For a year now, on a subsidiary basis, protected refugees, such as Hussain and Ali Alsukhili allowed to bring their closest relatives to Germany. A visit to the Syrian family reveals a Dilemma of family reunification.
Ali Alsukhili (second from right) picks up his family at the airport
On the penultimate day of the year 2018 will finally come true, what family Alsukhili has for two years been waiting for: At the Frankfurt airport, they find their way back together. “It was a day of celebration for us. On the drive home with the car, we honked the horn for joy,” says Ali, the oldest son of the family. He was together with his father, Hussain 2015 to Germany. The mother and five other siblings were at the time first of all in Syria. The youngest child was just six months old.
The now 4-year-old Laia was only six months old when her brother and her father is Syria left
Ali and Hussain are subsidiary protected refugees. A so-called subsidiary protection, a person will not be persecuted upon returning to their country of origin but still would be in danger – for example, because there’s a war on. This applies especially to refugees from Syria. For exactly a year, since the 1. August 2018, shall subsidiarily Protected again, your closest family members do.
There are three authorities to work together. If a family has a member in a German mission abroad an application for a visa, is given to the foreigners authority in Germany. There, the subsidiary must audition-Protected self. After the test, the request is forwarded to the Federal office of administration, where a decision is made. The office will then report positive information back to the missions abroad, who will issue a temporary entry visa. In Germany, a decision is made on the further status of residence.
A missing…
As soon as they could, was also claimed by Ali and Hussain a visa for the rest of the family. Three months it lasted. Then there you were – on 30. December 2018. For two days, Ali and his father have cleaned the small apartment. Today, the family lives on the outskirts of Dortmund. There is plenty of space for the large family. The Smallest, the 4-year-old Laia, turns on the beige Sofa. On the table tea evaporated.
The minor children of the family Alsukhili have received a visa to Germany
From time to time, peep the 11-year-old Hala and her 13-year-old brother Abdulrahman in the room. You have just summer holidays. Mother Aisha captures the small Laia, running round the room, and she sits on the lap. Curious Laia looks at the passports, which laid her mother on the table; there are five. All contain the coveted visa. But one is missing.
Ali’s twin sister Ola is still in the distant Syria. Aisha, it is difficult to talk about their daughter. For them, the departure was not to Germany only a joyous day. “I got on the plane crying a lot. I came to see my son and my husband, but I had to leave my daughter. My heart is still in Syria.”
The mother of the family, Aisha, shows a photo of her daughter Ola
Just minors and spouses
Ola has become in April 2016, a full year too early. Only the one who is a minor or married, falls under family reunification, as they have been since August of 2018 will be handled. The only way out: to make the request before the member is 18 years of age. The foreign office said that full-year members may only enter in “exceptional hardship” to Germany.
Karim Alwasiti advises for the refugee Council of lower Saxony, together with Pro ASYL, on the subject of family reunification. Again and again he comes in contact with families with adult relatives. “This is a gap in the System. Applications must be made before the children are 18. You don’t have to, is for the parents a heavy burden.”
The upper limit is exhausted
Up to August, 2018, the family reunion had been suspended for subsidiary Protected for more than two years. Thus, it should be ensured that the refugees, who were already there, could be supplied.
In a series of tough negotiations, the Grand coalition agreed to after August 2018 the closest family members, i.e. parents and minor siblings, and children, come to Germany. There is an upper limit: Per month must not be more than 1000 people.
As the system became operational in August 2018 in force, were initially only granted a few visas. In August there were all 42. Starting in January of 2019 had recorded the procedure, meanwhile, the upper limit of 1000 will be exhausted almost always.
Hussain Alsukhili is a quiet man. From time to time, he goes to the window to smoke. He leaves it to his son, to tell about the time he had to live his wife and children separated. Ali speaks English, he translates for his parents. “For me, it was easier. I could speak a little English,” recalls Ali. “But my father was in the German class, and could not learn. He pondered the whole time and thinking.” Sometimes you are not heard in weeks from her family, because the telephone network worked in Syria.
The Smartphone is now their only connection to Ola. Once a week you try to talk to her. Sometimes you manage to send your Known money.
The Syrian family Alsukhili in your living room in Dortmund
Although Ola is still in Syria, it is almost as if you were sitting this morning with the coffee table. Again and again, the parents want to talk about you. Things are going well in Germany, but Ola is missing. Mother Aisha makes permanent, because Syria is not a Relative of the family lives. The 21-Year-old is on his own. “This is dangerous in Syria,” says Ali. “Often my mother says, after we have spoken on the phone with my sister, that she must return to Syria. But that’s not natural.”
By the end of June of this year, 8758, visas were granted to families such as the Alsukhilis, which can now build a life without worrying actually. Ola has applied for eight months ago, an appointment to the Embassy in Beirut, a request to travel to Germany. No one knows when and whether you will get this appointment ever.