Probably not a good question to ask but……….

[umar b]

.... As there are a lot of clued up people on here I need to ask this. You may or may not be aware the situation Iraq has just got a lot worse, to the point where people are being told to leave the country.

Now, I have one very close family living there, they are my mums sister and her family. They are not Iraqi but are Pakistani and are living in Kuwait. At the time of the last Gulf war they had to leave Kuwait but were back there within a year. When they left Kuwait they went to Pakistan and stayed with her mum and dad (my grandma/dad) Since then my grandma has passed away (she was 98) and my granddad live one of my mums brothers in Germany so there is no immediate family in Pakistan anymore.

What I would like to know is, is there away of getting my family over to the UK for a short while and stay with me and my family, until the situation improves in the Middle East. They have already tried to get a “holiday” to the UK but nothing happened and they refuse to go through the asylum seeker route. If they are not able to come here then they have a few other options available to them but I though it would be nice for my mum because she hasn’t seen her sister fir nearly 12 years. They keep in contact via web cam and phone but that’s it.

I know it may sound like I want to bring in another 5 people into the country unnecessarily but they are genuine people in a bit of bother. Just so you know my uncle (mums bro in law) owns his own business and are financially comfortable in Kuwait so this situation isn’t about coming into the UK to get money to send home. If they do manage to come here then the family will be as legitimate as they come.

I realise I maybe open to some kind of criticism but I know from my thread ’an apology to the UK’ that lot of people do understand


Sorry for going on a bit, must be something I ate


>>> Edited by umar b on Monday 17th March 17:20

[P*Ting]

Could now be a good time to go roaming? I'm no expert on the middle east, but I have friends in this country who've just disappeared off trekking for three months. If your family can afford it why not do that? There's no reason they can't get into this country on the way.

Think of it as a road trip.

Sorry I can't be any more help, I'm really not a travel person myself...

[mel]

Unfortunately Umar I fear it is people in the position of your family that get shafted by the system and have Visa/Entry requests refused point blank, if they were prepared to hang on the side of a Eurostar or live in the back of artic for a few weeks they'd stand much more chance, but its another case of a black and white yes no decision.

If its any help I'm sure they'll be fine in Kuwait this time, it's not going to become an occupied country again and being frieghteningly honest they'd be in almopst as much danger in London.

Good luck

[atg]

Very sorry to hear of their predicament Umar B.

Have you tried contacting the Home Office for advice? Might be worth having a word with your MP if the Home Office isn't helpful first time round.

[suparuss]

im not an expert either, but i understand the situation, the manager at the company i work for is iraqi and still has family there, in bahgdad of all places so ive heard plenty of stories, like 12" cracks in the walls of there home from bombs etc. but im wondering- if there is a mad rush for everyone to get out, obviously the best places to go are uk or usa, so it may be difficult having left it untill the last minute. i heard on the news today that airlines are increasing capacity on airliners to meet the rush, but not sure if these will be reserved for non citezens or whatever.
i cant see them having a problem getting into the ik though, as long as they have passports etc. ust a case of getting out of iraq.

[apache]

umar, it shows how shockingly crap the system is when it comes to things like this. I'm with mel on this one, Kuwait may not sound like the best place to be at present but it's the most heavily defended place on the planet at the moment.

[MoJocvh]

apache said: umar, it shows how shockingly crap the system is when it comes to things like this. I'm with mel on this one, Kuwait may not sound like the best place to be at present but it's the most heavily defended place on the planet at the moment.

I concur with apache on this one, however if they stay and it (or rather when) kicks off tell them TO STAY OFF THE STREETS. Some very strange things were going on "last time" with lot's of people going missing (though mostly Palastinians).
They'll need to stock up on foodstufs etc but the best bet might actually be to book into one on the big hotels (safety in numbers etc). MoJo.

[Umar B]

Thanks guys, i knew i would get some sraight answers on here.

My family are going to take time out to go to the embassey to see if anything can be done. i've called my family in kuwait and have told them what you guys have said

look promising

Thanks again

Umar b

[minimax]

I know it may sound like I want to bring in another 5 people into the country unnecessarily but they are genuine people in a bit of bother. Just so you know my uncle (mums bro in law) owns his own business and are financially comfortable in Kuwait so this situation isn’t about coming into the UK to get money to send home. If they do manage to come here then the family will be as legitimate as they come.

I realise I maybe open to some kind of criticism but I know from my thread ’an apology to the UK’ that lot of people do understand


Sorry for going on a bit, must be something I ate


>>> Edited by umar b on Monday 17th March 17:20

IMHO no worries there - the fact that you actually have to justify yourself like that kind of makes me as a white person a bit ashamed possibly..... I dunno.... hope your family are OK

>> Edited by minimax on Monday 17th March 21:06

[pbrettle]

This wont help at all, but my sis and hubby (with two kids) were out in Saudi until a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately brother-in-law knew the British chap that was shot dead there quite well. In fact it really frightened him to the extent that my sis and kids are now back in the UK for the next 8 months minimum! Hearing your situation it is depressing and you have my complete sympathy. They have been lucky in that the system can help them (they are British passport holders) so no problems... but for those that are not, I am afraid / concerned / worried / depressed for the outcome...

The suggestions on traveling might be a good idea. Get out of the region and travel somewhere it is safer. How about somewhere close but not too close? While they are waiting they can then pursue the channels for entry visas to the EU or USA... might be worth a try?

Good luck and I hope and pray that this will pass peacefully - however, I think that it is too late now...

Cheers,

Paul

P.S. Judging by the increased military jet activity at the local US airbase, its starting to kick off by the way.... not transports for the moment but F15's and 'other' planes are off tonight.... starting to get worried now!

[marlboro]

Umar,

Sorry to hear of your families situation.

I understand how you feel. My brother and his family were in Saudi during the last Gulf war and will be in UAE for the next one. Although these places are safer than Kuwait its still a worry.

You say they tried to arrange a holiday but nothing happened, did they apply for a Visa?? was it refused and if so any reason??