Absolutely delighted with the successful outcome of this family reunion appeal. Can now admit, was beginning to panic at the delay in receiving the determination.
The appeal on human rights grounds was for 3 ‘adopted’ children of a refugee, who was their aunt. It was a particularly complex case not least because one of the applicants was over 18 years old at the time of application, and another child turned 18 by the time of the hearing.
The applications of the refugee’s 3 adopted children were refused by a Visa Officer as they were not the refugee’s own children and there had been no formal adoption. Not that this would have been recognised in the UK anyway.
This was a particularly distressing case for the family as whilst the applications of these 3 applicants (one of them already 18 years old at the time) were refused, the applications of the refugee’s own children and husband were granted.
This resulted in a forced separation of the family unit for almost a year and left both the parents and siblings devastated.
The appeal was prepared with meticulous attention to proving how the three Applicants had formed part of the family unit from a young age and how their refugee mother and her husband had taken over the role of their parents from an early age. As well as very detailed witness statements from both the refugee mother and her husband they were advised at length upon what they would have to prove at the hearing.
They were also represented by our Ms Sanghera at their hearing, who made detailed Article 8 submissions to the Immigration Judge. We took care in demonstrating how not only the 3 Applicants’ and their parents family life would be breached but, more importantly the family lives of their younger siblings, already in the UK following the successful outcome of their own applications.
The family are delighted with the successful outcome and can now finally be reunited after such a lengthy separation.