Page 4 | Can I bring my partners Syrian mum and sisters to the UK?

BA25 · 2024-12-07T19:53:40+00:00

war has broken out, there village is surrounded. Is there any way I can bring them here to keep them safe? My partner is crying non stop. Can I sponsor them? The rules are so confusing.

AliasGrace47 · 07/12/2024 22:58

Supersimkin7 · 07/12/2024 22:28

No scheme - Ukraine was invaded unprovoked by an enemy power, Syria’s doing a very long civil
war.

Big humanitarian difference.

From what I know, the FCO rebel army are fighting the tyrannical Assad government. But the FCO are known to have committed war crimes. Does this mean all families who oppose Assad are deemed the enemy? That seems v wrong.

MellersSmellers · 07/12/2024 22:59

Yes there is the UK Resettlement Scheme but the Syria-specific one is closed and candidates for resettlement need to be identified by UNHCR (so presumably from refugee camps) so that's not going to help you right here and now.
Theoretically they could come to the UK short term but they need visas and I can imagine they would be hard to get in the current situation.
Speak to an immigration lawyer but I suspect their chances of getting to the UK are low, sadly 😢

Wellsome · 07/12/2024 22:59

Suggest try Red Cross Reunification of Families scheme
x

Dinnerplease · 07/12/2024 23:01

There are no British consular services in Syria. You need to apply in person for biometrics. Lebanon would probably be the nearest place.

I also think this initial stage is going to be over very quickly. May be best for them to sit it out and see what happens in the next few weeks.

AliasGrace47 · 07/12/2024 23:02

Livelovebehappy · 07/12/2024 22:57

I hope not. Not least because it will open the floodgates for others to be accepted. We’re currently in crisis in this country already with huge demands on a collapsing infrastructure. Best for them to find a country nearby which can accommodate them on a temporary basis pending the sorting out of the situation in Syria, which would align more with their culture and language needs. There’s a lot of unrest in the world, and we’re a small island with very little room to accommodate everyone going through this type of situation. Sorry.

If no one can help them, & they're can't return, Europe must help! Not just us, we are overpopulated, everyone needs to help. We can't just abandon people. We are all human, we have a duty to preserve basic safety for everyone as far as we can.
I suppose the US are unlikely to help the way they are now...

AliasGrace47 · 07/12/2024 23:06

Op, I'm sorry to ask this, but in the event of a 'sit tight' situation, do they have a cellar or anywhere to hide? Provisions? Money? Valuables that could be looted and need to be hidden away? Items to defend w in case of looting?

SummerSnowstorm · 07/12/2024 23:07

user1473878824 · 07/12/2024 22:49

What an insane thing to say to someone.

Show quote history

What's insane about that?

Floppyelf · 07/12/2024 23:09

greenel · 07/12/2024 22:54

I don't know man - maybe just the fact I don't want my elderly, ill mother living alone 3000 miles away (with 3rd world health access) and dying in her sleep, without me knowing, because she has no other family? Especially when I'm a British citizen earning 6 figures and can easily afford to look after her. But because my mother isn't one, she will sadly die alone as she doesn't meet the requirements for a Family Visa. And I cannot safely or legally move back home to look after her. Not every family split up is because of war - people migrate for different reasons, and immigration is brutal and unfair. no matter what circumstances But as I said I accept this as the reality of my choices. There's nothing the UK can do about it, but you certainly can learn some empathy for those families who make sacrifices for a better future.

Show quote history

I known of a solicitors wife who themselves arrived in the 80s as refugees, naturalised became successful and paid a shit ton of taxes. She did bring her elderly mother to the Uk. She fought with the home office. She showed how much tax she paid as a successful BC and she was allowed to bring her mother…. Try it.

sparklychair · 07/12/2024 23:10

What are all these people fighting over? I don't understand. Lebanon, even Israel? They don't seem to be rich in natural resources. Is it Russia trying to achieve strategic positions?

Livelovebehappy · 07/12/2024 23:16

AliasGrace47 · 07/12/2024 23:02

If no one can help them, & they're can't return, Europe must help! Not just us, we are overpopulated, everyone needs to help. We can't just abandon people. We are all human, we have a duty to preserve basic safety for everyone as far as we can.
I suppose the US are unlikely to help the way they are now...

