Mrs. S. and Mr. A.* and their son left their native Afghanistan three years ago for a life of uncertainty. Mr. A. used to work in agriculture, but due to difficult circumstances, he was forced to migrate. His family stayed in Türkiye for some time, where Mr. A. worked in factories in hopes of providing a better life for his loved ones. It was there that his daughter was born. Eventually, he and his wife had to come to the realization that, since they had run out of money to move together, they would have to take two separate migration routes. His wife reached Switzerland via Italy, while he arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina through Bulgaria. He remained in the forest on the border between the EU and BiH, attempting to cross the border illegally, but without success.

Once arrived in Switzerland, Mrs. S. relentlessly pursued her idea of reunification, putting all her hopes into obtaining refugee status. Once the refugee status obtained, she told her story to her social worker of Caritas Neuchâtel, who then immediately started to support her with the family reunification procedures.

In April 2024, the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration granted the entry authorization for her husband Mr. A. and Caritas Neuchâtel then reached out to IOM Switzerland. From there, IOM Switzerland contacted IOM Bosnia and together they found a solution through a temporary center.

"I was in the forest between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina when my wife called me with the news and told me to come to Bihać, to the temporary reception center run by IOM. There, I received all the necessary support. After five days, I’ve been transferred to another IOM center, TRC Blažuj in Sarajevo, where I stayed until my flight to Switzerland," Mr. A. shares.

Thanks to the IOM Bosnia and Herzegovina protection team and the Swiss Family Reunification Program of IOM Switzerland, after months of separation, Mr. A. will finally see his loved ones - his wife, son, and daughter. "My daughter was only 40 days old when I last saw her - I'm sure she has grown so much," he says, full of emotion.

IOM took care of organizing the visa from the Swiss Embassies in Sarajevo and Vienna as well as a Laissez-passer, a one-time travel document issued by the Swiss Embassy, as Mr. A. had lost all his documents except his ID during his migration. IOM book a flight for him to Switzerland in July 2024 and brought him to the airport. "I miss my children, I can't wait to see them," says Mr. A. as he waits at Sarajevo Airport for the gate to open for him to begin his new future. He admits that he didn't sleep all night due to the excitement. 

"I know a little German - I've been studying it for some time - and my wife speaks decent French now. We are also both actively working on improving our language skills to better prepare for successful integration. We are determined to provide our children with a better future and equal opportunities", he says.

With the help of IOM, Caritas Neuchâtel, the State Secretariat for Migration, the Swiss Embassy in Sarajevo and Vienna, and finally the Service for Foreigners and the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. A. was reunited with his family. He admits that he would have never left his country if his life had not been at risk. But now, he feels like the whole world is his home, when his family is finally together. Mrs. S. confirms that she’s relieved to see her family reunited and in security. She will now be able to focus on the start of their new life in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

Regular migration pathways and family reunification are essential for a humane and orderly migration system, reducing the risks of exploitation and promoting global stability. By facilitating safe, regulated migration, these pathways allow migrants to contribute economically and socially to their destination countries while upholding their fundamental right to family life. By facilitating the reunification of families, states can promote the mental and emotional health of migrants, reduce vulnerabilities, and build resilient societies. Expanding these pathways aligns with international commitments like the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and contributes to achieving sustainable development goals, benefiting migrants, their families, and society as a whole.

* name changed to protect person’s identity.