Separated Afghan families to be reunited
Afghan families who were split up during the evacuation from Kabul in August 2021 will now have more clarity as the government has announced the expansion of the UK's main program for resettling Afghan citizens, the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS).
Afghans who were brought to the UK through Pathway 1 of the Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme and did not come with their close family members can now bring their immediate family members to join them. This includes children who were younger than 18 at the time they were evacuated, as well as spouses or partners. Children who were evacuated without their parents can also request for their parents or siblings to come to the UK, and they will receive help with their application from a trusted adult.
Afghans living in the UK can now apply to bring their family members to join them through an online form starting today, July 30th. The opportunity to submit referrals will be open for three months until October 30th, 2024. The government may also review requests for additional family members in special cases.
Minister Seema Malhotra, who is in charge of Immigration and Citizenship, stated:
It has been nearly three years since the departure of Kabul, but there is still a pressing requirement to make sure that those who supported our work in Afghanistan by defending democracy, freedom, and human rights, often putting themselves and their loved ones at great personal danger, can be brought together again.
We have a responsibility to bring back together families who were sadly torn apart and prevent them from suffering under the control of the Taliban. That's why I have broadened the scope of ACRS to help those who were left behind find a new home in the UK. Afghan people helped us, so it's only fair that we help them in return by creating a fair system that protects and assists those in the most need and who are most at risk.
Operation Pitting, carried out from August 13 to August 28, 2021, was a major effort by the UK to rescue over 15,000 individuals from Kabul within a span of 2 weeks. The fast and unusual evacuation process resulted in some people being brought to the UK without their close family members.
In Operation Pitting, the UK asked for the evacuation of certain groups of people who were considered to be in danger. This included female politicians, LGBT+ community members, women's rights activists, and judges. These individuals were brought to the UK under Pathway 1 of the ACRS, which focuses on helping vulnerable Afghans who qualify for resettlement. The program is still accepting applications, and the government will collaborate with the UNHCR, along with other countries and partners, to help ensure the safe journey of individuals to the UK.
With the scheme's growth, family members will now be required to visit a visa application center to provide their biometrics and travel documents before receiving their visa and being able to travel to the UK.
Blog: Helping Afghan families reunite in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) The Afghan citizens resettlement program includes a pathway for separated families to be reunited in the United Kingdom.
