German Version

Separated by Bureaucracy: A Plea for Urgent Action

We, a diverse group of individuals who have called Germany our home for many years, write to you with heavy hearts and a plea for urgent action. We are professionals who have grown up in Germany or have settled here, and we share a common dream - to start families and build a life together. Sadly, for years, our dreams have remained unfulfilled due to the relentless delays at the German Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan. The situation is deteriorating with each passing year. Our partners are forced to endure a heart-wrenching wait that spans a minimum of three long years before their family reunion visa applications are processed. 

A Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds:

This is not merely a bureaucratic delay; it's a humanitarian crisis. The prolonged separation takes an immense toll on the mental and emotional well-being of those affected. The pain of separation is not just emotional but also physical, as many endure hardships and loneliness in a foreign landf. Children grow up without the embrace of their parents, and spouses endure endless nights of solitude, all while navigating life's challenges alone.

Dashed Dreams and Lost Opportunities:

Many families seeking reunion had envisioned a life together, with shared dreams and aspirations. However, these dreams are dashed as time slips through their fingers. The extended wait results in missed milestones, educational opportunities, and precious moments that can never be reclaimed.

The Cry for Compassion:

We understand the need for thorough immigration processes, but these unconscionable delays have reached a point of cruelty. Families are left in limbo, uncertain of their future, and the psychological scars are irreparable. We find ourselves in a desperate situation, feeling like our pleas fall on deaf ears. The response we receive when contacting the foreign office is a perpetual brush-off, with the same unacceptable answer - that steps are being taken to address the issue. Unfortunately, this assurance does little to alleviate our distress, as no one seems to comprehend the immense emotional and psychological toll this delay has taken on us. Time is a finite resource, and each passing day keeps us apart from our loved ones.

The Escalating Crisis:

As of the latest updates, the embassy is scheduling appointments for September 2023 for those who applied as far back as September 2021. This escalating waiting period is reaching untenable levels, and it is disheartening to note that the issue has not received the serious and urgent attention it deserves from the foreign office. Sufficient steps have not been taken to resolve this dire situation.

Violation of Fundamental Human Rights:

These delays are causing significant damage to the relationships of couples and are in violation of several laws and principles that underpin the values of fairness, human rights, and family unity.

1. Violation of the Right to Family Life: Delaying the family reunion visa:process infringes upon the fundamental right to family life as protected by Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). It is essential that individuals have the opportunity to live with their loved ones, and delays in the visa process severely disrupt this right.
2. Violation of Equal Treatment: The delays in visa appointments disproportionately affect Pakistani nationals, leading to unequal treatment based on nationality, which is contrary to the principles of non-discrimination as enshrined in various international treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
3. Contravention of International Obligations: Germany, as a signatory to various international conventions and agreements, including the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the ECHR, has an obligation to ensure that its immigration processes are in compliance with these agreements

We believe that by addressing these issues, the German authorities can uphold their commitment to human rights, equality, and family unity, while also fostering positive relations between our countries.

Voices of Those Affected: Personal Testimonies:

These stories are merely a glimpse into the hundreds of similar narratives where family bonds were torn apart, relationships strained to the breaking point, marriages dissolved, and children left to grow without one of their parents, all as a result of the prolonged FRV delay that wreaks havoc on countless lives. One can't help but wonder how many others are silently enduring this anguish, waiting for over three years in the shadows of uncertainty.

Story 1: Dr. Ing- D.A. Awan's Agonizing Wait for His Ailing Wife

In just a month, it will be two years since Dr. Ing- D.A. Awan, a German national of Pakistani origin working as a Research Scientist in Munich, applied for a family reunion visa for his wife. His wife suffers from a debilitating spinal injury and numerous other medical issues, causing her chronic pain since their marriage. Her condition is deteriorating daily, and they hoped to have her treated in Germany under his health insurance. However, despite repeated pleas, the Embassy has refused their request for a special appointment. Dr. Awan is now compelled to take legal action against the Embassy. This is not just bureaucratic delay; it's a heartbreaking human tragedy that urgently calls for compassion and change.

Story 2: S. A. Khokhar's 21-Month Wait for an Appointment

In one month, it will be 21 months since S. A. Khokhar, a blue card holder and Design Engineer in solar and wind energy systems, applied for an appointment. The Embassy's persistent silence has left him in uncertainty, straining his family relationships. His two-year-old daughter doesn't recognize her father, growing up without his presence. The family is enduring consistent psychological trauma, and Khokhar deeply regrets his skilled-worker journey to Germany.

Story 3: A Life Shattered by Unending Waiting

In Römerberg, Germany, a life was shattered by an interminable wait. After applying for an appointment in September 2019, a 14-month wait followed, only to face birth certificate issues due to poor record-keeping. One more year passed rectifying the problem. Tragically, the constant stress and endless waiting eventually tore apart a marriage. An appointment applied for in July 2022 still lingers in uncertainty, with another potential 2 to 3 years of waiting.

Story 4: A Deceptive Wait

A victim of the visa waiting period reveals a distressing truth: the German Embassy in Islamabad misled them about a one-year waiting time. In reality, they've waited for over a year since their August 2022 application, while applicants from September 2021 are ahead. As a highly qualified blue card holder, this relentless wait has inflicted suffering on them and their family, impacting their work and leaving them with regrets about choosing Germany. This story highlights the human toll of bureaucratic inefficiency and urges prompt action from the German Federal Foreign Office to ease their plight.

Advocating for Change: The Tireless Efforts of Affected Families

In recent years, we've witnessed a growing number of individuals trapped in the waiting game, their heart-wrenching stories shared across a Facebook platform. Through this group, we catch a glimpse of the profound challenges faced by those longing for a family life. Notably, the afflicted took their grievances to the doorstep of the Foreign Office in Berlin last year, staging a heartfelt protest. Regrettably, despite our earnest efforts to make our plight clear and comprehensible, little has improved since then.

These individuals have exhausted almost every conceivable avenue to bring attention to this issue. They've penned letters and emails to the German Embassy in Islamabad, the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin, human rights organizations, and the press, while also orchestrating social media campaigns. Some even engaged their elected representatives in a bid to seek resolution. Yet, despite years of tireless efforts, the situation remained unchanged. In August 2022, hundreds of people converged before the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin, uniting their voices in a massive protest against this cruel and unending waiting period.

Media Coverage

This issue has garnered media attention repeatedly, yet the Foreign Office appears unwilling to acknowledge their missteps and poor planning in addressing the family visa delays. Notably, Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR), a prominent German media channel, recently unveiled a heart-rending story. It features a highly accomplished PhD candidate from Pakistan, a pioneer in cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence at a state university in Thuringia. Tragically, he's chosen to depart Germany because his family languished on a seemingly endless waiting list, driving him to seek solace in a neighboring EU country where he could reunite with his wife in a matter of months. This story is not an isolated incident; it represents a pervasive crisis. Many highly qualified blue card holders, including engineers, IT specialists, and scientists, are now departing from Germany due to the harsh treatment their families face at the hands of the German embassy. Berliner Zeitung, too, shed light on this issue during a protest by those affected outside the Foreign Office in Berlin.

Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) report​

Berliner Zeitung report

Many other media outlets and news channels are actively engaged in the process of conducting interviews and sharing the harrowing stories of those caught in this bureaucratic nightmare. They are relentlessly posing critical questions to the Federal Foreign Office, demanding answers and accountability.

Authorities Response
We have gathered the responses of authorities and presented below:

Response to Emails and Letters

Time and time again, we've heard the same excuses from the foreign office - they blame the pandemic, the war in Afghanistan, and not having enough staff. This problem has been going on for years, and there are no good reasons for the suffering it's causing families. To make matters worse, the embassy, which was already dealing with a lot of visa applications, now has to handle applications from Afghan people on humanitarian grounds. So, here's a simple question for the foreign office: Don't you consider keeping families apart for years to be a humanitarian problem? The pain and sadness that so many people are going through seem to have been ignored for far too long.

