.svg)
A UK-based Palestinian Jerusalemite has expressed heartbreak after UK immigration officials blocked his 69-year-old mother from visiting him, claiming she was not a “genuine visitor” — despite granting a visa to her husband under the exact same circumstances.
Karim Abdallah, who has lived, worked, and paid taxes in the UK for eight years, was preparing to host his parents for a summer holiday. His mother, Therese Abdallah, a retired English teacher, and his father, Ghassan Abdallah, a psychologist, had planned to attend a family wedding in Ireland and tour London attractions such as Kew Gardens.
However, the UK Home Office rejected Therese’s visitor visa application, stating that her ties to the UK appeared stronger than her ties to her home country and concluding that officials were not confident she would leave at the end of her stay. She was granted no right to an appeal or administrative review.
The ruling came despite her husband of 40 years—whose application relied on identical financial evidence and housing invitations—receiving approval.
This is not the first bureaucratic obstacle Therese has faced with UK immigration. A previous application in 2019 was turned down over a technicality when bank statements submitted as financial proof were provided in Hebrew.
Immigration officials cited previous refusal declarations as part of standard application reviews, though Karim noted that both parents have successfully completed academic trips to the UK in the past without incident.
"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... The Home Office has ruined our summer holiday plans," Karim said.
In response to inquiries, a Home Office spokesperson stated that the department does not comment on individual cases, adding that all applications are evaluated on their specific merits and supporting documentation.
.jpg)
