LONDON: The UK Home Office has stopped the mother of a London-based Palestinian Jerusalemite from visiting him.
Karim Abdallah, who has lived in London since 2019, learned that his mother Therese Abdallah was not deemed a “genuine visitor” and had been denied a visa. His father Ghassan Abdallah, however, had his visa application approved.
The couple, a retired teacher and a psychologist, were planning to travel to visit their son and go with him to a family wedding in Ireland.
They have previously been allowed into the UK on academic trips without any visa issues, but in a letter, the Home Office claimed that it could not be sure that Therese Abdallah would leave the UK at the end of this proposed trip.
As Palestinian Jerusalemites, the Abdallahs are not Israeli citizens but have the right to travel on Israeli and Jordanian papers.
The Home Office official overseeing her application said in the rejection letter: “I note that your UK ties out weight (sic) your home country ties.”
The official added: “I am not satisfied on the balance of probabilities that you are a genuine visitor.” They said she has no right to an appeal the decision.
The Abdallahs have another son, who lives with his family in East Jerusalem, meaning that their ties in the city far outweigh those in the UK. Therese Abdallah was born in Jerusalem and has lived there with her husband for 40 years.
Karim Abdallah told The Guardian: “Both my parents applied for their UK visitor visa using the same invitation from my partner and me. We provided the same evidence for both of them about our financial means to support them during their visit.
“I have lived legally in the UK for the last eight years, work and pay my taxes and do not have access to any benefits in the UK. I am proud of my contribution here.”
He added: “As well as the family wedding in Ireland I was so looking forward to showing my parents places like Kew Gardens, which is not far from where we live. The Home Office has ruined our summer holiday plans.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We do not routinely comment on individual cases. All visa applications are assessed on their individual merits and the evidence provided, including any declarations relating to previous visa refusals.”
