London: After a day of embarrassing criticism over its refusal to grant dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei a six-month business visa and its assertion that Ai had lied on his application, the British government reversed itself Friday and said he would get the visa he wanted.

Theresa May, Britain's home secretary, was not consulted on the decision by the British Embassy in Beijing to give Ai a visa good for only 20 days, a spokeswoman for the Home Office said in a statement. "She has reviewed the case and has now instructed Home Office officials to issue a full six-month visa," the spokeswoman said. "We have written to Mr. Ai apologising for the inconvenience caused."

Free Speech Puzzle, 2014. Credit:Ai Weiwei

But there was no apology for accusing Ai of having lied on his visa application. Ai said Friday that he had yet to receive official notice, but that he welcomed the decision.