.”

A spokesman for the Home Office said: “A full refund of £2,389 has been processed today, 15 August, in respect of the ILR application submitted by Shirla Graham in error.

"This can take up to 48 hours to be credited back to the bank card used.”