Show quote history

Seriously? There’s currently 7 million plus affected by the current situation in Syria. We already know that most of Europe is now pushing back against immigration. Even Germany who used to be big advocates of open door policy on immigration are now massively slowing things down. The UK is struggling to provide safety for people already here - NHS is a sinking ship. Homelessness increasing day on day. At what point do we actually try to preserve safety for people already here? You yourself say we’re over populated. There’s no more room at the Inn I’m afraid.

LifeisNOTlikeemmerdalefarm · 07/12/2024 23:17

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

AliasGrace47 · 07/12/2024 23:18

sparklychair · 07/12/2024 23:10

What are all these people fighting over? I don't understand. Lebanon, even Israel? They don't seem to be rich in natural resources. Is it Russia trying to achieve strategic positions?

Op's DH's family are in a village about to be surrounded by rebel troops, & people ask why there's a war, when they could just Google.
Assad is oppressive. I was 7 in 2013 & I have never forgotten the headlines in the newsagents about the bombing & gas attacks condoned by Assad on civilians, the people fleeing in boats, the refugees coming here. Has everyone here forgotten those? This army opposing him are not good either. They're nit true liberator, they've committed war crimes.

AliasGrace47 · 07/12/2024 23:23

Livelovebehappy · 07/12/2024 23:16

Seriously? There’s currently 7 million plus affected by the current situation in Syria. We already know that most of Europe is now pushing back against immigration. Even Germany who used to be big advocates of open door policy on immigration are now massively slowing things down. The UK is struggling to provide safety for people already here - NHS is a sinking ship. Homelessness increasing day on day. At what point do we actually try to preserve safety for people already here? You yourself say we’re over populated. There’s no more room at the Inn I’m afraid.

Show quote history

We certainly are struggling to provide enough resources for ourselves... I did say if 'no-one can help them'. Europe & the US need to pressure Egypt & Turkey to take them. The issue is that atm Turkey are turning refugees back to unsanitary & dangerous camps in Syria. Iraq is v unsafe, so is Lebanon bc of the war w Israel. We can't take everyone affected, but if people's lives are in danger, & neighbours refuse to help, I think we & the rest of Europe should accept refugees temporarily & try to find settlement plans w Syria' s neighbours in the meantime. We after all took in many Ukranian refugees indefinitely when the economy was poor, although there is ofc a limit.
Europe, maybe not us, should surely be able to help some people though, esp as birth rates are falling. Many 2015 refugees integrated well & became good citizens.

SaltLampFeelsDamp · 07/12/2024 23:32

AliasGrace47 · 07/12/2024 23:23

We certainly are struggling to provide enough resources for ourselves... I did say if 'no-one can help them'. Europe & the US need to pressure Egypt & Turkey to take them. The issue is that atm Turkey are turning refugees back to unsanitary & dangerous camps in Syria. Iraq is v unsafe, so is Lebanon bc of the war w Israel. We can't take everyone affected, but if people's lives are in danger, & neighbours refuse to help, I think we & the rest of Europe should accept refugees temporarily & try to find settlement plans w Syria' s neighbours in the meantime. We after all took in many Ukranian refugees indefinitely when the economy was poor, although there is ofc a limit.
Europe, maybe not us, should surely be able to help some people though, esp as birth rates are falling. Many 2015 refugees integrated well & became good citizens.

Edited

Show quote history

Turkey already has 3.5m Syrian refugees from the civil war, they aren’t looking for more!

StandingSideBySide · 07/12/2024 23:33

The Syrian refugee scheme closed here in the UK in 2021 once numbers had been reached.
As far as I’m aware there is no current scheme at the moment. Neighbouring countries are offering refuge,
The process of bringing relatives over is a long one and dependent on their ability to be financially independent or you to have the space and finances ( you’ll have to prove this ) to care for them in the long term. The rules are very stringent.
Search Govn website re how you can apply.

Livelovebehappy · 07/12/2024 23:38

AliasGrace47 · 07/12/2024 23:23

We certainly are struggling to provide enough resources for ourselves... I did say if 'no-one can help them'. Europe & the US need to pressure Egypt & Turkey to take them. The issue is that atm Turkey are turning refugees back to unsanitary & dangerous camps in Syria. Iraq is v unsafe, so is Lebanon bc of the war w Israel. We can't take everyone affected, but if people's lives are in danger, & neighbours refuse to help, I think we & the rest of Europe should accept refugees temporarily & try to find settlement plans w Syria' s neighbours in the meantime. We after all took in many Ukranian refugees indefinitely when the economy was poor, although there is ofc a limit.
Europe, maybe not us, should surely be able to help some people though, esp as birth rates are falling. Many 2015 refugees integrated well & became good citizens.

