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When you arrive in the UK
- You tell the Home Office you want asylum.
- You have a short interview called a screening interview.
- If you have no home or money, the Home Office gives you temporary housing.
This is called Section 98 support.
Moving to longer term housing
- After some months (sometimes up to a year), you move to a house or flat somewhere in the UK.
- This is called dispersal.
- When you move, you get Section 95 support, which gives you:
- Housing
- About £49.18 a week for each person
Your main interview
- Later, you will go to a long interview called the Substantive Interview.
- This is about why you need asylum.
- It can take many hours.
- After the interview, you must wait.
The Home Office may take months or more than a year to decide.
The decision
If the Home Office says YES:
- You get leave to remain.
- This means you can stay in the UK.
If the Home Office says NO:
- You can usually appeal the decision.
Your rights while you wait
You have the right to:
- Be treated fairly
- Practise your religion
- Have your case looked at properly
- Get housing and support if you qualify
- Get free NHS healthcare
- Get legal advice (sometimes free)
If you get Leave to Remain
- Your visa will have an end date.
- Before it ends, you can:
- Apply to extend your visa (Further Leave to Remain), or
- After enough years, apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (no time limits)
- Later, you may apply for British citizenship
British Values
The UK has five important values:
- Democracy
- Rule of Law
- Individual Liberty
- Mutual Respect
- Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs
Work and support
- You cannot work while waiting for your asylum decision.
- You may get support depending on your situation.
- You can get legal help from solicitors (often in Manchester, Liverpool, or Cheshire).
- You can search for a solicitor on the Law Society website.