Family reunification with beneficiaries of subsidiary protection

• No family reunification with beneficiaries of subsidiary protection until 31 July 2018
• Entry into force of the Act on the Reorganisation of Family Reunification with Beneficiaries of Subsidiary Protection on 1 August 2018
• What is the visa procedure?
• Where is support available, especially for Iraqi or Syrian refugees and those entitled to subsidiary protection?
• Please note:

No family reunification with beneficiaries of subsidiary protection until 31 July 2018

With the Act on the Introduction of Accelerated Asylum Procedures (so-called Asylum Package II), family reunification with beneficiaries of subsidiary protection was initially suspended for two years.
This regulation was extended until 31 July 2018 by the new version of Section 104 (13) of the Residence Act. That meant:

Family reunification with persons who, as from 18 March 2016, were granted subsidiary protection by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) was ruled out until 31 July 2018. Up to that date, no visas could be issued.

Entry into force of the Act on the Reorganisation of Family Reunification with Beneficiaries of Subsidiary Protection on 1 August 2018

On 1 August 2018, the Act on the Reorganisation of Family Reunification with Beneficiaries of Subsidiary Protection came into force. Spouses, parents of minors and unmarried minor children have since then been allowed to reunite with beneficiaries of subsidiary protection.

Other family members as well, especially siblings of minors living here, are again allowed to follow. However, they are subject to stricter conditions.

What is the visa procedure?

Since 1 August 2018, the missions abroad have been issuing up to 1,000 visas per month.
If the number of visa applications exceeds the monthly quota, the Federal Office of Administration (BVA) makes a selection. Special consideration is given to humanitarian aspects and the integrative capacities of the beneficiaries of subsidiary protection living here.

In particular, the Landesamt für Einwanderung (Berlin Immigration Office) will let the BVA know that beneficiaries of subsidiary protection are in gainful employment, hold language certificates or have undertaken exemplary voluntary work, insofar as we have been notified of this.

As the selection procedure is solely in the hands of the BVA, we are not able to give any advance consent during the visa process. Nor do we have any influence on the duration of the visa process.

Where is support available, especially for Iraqi or Syrian refugees and those entitled to subsidiary protection?

The Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) points out the following:

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has, since June 2016, offered the Family Assistance Program. This programme, which was initiated by the Federal Foreign Office, is intended for family members of Syrian and Iraqi refugees who have been recognised as such in Germany.

The programme helps visa applicants with questions about the visa process and ensures that all the necessary documents are presented at the visa appointment. To this end, the IOM has set up family support centres in Lebanon and Turkey.

Please note:

• All visa applicants are strongly advised to contact the IOM Family Support Centres for advice before their appointment at the German missions in Lebanon and Turkey.
• Visiting the family support centres can speed up the processing of the visa application and thus the departure to Germany.

The IOM Family Support Centres can be reached as follows:

Erbil:
Italian Village 1,
Villa No. B4 & B5
Irak
E-Mail

Beirut:
Beit El Kekko,
Bekfaya main road,
Kachouh building, floor -1,
Metn, Mount Lebanon
Libanon
E-Mail

Gaziantep:
Güvenevler Mahallesi 29069,
Sokak No:15,
Tugay Sehitkamil/Gaziantep,
Türkei
E-Mail

Istanbul:
Bestekar Şevki Bey Sokak No: 9,
Balmumcu,
Beşiktaş/İstanbul,
Türkei
E-Mail

Please note

• With regard to family reunification with beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, whether or not a spouse or a minor unmarried child is to be allowed to follow does not depend on the issue of subsistence. This also applies where parents wish to join a beneficiary of subsidiary protection who is a minor. In all these cases, acceptance is also not contingent on proof of sufficient accommodation. The three-month time limit does not apply.
• The case is different for other family members, including siblings, of minors living here. As with refugees living here, family reunification is only possible in this case if the missions abroad ascertain exceptional hardship. The preconditions in terms of subsistence and proof of sufficient accommodation will then also be dropped.
• We have no influence on the allocation of appointments at the German missions abroad. Due to the new procedure of quota allocation, entries may be delayed despite fulfilment of the legal requirements. We ask for your understanding.