Federal Foreign Office response after protest

Over a year ago, the Foreign Office assured us they were aware of this problem and actively working to resolve it. However, a full year has passed, and the situation remains stagnant in the realm of family reunions. What was once an 18-month waiting period has now ballooned to a staggering 24 months. We've poured our concerns into countless emails and letters to the Foreign Office, only to receive the same diplomatic response time and again. These are the same answers and excuses we've endured for years from the Foreign Office, leaving us wondering when real action will replace empty promises.

Statement of Federal Foreign Office

Foreign Minister response

Even the German Foreign Minister has faced questions about the long family reunion wait times. She blames the challenges on conflicts in places like Afghanistan and Ukraine. She says her office considers reuniting families a top priority and has hired more visa staff. But I'm deeply concerned about whether their efforts are working. Despite the extra staff and moving to a new building, the waiting time hasn't gotten any shorter. The embassy can't seem to process all the family reunion requests that are piling up. Did they not realize these changes wouldn't be enough? And if they have new staff, why aren't they prioritizing family reunion applications? The Foreign Minister's answers in the video below don't provide clear solutions.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock , Foreign Minister Bilawal regarding family reunion visa

German Parliamentarians Response

Many people have reached out to more than 50 members of the German federal parliament to address this issue during parliamentary debates. Sadly, our concerns haven't been addressed in these important discussions. Even our elected representatives receive the same old excuses from the Foreign Office and can't do much to help. They suggest this problem might take a long time to solve. But we wonder, if not our parliamentarians, who will speak up and hold the Foreign Office accountable? We ask, how much longer will it take for the Federal Foreign Office to fix this problem?

Contextual Background: Understanding the Family Reunion Visa Crisis

Waiting Time Disparities: Contrasting Experiences at German Embassies

It's crucial to highlight a stark contrast within a single country's visa application centers. At the German Consulate in Karachi, families can get their visas in a reasonable 3 to 6 months with no excessive waiting times. On the flip side, the German Embassy in Islamabad keeps applicants waiting for a staggering 24 months just to secure an appointment. This is an alarming and clear sign of mismanagement and poor bureaucratic practices by the Foreign Office, and the situation is worsening daily. The Foreign Office may offer excuses related to application numbers, but we can compare this situation to other embassies and consulates worldwide. For instance, in countries like India, despite a vast population, families can reunite within weeks or months. Some embassies and consulates, like those in the UAE and Saudi Arabia where many Pakistanis live, have virtually no waiting time for family visas. The glaring difference raises questions about the efficiency of the Foreign Office's practices.

False Claims and Wrong Priorities of Federal Foreign Office

This does not stop here. The German foreign office falsely claims that the family reunion is at their highest priority but the reality is opposite. Anyone wanting to migrate to Germany for a work visa is treated with priority at the embassy and can even bring their families within a few months. This is injustice to those who are already in Germany, and are working as highly qualified scientific experts and have paid taxes here for many years. Now this is how the German bureaucracy treats their families, and let their family lives tear apart. I ask foreign office that unfortunately your words and actions are not aligned, and if there was a priority for families, then you must have cleared the backlog of applications in family-reunion rather than bringing more workers to support the economy.

Denied early appointments even after  Pre-verification

In the past, there was an option of Pre-Verification for people to complete the documents verification process from Germany itself so the further waiting time for lawyer verification after the visa appointment could be avoided, and embassy granted earlier appointments to those who have already completed their pre-verification but now embassy has also refused to give early appointments to these citing the reason for large number of requests. I ask the embassy and foreign office if you can process the work visas faster with pre-approval then why can't you approve the family visas faster for those who have completed pre-verification?

