Immigration and Citizenship
Prepare for an asylum interview
Summary
You should ask your legal adviser to help you with your questionnaire. You’ll need to return the questionnaire by the deadline on your letter. You can ask for more time if you need longer to complete the questionnaire or to find legal advice. It’s a chance for you to tell the Home Office more about your background. The questionnaire will include questions about: * why you’re afraid of returning to your home country * which countries you passed through to get to the UK Your letter should tell you whether you need to fill in the questionnaire instead of going to an interview or before you go to your interview. Your asylum interview (or ‘substantive interview’) is an important step in your application for refugee status - it’s a chance for you to put your case across to someone from the Home Office. They’ll make a decision based on what you say. Your application will usually be rejected if you don’t go to your interview. Your interview will happen after your ‘screening’ - it could be anything from a week to a year or even later. The Home Office will send you a letter telling you when your interview will be. If you’ve not been sent a questionnaire, it might be a good idea to send a.
Key information
- why you’re afraid of returning to your home country
- what happened to you and when
- which countries you passed through to get to the UK
- an interpreter makes a mistake
- you’re not sure if you mentioned something
- find a new date when you can find childcare
- find childcare for you that’s close to the interview
- a vulnerable person - for example, if you’re disabled or seriously ill
- your application registration card (ARC)
- your passport or travel document
- evidence of where you’re living - for example a utility bill
- why you’ve left your home country
Practical guidance
- Source: Prepare for an asylum interview
Related topics
More in this area
Sources
- Citizens Advice — Prepare for an asylum interview
This is signposting information from the Legal Shaman wiki, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified solicitor for your situation.