Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area

UK Home Office denying visas to children of migrant mothers

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News Websites
  • 21 Jan 2024 16:44
3 Min Read

The UK Home Office is reportedly rejecting visas to the children of migrant single moms working in the health industry, citing "no compelling reasons" to give them.

  • x
  • UK Home Office denying visas to children of migrant mothers
    Former Home secretary Priti Patel speaks to an Afghan refugee who arrived at London Heathrow airport in August 2021.(AFP) 

An investigation by the Observer indicated Saturday that the Home Office routinely prevents young children from joining their mothers in Britain, despite significant evidence that the women working in the UK are the children's primary caretakers, bearing "sole responsibility" for them.

Some of the women who moved from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, South Africa, and India, left their children, some as young as two, with relatives or acquaintances.

Although many were told their children could follow them in accordance with existing immigration laws that allow healthcare professionals to bring close family members, when the time came to file for visas, they were denied.

Read more: UK Parliament's Lower House approves bill to deport migrants to Rwanda

The Observer acquired denial letters in which the Home Office questioned why the children needed to travel and could not remain with relatives instead. 

Some inquired why the child could not stay with their father, disregarding the mother's exclusive custody. 

Related News

France-UK migration pact faces EU review and public backlash

Venezuelan Parliament demands return of 18 children detained in US

Other letters directly addressed the children blaming the mother for making the decision to depart to the UK. 

Former UK diplomat Peter Ford told Press TV  the policy was "discriminatory and inhumane" citing that many of the migrant women come from nations the UK and Western allies destabilized with invasions, proxy wars, and sanctions.

Under contentious restrictions set to be implemented this spring, care workers visiting the UK would be forbidden from bringing family members, while other health workers will be required to earn £29,000 per year, increasing to £38,700 in 2025, to do so.

However, several applications are already being secretly denied. According to the Observer, approximately 150 migrant women, all of whom are single moms, have had their child visas refused during the last 18 months.

A Home Office rule states that a child may only be granted a visa if both parents live in the UK unless the parent living here has "sole responsibility."

The regulation requires single parents to demonstrate not only that they have exclusive custody but also that the other parent is not active in their child's life, which experts say can be difficult.

One NHS nurse expressed she could not sleep at night knowing her two daughters, 4, and 13, could not join her due to lack of "serious or compelling reasons."

Sairah Javed, a solicitor at the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants called the ruling "another form of assault on family values."

  • United Kingdom
  • Britain
  • Migrant Crisis

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS