The story of Afghan Said Ghullam Norzai and his son Wali Khan, 10, has provided a microcosm of the UK asylum experience

Hello.

We just wanted to update you on the latest developments with our project The new arrivals, focusing on the lives, hopes, dreams and difficulties of the new wave of refugees, migrants and asylum seekers that have come into Europe in the past two years.

Our principal focus has been the Afghan farmer Said Ghullam Norzai and his 10-year-old son Wali Khan, who lost seven other family members on their way to Britain last year.

Said has now had his initial asylum claim assessed. His case is a neat microcosm of the agony and uncertainty of the asylum process. Find out what happened here.

Fortunately, there are happier tales to tell from the immigration frontline: the gay Ugandan couple rescued by Britain’s asylum system from the homophobia of their homeland; and the Welsh village determined to pull together to find a home for a traumatised Syrian family.

Coming up soon, we will be investigating how difficult it is to survive on the standard asylum seeker handout and we will meet a new character with a very different story of persecution, flight, arrival and resettlement.

Will will also catch up with the stories of new arrivals in Germany, France and Spain via our project partners Le Monde, Der Spiegel and El País.

Enjoy the summer holidays.

Mark Rice-Oxley,

Head of special projects,

The Guardian.