Asylum process
On this page you’ll find general information and resources about the asylum process, which can be very difficult to understand. You may be able to find help and support locally on our Find services page.
Contents
Claiming Asylum
You can claim asylum as soon as you enter the UK by telling immigration officials. You may have a screening interview at this point. A screening interview is a short interview, asking for your personal details and the reasons why you want to claim asylum.
If you do not claim asylum on immediate entry, you will need to call the asylum intake unit.
Asylum intake unit appointments line
Telephone: 0300 123 4193
Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4:45pm
Friday, 9am to 4:30pm
You can find out more information about the Asylum intake unit (www.gov.uk) and how to Claim asylum in the UK (www.gov.uk) by visiting GOV.UK
You will need to tell the Home Office if you do not have anywhere to live or have any money. You will need to Apply for asylum support: form ASF1 (www.gov.uk) this can be done with the support of Migrant Help.
Right to Remain Toolkit
Right to Remain has produced the Right to Remain Toolkit (Right to Remain.org), which provides an in-depth overview of the asylum system. You can also translate the toolkit and find other useful pieces of information on their site. We recommend looking at their website as soon as possible to familiarise yourself with the asylum process.
Find Immigration Advice
The RSMP is not able to provide immigration advice, as we are not a regulated OISC provider. To find immigration advice you an search the Adviser Finder (oisc.gov.uk) You can also see our Where to find Immigration Advice page.
Types of Asylum Support
There are different types of support available:
- Section 98 – this is a form of ‘temporary’ or ‘emergency’ support for people requesting support under Section 95 or seeking relief from destitution under certain terms.
- Section 95 – people are granted support under Section 95 whilst they await a decision on their claim for a form of protection or Refugee status.
- Section 4 – you may be able to access this support if you have had your asylum claim refused with ‘appeal rights exhausted’ but are facing barriers to leaving the UK, or have been granted a ‘judicial review’, and Section 4 support is required to avoid breaching your human rights.
You will also receive an Application Registration Card, also known as an ARC card. This is your main identity document whilst you are seeking asylum. If you have any issues with your ARC card, you can report issues with your ARC on Application registration card (ARC) enquiry (homeoffice.gov.uk)
Asylum Questionnaire
In February 2023, the Home Office sent paper questionnaires to people seeking asylum, this is referred to as the Streamlined Asylum Process (SAP). People of certain nationalities, who arrived between certain dates were asked to fill the questionnaires out and return them to the Home Office.
You can find out more on the Right to Remain website. They have produced some information on what to do if you receive a questionnaire and who can help you complete them.
Substantive Interview
Once you have had your screening interview, you will need to wait for your substantive interview. You will receive an invitation to your interview through a letter. If you can’t attend the interview you need to let the Home Office know as soon as possible.
During the interview, you will be able to have an interpreter present to support you. You can also bring your legal representative. You will be interviewed separately from any family members you may be with.
The purpose of the interview is to explain:
- how you were persecuted in your country
- why you’re afraid to go back to your country
You will receive a copy of the interview once it has been completed. The Home Office will notify you if they need any further information or evidence after your interview.
During your claim
You can claim housing & financial support from the Home Office, you can do this when you claim asylum, or you can apply through Migrant Help. To find out more please see our Rights and Entitlements page.
Migrant Help are contracted by the Home Office to provide advice and support to people seeking asylum. You can report any housing issues, changes to your claim and issues with HC2 help with health care certificates through Migrant Help.
You can contact Migrant Help the following ways:
Free asylum helpline (open 24/7/365): 0808 8010 503
You can also contact them via their webchat or via the migrant help online enquiry form.
Email addresses for various queries can be found at Changes to contact methods | Migrant Help (migranthelpuk.org)
During your claim, you will not be able to work unless you have requested right to work. There are limitations on Right to Work applications. You must have been in the UK as an asylum seeker for 12 months, and if granted right to work, you will only be eligible for work from the Skilled worker immigration Salary List (formerly the Shortage Occupation List).
You are able to volunteer whilst you are in the asylum system. To find out more on both employment and volunteering, please see our employment section.
You can also find local groups that can offer support, guidance, and activities on our Find a Service directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifies you for asylum in UK?
A person must be ‘unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion’. Increasingly however, people are being forcibly displaced due to climate. You can see the UK government eligibility to claim asylum in the UK online.
How long does an asylum claim take in the UK?
There is no set amount of time to complete an asylum claim. If a claim is undecided for 12 months, people can request permission to work, but if granted, they’re only eligible for jobs on the skilled worker visa: immigration salary list which can be found on GOV.UK.
How much money do asylum seekers get in the UK?
This will depend on their support and accommodation, this is explained on GOV.UK asylum support: what you’ll get.