Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what processes they have put in place to allow people on Pathway 1 of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme to be joined by family members who were not evacuated to the UK under Operation Pitting; and why those resettled under this Pathway do not have access to the right to refugee family reunion so as to sponsor relatives to join them in the UK.

In line with our existing policy, those resettled under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) may be able to be accompanied by their immediate family members including their spouse or partner, and dependent children under 18.

This government’s family reunion policy allows those recognised as refugees or granted humanitarian protection in the UK to sponsor pre-flight, immediate family members to join them here. Only those referred by UNHCR, under Pathway 2 of the ACRS, will have refugee status. They will, therefore, be able to access the refugee family reunion route.

For those evacuated from Afghanistan under the ACRS without their immediate family members, further information will be made available in due course about options for reuniting with them.

Those already in the UK under ACRS Pathway 1, wishing to bring family members other than immediate family members would need to apply through the regular family visa route under Appendix FM of the Immigration rules.

The government remains committed to providing protection for vulnerable and at-risk people fleeing Afghanistan. The situation is very complex and presents significant challenges, including how those who are eligible for resettlement in the UK can leave the country. This includes the eligible family members of those being resettled under the ACRS.