Asylum Claim

You should only make a claim for asylum (international protection) if you fear return to your country of origin/ nationality. To be recognised as a refugee under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, you must have left your country and be unable to go back because you have a well-founded fear of persecution based on Race, Religion, Nationality, Political opinion or Membership of a particular social group.

We understand that application for Asylum in the UK can be complex and using the services of an immigration expert are highly recommended. We pride ourselves on being approachable and proactive in understanding and meeting our clients’ needs. You will need to ensure that you meet all of the mandatory requirements before you apply. You will need to complete the relevant forms and collate your evidence for submission going back years.

When should you make a claim for asylum

You should apply when you arrive in the UK or as soon as you think it would be unsafe for you to return to your own country.

Failure to do so may be taken into account and affect the credibility of your claim and your application is more likely to be denied if you wait.

Where can you make a claim for asylum

If you are not detained, you should go to the asylum intake unit (AIU) in Croydon (south of London) to make your asylum application. Where possible, you should book an appointment by telephone which will guarantee the date and time you will be seen.

What happens when you make a claim for asylum

You will have to complete your screening process. The asylum screening process is divided into several parts:

• Gathering your biometric information (this is taking your fingerprints and photographs to maintain a record of asylum claims, to confirm your identity, and to check against other databases to ensure the UK is the right place to decide your asylum application)
• Carrying out identity and security checks (checking if you are already known to the UK authorities or by other counties)
• Confirming whether or not you require accommodation and gathering information to assist with making a decision on where in the UK you will be accommodated
• Completing a screening interview where the Home Office will ask you:
  • Basic questions about your identity and
  • details of your family
  • How you travelled to the United Kingdom
  • Whether you have any medical conditions
  • Why you fled your country (giving just a brief explanation)
  • Questions relating to any criminal offences and national security
  • If you booked an appointment you will be asked to confirm your personal details, family details, any medical conditions and other information gathered during the telephone booking

Will you be given permission to work in the UK during your asylum claim

You are generally not allowed to work while your application for asylum is being considered. If you have valid leave and have been given permission to work in the UK.

If the Home Office has not made a decision on your initial asylum application after one year (and this delay is not attributed to you) you may request permission to work. This right will cease if your application for asylum is finally determined as unsuccessful.

What can you expect at your asylum interview

Your asylum interview is your opportunity to speak to the Home Office interviewer face to face and to give a full account of why you left your country and why you are afraid of returning home.

You should take independent legal advice and at Aaryan Solicitors we can assist you with your interview because it is very important that you give a full account of what happened to you and who you are afraid of, if you return to your country of origin. You should give as much detail as possible about all the reasons you left and why you are afraid to go back.

How long will it take to make a decision after your asylum claim is made

A decision will usually be made on your application within 6 months.

What are the possible outcomes of your asylum claim:

• Grant of asylum as a refugee
• If you do not qualify as a refugee under the 1951 Refugee Convention, but it is accepted that you have a need for international protection, you will be granted Humanitarian Protection and allowed to remain in the UK for five years
• If you are not accepted as being in need of international protection, but it is considered that there are reasons for allowing you to stay on a temporary basis, you will be granted limited leave to remain
• Refusal of asylum application

At Aaryan Solicitors, team of our immigration law specialists’ can advise you on the merits of making an asylum claim, fresh claim and/or challenging the decision by way of an appeal to the Immigration Tribunal.

Why Choose Aaryan Solicitors?