Home Office denies Palestinian mother UK visa, citing stronger ties to UK

Key facts

• A Palestinian Jerusalemite woman, Therese Abdallah, was denied a UK visitor visa.
• The Home Office cited that her ties to the UK outweighed her ties to her home country.
• The decision stated the official was not satisfied she was a genuine visitor.
• Her husband, Ghassan Abdallah, had his visa application approved.
• The couple's son, Karim Abdallah, has lived in the UK since 2019.

A Palestinian Jerusalemite woman, Therese Abdallah, has been denied a UK visitor visa, despite her husband's application being approved using the same evidence. The Home Office stated that her ties to the UK outweighed those to her home country and expressed doubt about her intention to leave the UK at the end of her visit. Her son, Karim Abdallah, who has lived legally in the UK since 2019, expressed devastation, as the decision cancelled a planned family visit and a family wedding in Ireland. Therese Abdallah, a retired English teacher, has previously travelled to the UK without issue. The rejection cited a lack of confidence that she would return home, a concern not raised for her husband. She was informed of no right to appeal or administrative review.