Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that Applications for Refugee Reunion are receiving a decision within 12 months.

This Government recognises the importance of family unity but we also have a responsibility to ensure that family migration is fair, controlled and sustainable.

Appendix Family Reunion remained open to applications until 15:00 on 4 September 2025, at which point the suspension took effect. Thereafter, applicants had 240 days to attend a Visa Application Centre to enrol their biometrics and complete their applications for consideration. Accordingly, applications under the route continued to be received for consideration until 2 May 2026.

GOV.UK notes that applications should be decided within 12 months, although this timescale will have commenced from whenever biometrics were enrolled.

Consideration of outstanding applications, including those subject to appeal, will continue in accordance with the rules in force prior to the suspension taking effect. Priority for consideration is accorded to all Appendix Family Reunion applications submitted by unaccompanied children under the age of 18.