"I miss my children, I can't wait to see them," says Amir* 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.

Thanks to the IOM Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Swiss Family Reunification Program of IOM Switzerland, after months of separation, Amir 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. He also admits that the last time he saw his family was in October of last year, and since then, all their communication takes place through video calls on social media.

This 30-year-old left his native Afghanistan three years ago for a life of uncertainty. He used to work in agriculture, but due to difficult circumstances, he was forced to migrate. His family stayed in Türkiye for some time, where Amir 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, but without success.

His wife did not give up, however.

She relentlessly pursued her idea of reunification, putting all her hopes into obtaining the refugee status. With determination, she succeeded and found organizations that were willing to help. Thanks to her determination, she found support from the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and Caritas Neuchâtel, who then reached out to IOM Switzerland. From there, IOM Switzerland contacted IOM Bosnia and Herzegovina and together they found a solution through a temporary center and his wife finally called Amir to explain him what to do.

"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. There, I received all the necessary support. After five days, thanks to IOM BiH, I’ve been transferred to TRC Blažuj in Sarajevo, where I stayed until my flight to Switzerland," Amir shares.

"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. During these three years, he has lost almost all his documents; at the time of seeking help, he only had an ID card, which fortunately was enough to start the family reunification process.

With the help of IOM, the Swiss Embassy in Sarajevo and Vienna, and finally the Service for Foreigners, Amir was reunited with his family, and he safely came to Switzerland. The entire process took a little over two months. Amir 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.

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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.

Written by M Balić