‘I Returned to Life’ - British Red Cross report on Refugee Family Reunion

Our findings

Drawing on interviews with people who have lived experience of the system and sector stakeholders who support families through the process, ‘I Returned to Life’ explores what the journey to reunion is like.

We found that: 

• No one who fled wanted to leave their family but felt forced to due to war, persecution and violence.  
• Being separated from family can harm people’s ability to integrate in the UK as concerns about their loved ones, who are often still in danger, dominate their lives. 
• Many family members – especially children – remain in dangerous situations while waiting to reunite. 
• Already faced with a long, complicated and costly path to reunion under the previous, now suspended, system, some families feel pushed towards making dangerous journeys. 
• Reuniting safely is transformational for refugee families – significantly improving people’s mental health, providing the certainty needed to make long-term plans and allowing people to focus on work and education opportunities. 

Our recommendations

The Red Cross is concerned that the UK Government’s proposed changes to family reunion – which could include financial, language or long residence requirements – will effectively shut down this vital protection route.  

That would exacerbate the negative impacts of family separation – leaving children in dangerous situations and harming refugees’ mental health – while likely leading more families to make dangerous journeys and negatively impacting integration.  

To prevent this, ‘I Returned to Life’ outlines four principles we believe should guide the upcoming changes to refugee family reunion: 

1. Fairness. Any new requirements for family reunion should be realistically achievable and recognise the unique challenges and barriers refugee families face, including when accessing employment.  
2. Prioritising need. So family reunion can keep offering protection to the children and people who need it most, unaccompanied children and families facing serious risks should be exempted from any restrictions or fees at a minimum. 
3. Flexibility. The visa application process should reduce extra hurdles. This would help prevent destitution and debt on arrival, ultimately improving integration. 
4. Efficiency. Prompt decisions that are right the first time are needed to reduce the number of people feeling forced to take dangerous journeys and mitigate the negative impacts of prolonged separation.