UK Asylum Seeker Faces Financial Barrier to Reunite with Daughters

A single father, granted asylum in the UK, has detailed the difficulties he has encountered in his efforts to reunite with his two daughters. The man, who sought refuge from West Africa and now resides in Teesside, expressed his “shocked” reaction upon learning from lawyers that he would need to pay £1,000 in fees to facilitate the application process for his children to join him. “Where am I going to get such money?” he questioned, noting that more than four years have passed since he last saw his daughters, who are currently living with extended family. The individual, who wishes to remain anonymous, has received assistance from Justice First, a refugee charity based in Stockton. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) confirmed that legal aid is available for certain family reunion cases. His asylum status was granted in November 2023, following claims of political persecution, over three years after his arrival in the country. “Ever since, the focus has been to connect with my kids,” he stated. While he utilized legal aid for his asylum application, his request to lawyers for help with the family reunion application was met with the information that legal aid was not applicable for this specific process and would incur a cost of approximately £1,000. He conveyed that the emotional strain of being separated from his children had truly “knocked” him down. “Especially with the younger one,” he remarked. “When I’m on the phone with her she says ‘Daddy, I want to come to you’.” The charity aided him in submitting a reunion application four months ago, and he is currently awaiting a response from the Home Office. Emma Pearson, a caseworker, explained that it is common for asylum seekers to travel alone via “dangerous routes” and subsequently endeavor to bring their children through safer channels. She reported that the charity has observed a “significant” increase in individuals requiring support with family reunion applications. Last year, the organization assisted 66 clients, whereas this year it has already provided help to 117, marking a 77% rise. Ms. Pearson indicated that most refugees are unable to afford the necessary fees and are therefore turning to the charity for help. She added that the team has had to expand its operations to manage cases in Newcastle and Durham, a shift from its previous exclusive focus on Teesside. “There are no other charities doing these types of applications up there,” she affirmed. The MoJ reiterated that legal aid is accessible to asylum seekers for their initial applications, and assistance for refugee family reunions can be accessed via the “Exceptional Case Funding” scheme.