Important Travel Information – Please Read
Temporary Refugee Visas are for individuals who are about to enter the United Kingdom and are at the border because they were forced to flee their country due to grave threats to their life. This visa must be applied for from within the United Kingdom.
The visa is temporary, valid just until the visa holder is no longer in danger and is able to return to their country. Visa for Stateless Persons is for foreign nationals living in the United Kingdom who are not citizens of any other country. This visa is valid for a period of two to six years with the potential of extension.
UK Refugee/Asylum
To be granted UK refugee status in you must apply for asylum. To be eligible, you must have left your home country and cannot return due to persecution.
The UK Government makes it extremely difficult for asylum seekers to enter the United Kingdom (UK). This is especially true now that the Government has passed the Nationality and Borders Act 2022.
Applying for asylum in the UK
You are allowed to apply for fo asylum in the UK if you have fled your country of origin and are unable to return due to a fear of persecution as a result of:
Nationality
Religion
Race
Membership in a specific social group
Political viewpoints
Claiming asylum in the UK
If you are in serious threat of danger/harm in your country of origin or residence and want the UK to provide international protection, you can apply for asylum while in the country.
Claiming asylum from outside the UK is not possible, and there is no visa that allows people to enter the UK to claim asylum. As a result, most people attempt to enter the UK without permission.
Qualifying for asylum in the UK
A person seeking asylum is someone who is fleeing persecution or has been subjected to violence or human rights violations. A refugee is someone who has requested and been granted refugee status.
If you qualify for asylum, you and your dependents may be granted permission to remain in the UK for five years. This is referred to as ‘leave to remain.’ You are allowed to apply to settle in the UK after five years.
The Home Office can take months, if not years, to make an asylum decision, and there is a growing backlog of cases. Over 117,000 people awaited an initial decision on their asylum case at the end of June 2022.
A refugee visa is an official document that allows you to remain in another country if you are being persecuted in your country of origin.
Other UK Visa Types
A Visa is required for any foreign national wishing to enter the United Kingdom. You can choose from the following:
You must notify a member of the UK Border Force, who is usually uninformed if you wish to claim asylum
If you are stopped by a member of UK immigration on your way into the country, you should immediately inform them of your desire to seek asylum.
If you are in the UK already and wish to seek asylum, you must call and make an appointment with the Croydon Screening Unit.
The asylum process in the United Kingdom differs depending on your circumstances. After filing your claim, you will be scheduled for a screening interview and assigned a caseworker.
A second interview, known as the Substantive Interview, will usually follow. Following that, your case will be considered, and a decision will be made.
During the asylum process, you may be asked to attend additional interviews or submit additional evidence.
People Also Asked
Permission to remain as a refugee for five years
If you are granted asylum, the UK may grant you and your dependents permission to remain there for five years. This is referred to as “leaving to remain.” You may seek to settle in the UK after five years.