<div>I’m six months pregnant with my first child - about to become a mum for the very first time at 35. This is a journey I’ve dreamed of, one I’ve longed to share with the people who have loved and supported me my entire life: my parents.
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<div>Like any daughter, I wanted my mum and dad by my side when I bring my baby into the world. Their presence isn’t just comfort - it’s strength, reassurance, and love at a time when I’ll need it most. So I applied for them to come to the UK to support me during my delivery in July.
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<div>But their short visit visas were refused.
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<div>This decision has left me heartbroken and overwhelmed during what should be one of the most joyful times of my life. My parents have always respected immigration rules. In 2022, they visited me, stayed only as long as permitted, and returned home exactly as required. They have done everything right.
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<div>Yet now, they’ve been denied - because they cannot provide documents that are simply impossible for them to have.
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<div>My parents are displaced individuals living in Egypt. They do not have residency rights there. They are not allowed to own property, open bank accounts, or access many basic systems often taken for granted. And yet, these are exactly the kinds of documents the Home Office has asked them to provide - as proof of ties and stability.
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<div>They are being judged for circumstances completely beyond their control.
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<div>All they want is to be with their daughter as she gives birth to her first child. To hold their grandchild. To support me through one of the most vulnerable and life-changing moments I will ever experience.
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<div>Instead, we are facing the possibility of being apart.
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<div>I have spoken to senior lawyer, Dr Qurat Ul In at Adam Arnold Solicitors, and we are preparing to challenge this decision.
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<div>I am willing to fight with everything I have. For my parents. For my child. For the right to have my family beside me when I need them most.
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<div>But I cannot do it alone.
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<div>We are now facing an incredibly difficult and urgent situation. To take the first step, we need £600 to begin a Pre-Action Protocol (PAP) letter with a solicitor - this is our only way to challenge the decision and keep our family together.
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<div>Beyond this, the process may lead to a judicial review, which could cost around £1,500, with the added risk of having to cover the Home Office’s legal costs if we are unsuccessful. At the same time, we have been advised that we may need to submit fresh applications for both parents (£500 in legal fees each, plus £135 Home Office fee each).
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<div>Altogether, the cost of this fight - to stay together as a family and not be forced apart - could reach up to £10,000. This is not just about legal fees; it is about our future, our stability, and the right to remain together as a family.
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<div>I am trying every possible path - but I truly can’t do this alone.
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<div>Your support will help us cover the legal costs needed to challenge this decision. And if we are fortunate enough to succeed before reaching court or if it becomes better to pause this whole process at any point, any funds raised will go toward supporting my parents during their stay in the UK - or back in Egypt, where life remains incredibly difficult for them.
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<div>Please reach out to me if you can be of any help too, including legal advice.
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<div>This is more than a visa application. This is about family. About dignity. About love crossing borders when systems fail.
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<div>From the bottom of my heart - thank you for standing with us. Your kindness means more than words can ever express.
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<div>With all my deepest gratitude,
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<div>Malaka
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Rasha Soliman

Anonymous

Ife Okafor-Yarwood

Valentina Bau

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Help Me Have My Parents With Me for My First Child

Just £200£ to go! Make an impact.

Help Me Have My Parents With Me for My First Child

Just £200 to go!
Make an impact.