Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps are being taken to admit Syrian refugees to the United Kingdom who do not fulfil the requirements of existing family reunification legislation but who have extended family members in the United Kingdom.

The process for family members who wish to apply to join a refugee family member in the UK is set out in detail on the Home Office website at https://www.gov.uk/settlement-refugee-or-humanitarian-protection/family-reunion. This includes details of the qualifying criteria and the relevant documentary requirements. The Government will consider the recommendations in the Report as part of the next review of the family reunion policy and application process next year.

Syrian refugees who do not meet the requirements in the Immigration Rules for refugee family reunion may apply under other routes in the Rules, including under Appendix FM, if they have relevant family members in the UK.

The UK also operates the Mandate refugee scheme which provides a resettlement route for individual refugees who have been recognised by UNHCR and have close family ties with the UK. The UK is only able to consider resettlement applications from refugees who have been referred to us by UNHCR.