We have some wonderful news to share. Last Christmas, we introduced you to Muhammad Irshad Khan – a devoted father separated from his wife and children, navigating complex systems with fierce determination, and holding on to hope that they would one day be reunited in safety.
Thanks to your generosity, the tireless work of our Legal Immigration Advice service, and above all, Muhammad’s own resilience and advocacy, that day has finally come. Last Tuesday, Muhammad was reunited with his family.
After nearly four years apart, his wife, nephew, and young children arrived safely at Heathrow, and they are now beginning a new life together in Oxfordshire. It was a moment full of relief and joy – and it was made possible by our community coming together.
Two wonderful volunteers donated children’s car seats at short notice, and another drove to Heathrow to help collect eight bags of the family’s luggage – ensuring they could all return home together, safely and comfortably.
While this is a happy ending to a long and painful separation, it’s also the beginning of a hopeful new chapter.
Settling into life in the UK will take time – finding schools, building routines, adjusting to a new culture and language. But Muhammad’s family will not face this journey alone. We will support them every step of the way.
Muhammad’s full story is below:
Muhammad was evacuated to the UK in August 2021, after assisting British forces in Afghanistan, and was granted indefinite leave to remain. In the chaos of the evacuation, he made the agonising decision not to bring his wife and two young children to the airport, fearing their safety amid violent scenes and overcrowding. They were forced to flee to Pakistan, where they lived in fear of deportation back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
Earlier this year, as Pakistan intensified efforts to remove undocumented Afghan nationals, the threat to his family became immediate. On one occasion, police came knocking door to door in their neighbourhood – including at his wife’s – but she did not open the door. Muhammad was terrified for their safety and appealed to the UK government for urgent confirmation that their resettlement application was being processed.
They applied for reunion via the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme: Separated Families Pathway – but it took determined advocacy, coordination, and persistence at every stage to help move the process forward. Meena, our Immigration Advisor, was instrumental throughout, with support also coming from Muhammad’s local MP and coverage in the media at a critical moment. Thanks to these combined efforts, and your support for Asylum Welcome, Muhammad and his family have been reunited.
