From 1 Sept 2025Cooper says applications for refugees to bring family members to UK being halted until new, tighter rules in placeCooper says the government wants to change the family reunion rules for asylum seekers.
double quotation markThe current rules for family reunion for refugees were designed many years ago to help families separated by war, conflict and persecution, but the way they are now being used has changed.
Even just before the pandemic, refugees who applied to bring family to the UK did so on average more than one or two years after they had been granted protection – long enough for them to be able to get jobs or find housing [so they would be] able to provide their family with some support.
In Denmark and Switzerland, currently those granted humanitarian protection are not able to apply to bring family for at least two years after protection has been granted.
But here in the UK now, however, those applications come in, on average, around a month after protection has been granted – often even before a newly granted refugee has left asylum accommodation.
