Help reunite Dr Doseline Kiguru and her daughter

Dr Doseline Kiguru is a Kenyan permanent Lecturer in World Literatures in the Department of English at the University of Bristol in the UK. Doseline joined the University in 2021 as a research associate on a £1.3 million EU-funded project in which she researched literary activism in Kenya and Uganda. Because her job was fixed-term and involved significant periods of time in Kenya on field work, it was in the best interest of her daughter to remain in Kenya, and not have her schooling and life disrupted by a move to the UK, which at the time would not have been permanent. Last year, Doseline was appointed to a permanent lectureship through a highly competitive international selection process. At this stage, she committed to a building a new life in the UK, and therefore sought to bring her daughter to live with her. As a world-leading expert on a skilled worker visa, Doseline did not expect any issues and enrolled her daughter at school in Bristol, purchasing her school uniform and supplies in anticipation that they would return to the UK over the summer to start the new academic year together in September. Unfortunately, the Home Office has rejected her 6-year old daughter's visa to join her mother in the UK.

Despite a published processing time of 15-working days, it took the Home Office 4 months to communicate this decision, which they did to the University only after a direct intervention. During this time, Doseline incurred considerable costs due to the repeated paid inquiries and flight changes she was forced to make.

In its letter addressed to Doseline's 6-years old daughter, the Home Office’s rejection said it saw “no compassionate grounds” on which to allow the child to join her mother. The letter added: “It was your mother’s personal decision to depart for the UK.” This rejection was made under the UK immigration rules which stipulate that a child cannot receive a visa to accompany or join a parent unless both parents travel or settle in the UK together. In Doseline's case, this was not possible due to her husband's employment. For this reason, the Kenyan High Court, with the consent of Doseline's husband, granted her sole responsibility for her daughter, a ruling which the Home Office rejected.

As a consequence of this unjust and horrific decision, Doseline is now in a position where she must re-apply for the visa not just for her daughter but for her husband as well, who is now forced to relocate to the UK in order for the family to remain together. This will incur significant costs, which are broken down below. As Doseline's close friends and colleagues, we are therefore fundraising these costs so that she and her daughter can be reunited.

Visa fees £1420 x 2

Immigration Health Surcharge up until the end of next year £1641

VFS fees for both £215

Priority application £500 x 2

IOM medical charges £55 x 2

Flights £2000 for both

Total: £7806

We are anticipating legal and other fees, so we are raising a slight excess of the total amount listed above. All funds will go directly to Doseline; however any unspent excess will be refunded to all donors.

A Guardian article on her case has been published here for context: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/nov/11/kenyan-expert-bristol-university-denied-visa-daughter

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