Written evidence (FAM0055)   

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I’m a principal geotechnical engineer working for world’s leading design and engineering firm for the last 6-7 years approx. I recently received my British citizenship. I have two sisters both residing in the U.K., my elder sister is a GP and she is also a British citizen, my youngest sister is training to become a GP and will soon receive her ILR

As we all come from a close knit Asian household, family ties are crucial for us. My parents are both in Pakistan and are retired now. They are frail and elderly and have many medical conditions. As all 3 of their children are in the U.K. it makes sense to have them by our side. All three of us are homeowners and are financially stable, we are more than capable of bear their expenses and provide for them. They are financially independent themselves and receive monthly pension and will not be a burden when they come here. In this phase in their lives, they need their family members to be by their sides more than money. There’s certain things that money cannot buy and I want my son who’s only 18 months to have his grandparents close to him. Moreover and most importantly I want to tend to their needs and all 3 of us siblings find it quite hard to choose between our parents and the U.K. as we are all career driven and passionate about our respective roles.

It is my firm conviction that home office will consider the aforementioned reasons and challenges that many foreign professionals like myself face when it comes to ADR and will ease rules on this so that we can have our parents by our sides.

Although my parents travel once a year to see us due to their failing healths and old age I feel like it is very unfair on them to make long haul journeys and we worry about their wellbeing all the time.

September 2022