Practical tools, facts and further reading for women refugees and the organisations that support them.
Legal information
Legal information
Understanding your legal rights if you are seeking asylum is extremely important. However, solicitors are often overstretched or unavailable and many women applying for asylum find that they're on their own. Our ten step-by-step legal guides - which are coming soon - will help you navigate a confusing and complicated system.
1. Seeking protection from persecution
This guide explains who is entitled to protection in the UK and how that decision is made. Essential reading if you want a better understanding of the European Convention of Human Rights and the articles that particularly affect women.
Am I entitled to protection? (Download PDF) - COMING SOON
2. Your asylum interview
Your asylum interview is extremely important. It is your opportunity to explain why you have come to the UK and why you need asylum. This guide explains how to prepare for it, what will happen during the interview, and what your rights are.
Your asylum interview (Dowload PDF) - COMING SOON
3. The fast track
If the UK Border Agency decides that a quick decision can be made on your case it will put you in what is called the detained fast track. This guide explains your rights and what will happen if your case is allocated to the fast track.
The fast track (Download PDF) - COMING SOON
4. General casework
The New Asylum Model is responsible for deciding all applications made after 5th March 2007. This guide explains the process if your claim is not in the fast track.
Non-detained cases (Download PDF) - COMING SOON
5. Financial support
While you are waiting for your claim to be decided, you may be entitled to cash or accommodation. This depends on different factors about you and your circumstances. This guide will help you understand whether you are entitled to support, and if so, how much.
Financial support (Download PDF) - COMING SOON
6. Negative decisions and appeals
If your initial claim has been refused, you can appeal to the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. This guide explains what you need to do, and what will happen.
Negative decisions and appeals (Download PDF) - COMING SOON
7. Legacy cases
The government currently has a backlog of about 450,000 cases that have not been decided. Of these, all claims that were made before 2005 are dealt with by what is called the Case Resolution Directorate, and commonly referred to as legacy cases. This guide explains what happens if your case is a legacy case, and what your rights are.
Case Resolution Directorate (Download PDF) - COMING SOON
8. Different types of leave to remain
If your claim is successful you will be given permission to stay in the UK called leave to remain. The Home Office grant different tyypes of leave. This guide explains the different types and your rights if your applications is successful.
Successful applications (Download PDF) - COMING SOON
9. Fresh claims
If your claim for asylum has been refused, you may be able to make a fresh claim if you have new information about your case. This guide explains what a fresh claim is and when you can make one.
Fresh claims (Download PDF) - COMING SOON
10. Final refusal and removal
If you have finished all your rights to appeal, you can return to your country voluntarily or can you be detained and then forcibly removed by the Home Office. This guide explains your rights and options if you are in this situation.
Final refusal and removal (Download PDF) - COMING SOON