Following the efforts and appeals made in the wake of the Action Alert campaign, the Syrian British Consortium (SBC) & Rethink Rebuild Society (RR) held a meeting on Tuesday, 23 June 2026, with Alex Norris, Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum at the UK Home Office, to discuss issues relating to the situation of Syrian refugees in the United Kingdom, foremost among them the prolonged suspension of indefinite leave to remain applications.
During the meeting, both teams (SBC & RR) outlined the challenges faced by Syrians applying for indefinite leave to remain, highlighting the number of pending applications and the impact that this continued suspension is having on those affected.
The discussion also addressed the continuing instability in Syria and its varying impact on individuals and families, in addition to the direct consequences of delays in processing applications on the daily lives of Syrians, including opportunities for education, employment, mobility, and travel for medical treatment.
SBC & RR Society also highlighted the humanitarian and social consequences resulting from delays in decision-making, and the psychological pressures and family-related challenges this may cause for Syrian families who have settled in the United Kingdom and are seeking to continue making a positive contribution to British society.
For his part, the Minister acknowledged that the situation in Syria remains unstable. However, he also stressed that each case must be considered individually, which places pressure on Home Office resources. He further expressed his understanding of the psychological impact on Syrian refugees who have been waiting for decisions on their applications, and committed to increasing resources in order to speed up the processing of these cases.
Both SBC & RR Society reaffirm their commitment to continuing to follow this issue closely, shed light on the reality facing Syrians, and work towards fair solutions.