Edited

Show quote history

Turkey are not going to change their stance, and Egypt have very recently refused to take Palestinians, and tbh have taken many millions of refugees in recent years, so it’s understandable they are reluctant to take a few million more. Having said that, I believe countries in the Middle East should step up and take the Syrians. There is a high probability that the situation may eventually stabilise, meaning it would be easier for them to be accommodated in nearby countries than shipped over here. Our focus needs to be sorting out the shitshow we already have here. Our empathy is exhausted.

StandingSideBySide · 07/12/2024 23:39

Floppyelf · 07/12/2024 23:09

I known of a solicitors wife who themselves arrived in the 80s as refugees, naturalised became successful and paid a shit ton of taxes. She did bring her elderly mother to the Uk. She fought with the home office. She showed how much tax she paid as a successful BC and she was allowed to bring her mother…. Try it.

Show quote history

Things were very different then and we now have new rules
The Syrian refugee scheme is now closed here in the UK.

LondonFox · 07/12/2024 23:41

AliasGrace47 · 07/12/2024 23:02

If no one can help them, & they're can't return, Europe must help! Not just us, we are overpopulated, everyone needs to help. We can't just abandon people. We are all human, we have a duty to preserve basic safety for everyone as far as we can.
I suppose the US are unlikely to help the way they are now...

Show quote history

In the name of Europe: "Nope".
They can contribute to their original county of origin 😏

Tippexy · 07/12/2024 23:43

But the financial thresholds are high, £29k to sponsor a partner

Er, that isn’t at all high. Nowhere near enough to sustain two people.

AliasGrace47 · 07/12/2024 23:43

I see, I didn't know it was as high as that.. Still, someone has to help them. Egypt has many from Sudan too,I see it is v hard for them to take more. What about Iraq? The UN website indicates they at least have fewer refugees & there seems to be some support from UN agencies. Ofc there's the situation w Israel, but that will hopefully not escalate, esp with Trump in power.

www.unhcr.org/iq/protection

samarrange · 07/12/2024 23:45

SmashedBaubles · 07/12/2024 22:32

Why did your DP leave his mother and sisters behind in a war zone?

Must have been very dangerous for them for a long time.

We don't know when DP left Syria. It might have been before the civil war started. Syria used to be quite a peaceful and country (albeit run by a dictator) with a reasonably prosperous middle class.

Also, many areas of Syria have not been severely impacted by the fighting until now, especially around Damascus.

Also also, maybe DP did want to bring his family to the UK earlier, but was unable to do so because of immigration laws. So he had to choose between his mother and OP. We all make choices like that in life, just not in quite such dramatic circumstances.

AliasGrace47 · 07/12/2024 23:46

LondonFox, I think that would be somewhat difficult if you're caught in the middle of a war w an army like that, and a dictator like Assad.
Besides, the EU has stated this year that we need 1 million immigrants. Many of these Syrians could have skills we could benefit from.

StandingSideBySide · 07/12/2024 23:47

Tippexy · 07/12/2024 23:43

But the financial thresholds are high, £29k to sponsor a partner

Er, that isn’t at all high. Nowhere near enough to sustain two people.

OP would need a lot more than that for multiple relatives plus accommodation sorted for them etc
and it’s unlikely they’d get this sorted any time soon.
If at all

mitogoshigg · 07/12/2024 23:47

Speak to an immigration lawyer or a charity specialising in helping people like your dp.

If you earn enough it's potentially possible to sponsor, if they have a needed skill they could get visas in their own right and I think you can get visa to work as a seasonal agricultural worker potentially or look at carers visas, the sector is desperate so sponsors could be easier to be found

AliasGrace47 · 07/12/2024 23:50

mitogoshigg · 07/12/2024 23:47

Speak to an immigration lawyer or a charity specialising in helping people like your dp.

If you earn enough it's potentially possible to sponsor, if they have a needed skill they could get visas in their own right and I think you can get visa to work as a seasonal agricultural worker potentially or look at carers visas, the sector is desperate so sponsors could be easier to be found

The issue is if they can get asylum nearby. Egypt has many refugees, def Turkey, Lebanon too but might be possible ? Iraq may be the most viable option.
Livelove, I agree it may well stabilise & accompdation by other countries would hopefully be a temporary measure. I guess it poss depends on the wider ME situation.