She was booted off the X Factor at the weekend - now Zimbabwe-born Gamu Nhengu has an anxious wait to discover whether she's about to be booted out of the UK too.

Viewers' favourite Gamu lost out on a much-coveted place in the live finals when judge Cheryl Cole turned her down in favour of Katie Waissel and Cher Lloyd.

And now it has emerged that Cheryl was advised not to pick the 18-year-old, despite her note-perfect performance, as she hadn't renewed her immigration visa in time.

Upset: Gamu Nhengu's mother Nokuthula, pictured yesterday outside the family's home in Scotland, said her daughter 'doesn't know' if she can speak to anyone following her rejection for the X Factor finals 

However, Miss Nhengu’s return looks unlikely and the source added: ‘Cheryl did have some doubts about Gamu for her original three, but she would definitely have picked Gamu for her wildcard entry.’

Miss Nhengu moved to Scotland eight years ago with her two younger brothers, Milton, now 11, and Marty, now nine, after their mother, Nokuthula, 38, began studying at Stirling University. She has now qualified as a nurse.

Her mother was allowed to stay in the UK under the Fresh Talent scheme and had leave to remain - the right to stay - until August 29 this year.

Miss Nhengu and her siblings were allowed to stay in the UK as their mother’s dependant.

The family reapplied to stay in the UK in August but their application will take a couple of months to process.

An X Factor source admitted: ‘It was lucky that Cheryl did her judges houses in the UK as we would have had problems taking Gamu abroad as she does not have a valid passport.’

However, Mail Online has learned that 27-year-old 3 Words star Cheryl was advised not to pick Miss Nhengu as one of her three finalists, as her visa ran out in August and has yet to be renewed.

Some 16.2million viewers watched the show on Sunday - a record at this stage in the competition - and hundreds yesterday bombarded micro-blogging site Twitter with complaints, with one even saying: 'Gamu is far and away the most outstanding singer in the competition! Cheryl Cole is stone deaf.’

Britain's Got Talent star Amanda Holden ranted on her Twitter: 'Very shocked to see Gamu not thru. Waste!'

This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby added: 'If Gamu does come back as a wildcard she could go on and win it. She is going to have the whole nation behind her. That is an advantage!'

By Daily Mail