A 14-member Afghan family has filed a lawsuit against Germany for failing to issue them visas, despite having received a promise of admission.
The Afghan family has been staying in Pakistan for 16 months, waiting for the German Foreign Office to issue them visas and travel to Germany from there.
Since Germany has failed to keep its promise for admission and this family now faces deportation back to Afghanistan, a woman of the family is taking legal action, Schengen.News reports.
As confirmed by her lawyer, the Afghan woman, who wished to remain anonymous, and her family filed a lawsuit and an urgent application with the Administrative Court in Berlin, Tagesschau explains.
The Afghan woman is a scientist and writer. She was granted admission to Germany under the Federal Admission Program, which is aimed at those who are considered “particularly exposed” and “individually at risk” due to their work in areas such as politics, media, and judiciary, among others.
This type of admission extends to spouses, children, and relatives who are endangered, and that is why a total of 14 individuals are asking for German visas.
Afghan Family Applied for German Visas in January 2024
Since Germany does not have a diplomatic representation in Afghanistan, the visa process for the family took place at the German Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan.
The Afghan family applied for German visas in January 2024 and attended the security interviews in October of the same year. In March of this year, the family received an indication that their visas were ready, but they have not been called to collect their passports, the lawyer said.
Instead, the family was asked to attend another interview, leaving them in limbo and scared that they would be deported to Afghanistan since their Pakistan visas had expired and could no longer be extended.
Now that this issue has reached the court, it is to be seen what measures the German authorities will take. The Afghan woman argued that the German Foreign Office has not raised any concerns at any point in the process, suggesting that they expect the country to grant them visas and organise their leave for Germany as soon as possible.
Court Decision Could Affect Thousands in Germany’s Admission Program
In addition to the above-mentioned family, reports show that this is not the only case. About 2,500 nationals of Afghanistan are going through admission procedures in Pakistan and are part of Germany’s Federal Admission Program.
The new German government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, previously said that it intends to end the admissions programs. This has raised fears among the Afghan family and others that the program could be shut down, and they will remain without any help.