It was one flight cancellation a family in Calgary welcomed.

Minutes before being deported over a visa dispute and being separated from their infant son, a Nigerian couple was given a reprieve Wednesday to remain as temporary residents.

Deborah and Dimeji Tawose arrived in Calgary July 12 under the impression they’d be allowed to stay to seek jobs as medical radiologists under Ottawa’s skilled worker program.

But they said a lack of a visa for their eight-month-old son Inioluwa, born in Texas, had led to a deportation order they say blindsided them.

The family of five arrived at Calgary International Airport Wednesday for a possible deportation without their baby son, but a last-minute appeal led to a minister’s ruling and reversed the decision, said Kenny Thompson, a city immigration consultant aiding them.

“They’re getting their visas processed, it ended really great,” he said.

Said Deborah Tawose to the CBC: “I feel very, very grateful to God. I feel very excited. I feel relieved, I feel relieved. It’s been a sort of pain in our hearts.”

But it was a narrow victory.

The couple believed they’d correctly informed Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) officials at Canadian embassies in London and Dubai of the arrival of their new son, and believed they’d been given clearance to come, said Thompson.

“They complied with the law to the letter — this man and his family are hurting and we are killing their faith in the system,” said Thompson.

The Tawoses were living in the United Arab Emirates when they first applied to immigrate to Canada in 2013.

After deciding to vacation in the U.S., their son was born in Houston, with the family then coming to Calgary.

“They quickly wrote citizenship and immigration that they have a new addition … they came knowing their son does not require a visa,” said Thompson.

But days after their arrival, the Tawoses, staying with friends in Calgary, were told they’d have to leave the country to go back to Nigeria.

Worse still, because the infant son doesn’t have a Nigerian passport, he’d have to stay behind for at least two weeks until one was secured, said Thompson.

When they showed up at Calgary’s airport Wednesday, “the family is not willing to be divided,” said Thompson.

They then awaited word on the fate of an appeal.

“I was hoping they could apply at least on compassionate grounds, that they could work this out while living here,” said Thompson.

Soon after, that wish was granted.

CIC officials wouldn’t comment on the case, referring inquiries to the family.