The UK Home Office has denied a visitor visa to the mother of a London-based Palestinian man ahead of a planned family wedding in Ireland, citing concerns over her intentions to leave the UK after her visit. Therese Abdallah, a Palestinian Jerusalemite who has lived in Jerusalem for four decades, was refused entry despite her husband Ghassan Abdallah’s visa being approved.

Farim Abdallah, who has resided in London since 2019, said he was informed that his mother was not considered a “genuine visitor” by the UK authorities. The couple, who are a retired teacher and a psychologist respectively, intended to travel to the UK to see their son and attend a family wedding in Ireland. They have previously traveled to the UK on academic visits without incident.

In the rejection letter, the Home Office official stated concerns about the applicant’s ties to the UK compared to her home country, noting that her UK connections outweighed those in her place of residence. The official expressed doubt “on the balance of probabilities” that Therese Abdallah was a genuine visitor and informed her that the decision was not subject to appeal.

The Abdallah family holds Palestinian Jerusalemite status, which means they are not Israeli citizens, but hold travel documents issued by Israel and Jordan. The family’s ties to Jerusalem include another son living with his family in East Jerusalem, underscoring their close connection to the city.

Karim Abdallah, another son based in London, said both parents applied using the same invitation and submitted identical supporting documents, including evidence of the family’s financial means to cover the visit. “I have lived legally in the UK for the last eight years, work and pay my taxes and do not have access to any benefits in the UK," he said. "I was looking forward to showing my parents places near where we live and attending the wedding.” He described the visa refusal as a disruption to their summer plans.

A spokesperson for the Home Office declined to comment on the specific case, stating that visa applications are evaluated on their individual merits and the evidence provided, including declarations related to previous visa refusals.