I’m 29 and my wife is 26. We both arrived in the UK from Venezuela and claimed asylum at the airport.

We’ve now been waiting almost 3 years for a decision.

I feel like I’m living in a limbo. When I say limbo, I mean it literally. You can’t really move forward. You can’t study properly without status, and even though there is technically a work permission system, in reality it feels almost useless.

The jobs allowed are so limited that sometimes it feels like the only options are building rockets or fishing crabs in the Bering Sea (just joking, but it really feels that way). The reality is that almost no one hires you.

I feel like I’m wasting my life. Time keeps passing and I’m still stuck.

Another thing that confuses me is how inconsistent everything feels. I have friends from Sudan who arrived by boat and their cases moved much faster, sometimes in just a few months. I have nothing against them at all, but it makes me question how things are handled. It feels like following the legal process doesn’t always work the way it should.

All this time, the uncertainty has caused me stress and depressive episodes. Not knowing what will happen, not knowing if this will take even more years… it’s overwhelming.

I am currently working with a solicitor under Legal Aid.

Last year we submitted a Pre-Action Protocol letter, but at that time we couldn’t proceed with a Judicial Review because we didn’t have strong enough evidence.

Since then, I have gathered medical evidence to support my case, and now we are trying again.

Recently, we submitted a second Pre-Action Protocol letter and the Home Office responded negatively.

At the moment, I am waiting for Legal Aid funding so a barrister can get involved, prepare the grounds, and move forward with a Judicial Review.

This whole process has been long, exhausting, and mentally very difficult for me.

I feel stuck, drained, and uncertain about the future.

I decided to share a shorter version of my story without going into too many personal details, as this process is not easy and has been quite hard.

Has anyone been in a similar situation, especially with long asylum delays and moving toward a Judicial Review?
Any advice or shared experiences would really help.