Incorrect and Misleading Information on Embassy Website

As can be seen in the link below, the website of the German embassy Islamabad states that appointments for family reunion are currently only available in over one year time..

Family Reunion Visa Waiting Time Info

This information is quite false and misleading as well as confusing. More than 1 year could mean 2 years 3 years 4 years or more? In reality however as of September 2023, German embassy Islamabad is allocating appointments in the category of family reunion to those who have applied in September 2021 so this means the entire duration can easily be stretched to more than 2 years. It's imperative that the German embassy and Foreign Office provide accurate, up-to-date waiting times on their website for family reunion visas. We call on the embassy to regularly update the website with the current waiting duration in months and the appointment reference number being processed, ensuring that families are well-informed about their prospects. Clarity and transparency are essential in this matter.

Locked Out of Reunion: The Plight of Families Denied Visit Visas

The embassy has essentially shut its doors to people seeking reunification with their families. Even visit visa applications are denied on the sole basis of being on the family reunion waiting list. This rigid stance is nothing short of cruelty, especially for couples yearning to spend their precious early months of marriage together. We implore the Foreign Office to consider a compassionate alternative. If family visas cannot be granted promptly, at least permit spouses to reunite temporarily via visit visas. They deserve the chance to see each other and spend some time together. If  the embassy was overloaded in the past and new staff has been added then this new staff must process the family reunion applications at the foremost priority on humanitarian grounds..

 

Proposed Solutions and Requests to Address the Family Reunion Visa Crisis

We implore you to recognize the gravity of our situation and to take immediate and decisive action. Families should not be subjected to such inhumane conditions. We respectfully suggest the following:

• The Embassy should prioritize addressing the substantial backlog of family reunion applications on humanitarian and urgent grounds. Rather than expediting work visas, the foremost attention should be directed to those already residing in Germany, who have diligently paid taxes and made significant contributions to the country's social security and economy. Prioritizing family reunions will not only reduce the application backlog but also considerably reduce waiting times for new applicants.
• Applicants in the family reunion category should be given the possibility to get an early appointment at Karachi Consulate or other nearby consulates in places like UAE and Saudi Arabia or any other neighboring location where there is a much lower waiting time and are easier to travel for people from Pakistan.
• To alleviate the burden on the German Embassy in Islamabad, we propose the establishment of a new consulate or embassy, ideally in a location that can serve the applicants from Punjab and KPK, regions that account for the majority of applicants. Furthermore, the Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Lahore should be enabled to accept visa applications, which would further distribute the embassy's workload.
• Considering the strain on the embassy's capacity, the outsourcing of family reunification visa issuance services to a trusted entity such as VFS Global or a similar organization should be explored. This approach has already proven successful in countries like India and Vietnam, where outsourcing appointments has significantly reduced waiting times and streamlined the application process.
• Improved Communication: Provide clear and timely updates to applicants about the progress of their visa applications, offering them some relief from the agonizing uncertainty.

Closing Remarks
We kindly request that the German authorities take immediate action to address these violations and mitigate the delays in the visa application and family reunion process for Pakistani nationals. This may include streamlining the visa appointment system, increasing staffing and resources, and ensuring that family visa applications are processed efficiently and promptly.

We, the undersigned, stand united in our appeal for compassion and humanity. The families affected by these painful and unbearably long delays deserve better. Let our collective voice be the beacon of hope for those trapped in this bureaucratic tangle. 

Please, Federal Foreign Office, and Foreign Minister, let us rekindle the spirit of family, love, and unity. It's time to end the suffering and reunite families torn apart by this unjust waiting period. Together, we can bring solace to countless hearts and restore faith in the compassion of our great nation. We eagerly await your response and trust that you will take the necessary steps to rectify these concerns promptly.

Atif Javed Plea​

Tanzeel Plea​

Usman Tatla Plea​

Sadam Plea​

Obaid Plea