Stars of the beloved Christmas film Love Actually, Hugh Grant and Richard Curtis, have thrown their support behind a poignant campaign to restore a crucial visa route for refugees seeking to reunite with their families in the UK.
Visa Route Axed in Immigration Overhaul
The refugee family reunion visa was effectively scrapped by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood as part of sweeping changes to the immigration system announced in November 2025. The route, which previously allowed refugees granted protection in the UK to apply for their immediate family members to join them safely, has been paused to new applications.
Under the new rules, refugees no longer have an automatic right to family reunion. Instead, the opportunity will only be available to those who successfully enter the UK via work or study visa routes. Even those who qualify are likely to face stringent high income requirements and English language tests.
Celebrity Support and Human Cost
The British Red Cross has launched a Christmas campaign, re-enacting the iconic airport reunion scene from Love Actually, to highlight the anguish of separated families. Actor Hugh Grant voiced his support, stating: "Christmas is when most of us hope to be with the people we love. It’s heartbreaking that so many who’ve fled conflict and disaster remain separated."
Writer and director Richard Curtis added: "The desire to be with your loved ones and see your family safe is something everyone can relate to... Proposed changes could effectively cut off a vital route to safety."
Analysis from the Red Cross indicates that at least 4,900 families, including 6,300 children, will be impacted by the suspension of the route between September 2025 and April 2026.
Real Lives in the Balance
The charity warns that closing this safe, legal pathway may force desperate women and children to attempt dangerous journeys, such as Channel crossings, to reach family. They shared the story of Omer and Hiba, a Sudanese couple forced to flee conflict at different times, leaving their baby son behind. They were eventually reunited at Heathrow Airport last year with Red Cross support.
Another case is that of Umer Heyi, an Ethiopian computer science student granted refugee status on 4 September 2025. He tried to apply for his wife and two-year-old son that same day, but the scheme closed at 3pm. He told The Independent: "If I can’t save him, if I can’t protect him, then what have I got?"
Béatrice Butsana-Sita, Chief Executive of the British Red Cross, said: "Family reunion has long been a cornerstone of the UK’s refugee protection system... We want family reunion to continue to be accessed by people separated by conflict, violence and persecution."
