Forty British officials living in America face being thrown out of the country unless they spend thousands of pounds to become permanent US residents, the Telegraph can reveal.

The employees at Britain’s Washington embassy and consulates across America have been caught up in a crackdown on diplomatic visas being pursued by the US government.  

Some of those affected have been working for the UK government for decades and have resorted to lobbying US senators directly in an attempt to remain in the country.  

The uncertainty has placed immense strain on those affected, with some forced to leave their jobs and others employing outside lawyers to fight their case.  

Questions have been raised about…