Claim asylum in the UK

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Asylum interview

Your asylum interview will usually take place soon after your screening.

You may be granted protection status without having to attend an interview. This will happen if there is enough evidence from your screening and your questionnaire, if you did one.

You can read about asylum claims where an interview may not be required.

Your application will usually be withdrawn if you do not go to your asylum interview. You’ll have to apply again if you still want to stay in the UK.

You’ll get a letter telling you when and where to attend your interview.

If your partner or children under 18 were included in your application as ‘dependants’ they may also need to attend an interview. The letter will tell you if they do.

The interview

You’ll usually be interviewed alone, without your family members. An interpreter will be provided, if you need one.

The information you provide will be confidential and will not be shared with the authorities in your own country.

Use this interview to explain:

  • how you were persecuted in your country
  • why you’re afraid to go back to your country

You may be asked questions about difficult topics but it’s important that you explain what has happened to you and your family.

You must tell the caseworker everything you want them to consider or it can count against you.

Your caseworker will make notes in a document called an ‘interview record’. You’ll get a copy of this at the end of the interview.

Most asylum interviews happen over video calls. The audio will be recorded, and you’ll receive a copy of the recording after the interview.

Evidence you’ll need

You’ll need to send the following documents to the Home Office by post, if you have them:

  • birth certificate
  • passport
  • national ID card

These need to be the original versions and not copies. You should also send these identity documents for any dependants included in your application.

UK Visas and Immigration
PO Box 7782
Village Way
Bilston
WV1 9QB

You also need to email any evidence you have of your persecution, and any other evidence you think will help your application, to the Home Office.

asylumcentralcommunicationshub@homeoffice.gov.uk

If you cannot send your identity documents and evidence before your interview, you’ll need to send them after. You may be asked to send extra evidence to your caseworker after the interview if they think it might help your application.

You can bring a legal representative to this interview, for example a lawyer or solicitor. Find out if you can get help paying for legal advice about asylum.

Your interview will take place even if your legal representative is not there. You cannot ask for more time to get a legal representative.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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