The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) has commenced a reinspection of family reunion applications
The inspection will examine the Home Office’s management of family reunion applications, and the effectiveness of the transfer of casework from the Asylum Operations team to the Resettlement, Relocation and Reunion Services team.
The inspection will examine the Home Office’s management of family reunion applications between 1 January 2022 to 30 September 2022, focusing on progress relating to implementation of recommendations 2, 3 and 4 from ICIBI’s ‘Inspection of family reunion applications (June – December 2019)’
The inspection will also examine the effectiveness of the transfer of family reunion casework from Asylum Operations (Sheffield) to Resettlement, Relocation and Reunion Services (RRRS) (Croydon), with consideration of the Home Office’s policy objectives to “deliver a fair and effective family reunion process, which supports the principle of family unit by:
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acknowledging the speed and manner in which families may become separated by conflict and persecution, recognising the stress this might cause and providing a means for immediate family members to reunite in the UK …
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ensuring applications are properly considered in a timely and sensitive manner … acknowledging the vulnerable situation that applicants (particularly women and children) may find themselves in and, where necessary expediting claims without unnecessary delay”.
The inspection team anticipate reporting to the Home Secretary by November 2022.