Due to the COVID-19 crisis, adjustments have been made to certain processes and applications to ensure the safety of the public and may impact you. These are as follows:
Asylum process
Additional screening interviews are being held if asylum was not claimed at the port of entry into the UK, by Home Office partner organisations in Glasgow, Liverpool, Leeds, Solihull, and Cardiff. If you are in Belfast, contact Migrant Help on 0808 801 0503 to arrange an appointment with Bryson Asylum Services. If you are in all other locations, the Home Office advise that you phone the Asylum Intake Unit on 0300 123 24193 who will advise you on where to attend your screening interview.
Before the crisis, it was possible to register an asylum claim without making a screening appointment in advance (in circumstances of vulnerability such as homelessness). This is still possible; however, the Home Office advises that you still phone the Asylum Intake Unit, so you know where to travel to.
Face-to-face substantive interviews had been paused since the beginning of the lockdown but have now begun to take place by video call. If you are to attend the interview in person, it is most likely that you will be placed in a separate room from the interviewer and communicate using a video link. Please note that your substantive interview is likely to be delayed for some time due to the pandemic, but rest assured you will be seen.
Other
To refresh claims, evidence was required to be submitted in person in Liverpool. This is no longer the case and evidence can now be sent by email to CSUEC@homeoffice.gov.uk or by post to the Refused Case Management Further Submissions Unit in Liverpool.
If you are on a visa with a minimum income requirement and have experienced a loss of income due to the pandemic, the Home Office will consider your income during the period immediately before the loss of income – provided the minimum requirement was met for at least 6 months before the loss. If your salary was reduced as a result of being furloughed, your income will be considered as though you were earning the full amount. Vulnerable cases are on hold and decisions can be served by email.
For further information and updates on travel rules, work and financial support you can check the government websites:-
www.gov.uk/coronavirus.
www.refugeecouncil.org.uk
www.righttoremain.org.uk
6.45