Asylum & Immigration- Seeking Asylum in the UK

> A person is a refugee only when their application for asylum has been accepted by the Home Office.
> When a person has lodged an asylum claim with the Immigration and Nationality Directorate at the Home Office and is waiting for a decision on their claim, s/he is called an 'asylum seeker'.
> The Integrated Casework Unit at the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate makes decisions on asylum claims.
> They will assess claims on the basis of an asylum seeker's credibility, the current political situation in their country, evidence on the country's human rights record and, if applicable, medical evidence of torture and abuse.
> The asylum applicant will have to show that they meet the criteria laid down in the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.
> If the asylum application is refused, the applicant still has further appeal rights with the Immigration Appellate Authority and the Immigration Appeals Tribunal.
> An asylum applicant is granted refugee status if they meet the criteria laid down in the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees.
> Exceptional leave to remain (ELR) is granted when the Home Office considers that the applicant does not meet those criteria, but that it may be dangerous for the applicant to return to their country due to the current situation.
> ELR may also be granted in other exceptional circumstances, for example, when someone has been waiting for a long time, or for people who have come to the UK as part of a government evacuation programme, as happened in recent years with refugees from Bosnia and Kosovo.

> An asylum seeker is entitled to certain support.
Click on:
www.refugeecouncil.org.uk
www.rightsnet.org.uk

> For advice on Immigration
Click on:
www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk

Contact:

The Refugee Council’s One Stop Service Advice line Tel: 020 7346 6777.
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays,
10am - 1pm, 2pm -5pm

The advice line is operated by advisers with experience in asylum and immigration matters. It aims to provide advice and information on a wide range of issues, including social security, family reunion, identity and travel documentation, education, housing, legal issues and information about refugee community organisations.

Surrey Asylum Support Team is based at:

Social Services Centre
129 Farningham Road
Caterham
Surrey
CR3 6LN

Tel: 01737 737237
Fax: 01737 737227
Email: asylum.support@surreycc.gov.uk

You can also get further information from the Home Office about:
> Immigration advice Recruitment
> Application forms Latest information
> Appeals Personal status update

You can also contact The Commission for Race Equality or the Refugee Council.

INTERPRETING SERVICES

Woking Interpreting and Translating Service (WITS)
Maybury Centre
Boardschool Road
Woking
Surrey
GU21 5HD

Telephone: 01483 750970
Fax: 01483 750548
email: wcrf@woking.worldonline.co.uk

WITS translate or interpret 25 different languages. They will provide interpreters.

For evidential purposes (e.g. coming into custody) the police are required to use interpreters from a National Register.

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