NEW REPORT – All families matter: Uncovering Injustice and Discrimination in the UK Visa and Immigration system

Single mothers from southern Africa and other countries who arrived in the UK to work as health and care workers have been denied their child’s visa despite having the right to bring dependants when they arrived, reveals a report published on 22 January 2025.

The report by Women of Zimbabwe and Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA), supported by the University of Liverpool, outlines the discrimination and unfair refusal of visas by single mothers who arrived before 11 March 2024 (before the rules changed to bar care workers from bringing dependants).

Click here to read the report. 

These mothers, mostly from Zimbabwe (which sent the second highest number of care workers to the UK in 2023-2024) but across all of Africa and the world, had planned to bring their children after settling in the UK but have been met with repeated visa refusals despite arriving with the right to bring their children with them.

Some mothers have been separated from their child for years, including one 5-year-old who hasn’t seen his mum for three years. It took one mother 10 months and multiple costly applications to obtain a visa for her 6-month-old baby.

The report was launched in the House of Lords on Wednesday 22 January 2025, hosted by Lord Jonny Oates, with speakers including Women of Zimbabwe founder Patricia Chinyoka and affected mothers, and Professor Majella Kilkey. You can watch it below.

The report, which you can read here, details discrimination against single mothers, inconsistencies in decision-making, failure of the Home Office to consistently apply its own guidance, and harmful levels of cultural illiteracy. Eight case studies, including refusals letters, and a survey will illustrate the issues and the impacts – financial, emotional, and more – of such policies. It makes seven recommendations for the Home Office to urgently prevent more harm.

Patricia Chinyoka, founder of Women of Zimbabwe: “This report lays bare discrimination and systemic flaws in Home Office decision making, harming thousands of single mothers and their children. Our urgent recommendations to government can prevent more harm to families.”

Tricia Sibbons, ACTSA Director “It’s bad enough to now deny care workers the right to live with their children, as they shore up our health and care system. But to fail mothers already working here before the rules changed, by excluding their children from the UK, is simply inhumane. We encourage women to join their trade unions who are already assisting many women on this issue.”