Once you have completed your initial asylum screening, you enter a crucial and often lengthy phase of the asylum process. During this time, the UK Home Office will conduct a preliminary review of your case and you will be issued with important documentation. Understanding what happens during this period, what is expected of you, and what your rights are is vital.
This guide provides a comprehensive and detailed overview of the key stages and procedures that follow your asylum screening. The period of waiting for a decision on an asylum claim can be filled with uncertainty and anxiety. Our team of specialist asylum lawyers provides continuous support and expert guidance throughout this phase, ensuring you remain compliant with Home Office requirements and are fully prepared for the next, most critical stage: your substantive asylum interview.
The Asylum Registration Card (ARC): Your Official Identification
Shortly after your screening, you will be sent an Asylum Registration Card (ARC) to your UK address. This is a very important document.
- What is an ARC? The ARC is a credit-card-sized photo ID that officially proves you have an asylum claim pending with the UK Home Office. It is not a visa and does not grant you immigration status, but it is your primary form of identification during the process.
- What is it used for? You will use your ARC to:
- Prove your identity to officials.
- Attend your mandatory reporting appointments.
- Access healthcare and education services you may be entitled to.
- Show whether you have been granted permission to work (this is rare and only granted in specific circumstances after 12 months).
- What if there’s a problem with your ARC? You must contact the Home Office immediately using the designated online form if your ARC is lost, stolen, expires, or if you never receive it.
[H2] The Preliminary Review: Can Your Case be Considered in the UK?
After your screening, the Home Office will first decide whether the UK is the correct country to consider your asylum claim. This is known as the ‘inadmissibility’ process.
Your case may be deemed inadmissible and not considered in the UK if the Home Office believes you could have claimed asylum in a ‘safe third country’. This could be because:
- You travelled to the UK through other safe European countries.
- You have a significant connection (e.g., a previous visa or family) to another safe country.
If the Home Office determines another country is responsible for your claim, they may try to remove you to that country. However, if they cannot do this, your asylum claim will ultimately be admitted for full consideration in the UK. This is a legally complex area where expert representation is essential to protect your rights.
The Substantive Stage: Your Caseworker and the Asylum Interview
If your case is admitted for consideration in the UK, it will be assigned to a specialist Home Office caseworker. This caseworker is responsible for investigating your claim and making the final decision.
- The Asylum Interview: Your caseworker will schedule you for a long, detailed interview. This is the most important event in your entire asylum claim, where you will need to explain in full the basis of your fear of persecution.
- Regular Reporting: While you are waiting for your interview and decision, you will be required to attend regular meetings at an immigration reporting centre. These are known as ‘reporting events’. It is absolutely mandatory that you attend these appointments. Failure to do so can result in your asylum support being stopped, your claim being withdrawn, and even your detention.
Detention in the Asylum Process
It is important to be aware that the Home Office has the power to detain asylum seekers in immigration removal centres at various points during the process. This may happen while they are considering your application or after a refusal while they are making arrangements for your removal.
However, there are specific policies in place that state that certain vulnerable individuals should not usually be detained. This includes:
- Children and families with children.
- Elderly or pregnant individuals.
- Recognised victims of trafficking or torture.
- Those with serious physical or mental health conditions that cannot be managed in detention.
How Our Legal Team Supports You After Your Screening
The waiting period is not a passive time. It is a critical phase for building the strongest possible case for your substantive interview. Our expert asylum lawyers will:
- Ensure you receive your ARC and that all the details on it are correct.
- Work with you to prepare for your substantive asylum interview, gathering evidence, preparing your witness statement, and ensuring you are ready to present your testimony clearly.
- Liaise with the Home Office on your behalf, responding to any requests for information, such as the asylum questionnaire.
- Represent you robustly if the Home Office attempts to declare your claim ‘inadmissible’.
- Provide continuous legal support and advice throughout the entire waiting period.
The period after your screening is crucial. Do not navigate it alone. Contact our specialist asylum law team today for a confidential consultation and ensure your case is in expert hands.
About the Author:
Farzad Ghods is an international lawyer specialising in UK immigration law. He is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Immigration Advisors Authority (IAA) in the United Kingdom, and is also a member of the Iran Bar Association. He brings over fourteen years of professional legal experience to his practice.