Syrian family left in limbo over Christmas as UK halts asylum claims

Bilal and his family were told a decision on their asylum application was ‘very close’ before all claims were suspended earlier this month. Photograph: Fabio De Paola

A Syrian family say they are “fearing for their future” this Christmas after having an imminent decision on their asylum application stopped by the UK government.

Bilal*, 39, worked as a bank manager in Damascus, and has been living in Sheffield with his wife and four children for the past year. He had his second interview about his asylum application in November and had been told by the Home Office that a decision on his case was “very close”.