ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Kurdish couple seeking asylum in Britain say years of delays, isolation, and no right to work have left them struggling with declining health and fear as the United Kingdom overhauls its immigration system.
The pair, originally from the Kurdistan Region and living in the UK for more than four years, remain in a hotel designated for asylum seekers. They asked not to be identified due to fear of repercussions and were filmed only with their backs to the camera.
One of them, T.M., says she cannot return home due to a personal dispute and has no contact with his family. She described severe health problems while waiting for a decision on his case.
“I am sick, I have cancer, diabetes, [thyroid] gland [issues], and my mental health condition has been very, very poor… I have had two large surgeries… and nothing has been done for me until now,” she said.
Her husband also struggles with the restrictions placed on asylum seekers. N.M. said his daily life revolves around confinement and financial strain.
“You just go out and come inside, looking at the ceiling of a hotel room. There is no work to do. Weekly, [you only get] nine pounds. Nine pounds really is nothing,” he said, adding that the inability to work leaves families unable to support themselves.
The two say the prolonged uncertainty has deeply affected their mental well-being. “When you’re left with no choice but to leave and come to a country like this… you imagine that everything will become easy. But because you do not receive an answer… your entire life is ruined,” N.M. said.
Their experience reflects wider pressure on the UK system, which is struggling with high application numbers and a costly backlog despite recent efforts to speed up decisions. After the 2024 general election, the government scrapped the planned deportations to Rwanda but is moving forward with new restrictive measures under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill. Authorities aim to tighten border controls, speed up returns of rejected applicants, and reduce dependence on hotel accommodation.
Because of space shortages, thousands of asylum seekers are still housed in hotels and media outlets face limits on filming inside them.
Alan, a UK-based lawyer who handles numerous migrant cases, says slow procedures and strict initial screenings mean most applicants face immediate rejection.
“[Requesting] the right to asylum in the first interview is a rejection 95 percent of [the times],” he told Rudaw, explaining that the Home Office typically sends cases to the courts instead of granting asylum in early stages.
He said the process can take years. According to him, “six or seven months” can pass before asylum seekers are even told if they are eligible for protection and another year before an interview is conducted. Court dates may take “two years,” leaving many people stuck in hotels for “three years.”
Alan also warned that recent UK–France cooperation to curb Channel crossings could further limit options for migrants arriving irregularly.
For the couple in London, the wait has taken a heavy toll. “Mentally, I am very, very troubled,” N.M. said, describing repeated moments of despair as their lives remain in limbo.
Alla Shally contributed to this article
