Syrian brothers left in limbo as Home Office freezes asylum claims

Brothers Bahaa and Omar Bayan live and study in Omagh.

The 19 and 23 year old's fled the war in Syria with their family in 2016, and were invited to the UK as part of the resettlement scheme.

The media students have now been told by the Home Office their application to stay here permanently, known as Indefinite Leave to Remain, has been paused.

Omar along with his brother are about to graduate from the South West College in Omagh. Omar said: "I'm still unable to work and I'm still unable to like have housing and and just to live like like normally I cannot since I don't take benefits and I don't I cannot rely on my child. It's kind of a limbo that I'm living in". "They decided a time frame for that pause or that decision, and it was very stressful for me". he added The letter from the Home Office says they have temporarily paused all decisions on claims from Syrian nationals across the asylum system as they assess the current situation in the country. "Thank you for your application for Settlement."Although we would normally decide your application within six months from the date it was submitted, unfortunately this is not going to be possible in your case."The Home Office has temporarily  paused all decisions on claims from Syrian nationals, across the asylum system, whilst we assess the current situation.

"We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review so we can respond to emerging issues.

"The Home Office who has responsibility for asylum decisions has acted swiftly to make the position on a pause clear in a fast-moving situation". Without indefinite leave to remain. The boys can't apply for citizenship and get a passport and can't leave the UK."My sister is in Turkey, and they and her daughter died. I'm unable to be there to support her. And general mentally, I'm unable there to be there to support her physically because she isn't Turkish. She is also unable to go back to Syria", Bahaa told UTV.It's understood most of all the Syrians had arrived through the SVR scheme have now obtained settlement.Liz Griffith from the Law Society said: "The law centre is currently helping about more than 30 people who are in this position.

"They are long time residents, lawful residents and now their applications have been paused, leaving them in a kind of legal limbo situation.

"Although they have a type of status, they haven't been given any documentation, so they cannot prove it.

"So they're saying I'm here lawfully, but they have no means to demonstrate that to a prospective employer or to a landlord".

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