Guidance

Streamlined asylum processing (accessible)

Updated 2 May 2024

About this guidance

This guidance provides information on making decisions under streamlined asylum processing – this includes deciding asylum claims without a substantive asylum interview where appropriate.

On 13 December 2022, the Prime Minister outlined a range of immigration-related plans: PM statement on illegal migration: 13 December 2022. This included an ambition to triple the decision-making productivity and clear the backlog of legacy asylum claims by the end of 2023. Streamlined asylum processing is one way in which we hope to achieve these ambitions.

You must read this guidance and be aware of other key guidance products, in particular the Asylum Policy guidance on:

• Withdrawing asylum claims
• Asylum interviews
• Assessing credibility and refugee status in asylum claims lodged before 28 June 2022
• Humanitarian protection
• Family asylum claims
• Dependants and former dependants
• Refugee and humanitarian protection leave
• Pending prosecutions in asylum claims

You must also refer to the relevant country policy and information notes.

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On 23 February 2023, the first Streamlined Asylum Process policy was published – this only applied to legacy (pre-28 June 2022) claims. On 26 July 2023, the second version of the Streamlined Asylum Process policy was published which extended the policy to claims lodged on or after 28 June 2022. This current version of the guidance confirms that the Streamlined Asylum Process policy only applies to those who claimed asylum prior to 7 March 2023.

Asylum claims lodged by claimants on or after 7 March 2023 who may be subject to the provisions of the Illegal Migration Act 2023 will not be processed under the Streamlined Asylum Process. For more information on the Illegal Migration Act, please see: Illegal Migration Act.

It is in everyone’s interest to reach a swift decision on protection claims, giving individuals the certainty, they need regarding their future in the UK. We recognise that many individuals have been waiting a long time for an initial decision. Therefore, the Prime Ministerial commitment to clear the legacy initial decision backlog by the end of 2023 and triple the productivity of decision-makers represents our intention to provide individuals with a decision on their claim in the most efficient way.

The Streamlined Asylum Processing model is intended to be used for the processing of manifestly well-founded claims awaiting an initial asylum decision. Streamlined Asylum Processing will give decision-makers increased flexibility over the process of making asylum decisions, in the interest of making the accurate and high-quality decisions as quickly as possible, for example without a personal interview where a positive decision can be taken based on the evidence available.

Where possible, a decision in the Streamlined Asylum Process will be taken without an interview and protection status will be granted. Where the returned questionnaire does not provide sufficient evidence to grant protection status then an interview will be required. Where an interview is necessary to decide the claim, targeted and shorter interviews may be undertaken to ensure that decisions are being taken as efficiently as possible – this is beneficial for the claimant who will receive a decision sooner. No negative protection decisions will be reached without a substantive interview, as per the typical process

A substantive decision must not be made in an asylum case where the person would be subject to inadmissibility action as an EU national, or where the third country inadmissibility policy applies. See Inadmissibility: safe third country cases and EU and EEA Asylum Claims for further information. Consequently, streamlined asylum processing does not apply to inadmissible claims. A claim should only be considered for streamlined asylum processing if it has been confirmed that the asylum claim will be considered substantively in the UK.

This guidance is not applicable where the claimant has provided further protection or human rights representations following the refusal or withdrawal of an earlier protection or human rights claim. Decision makers must continue to refer to and apply the guidance on Further submissions in those cases.

Contacts

If you have any questions about the guidance and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the guidance has factual errors, then email Asylum Policy.

If you notice any formatting errors in this guidance (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the guidance then you can email the Guidance Rules and Forms team.

Publication

Below is information on when this version of the guidance was published:

• version 4.0
• published for Home Office staff on 01 May 2024

Changes from last version of this guidance

Changes made from the last version of this guidance:

• updated to clarify the claimants who may be eligible for consideration via the Streamlined Asylum Process - those eligible will be based on date of claim, rather than arrival date, due to management information on casework systems.

Applications in respect of children

Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 requires the Home Office to carry out its existing functions in a way that takes into account the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the UK.

This guidance will not apply to Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASCs) or Accompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (AASCs) who have claims not linked to a family group. Separate guidance has been developed for Streamlined Asylum Processing for children. For information on how to consider these claims please see Streamlined asylum processing for children guidance.

The guidance must be used where the main claimant and their dependant children have common grounds of alleged persecution, which can be considered as part of a single asylum decision. Streamlined Asylum Processing will work in conjunction with the family asylum claims process. Family asylum claims can be processed through the Streamlined Asylum Process where appropriate.

In most cases the principal claimant will normally be able to set out any protection needs on behalf of their children. Information regarding dependant children will be gathered during the screening and registration process.

Where there are child welfare or protection concerns that may involve safeguarding issues within the family unit the case must be referred immediately to the Asylum Safeguarding Hub. See the ‘safeguarding’ section of the

Assessing credibility and refugee status in asylum claims lodged before 28 June 2022 and Assessing credibility and refugee status in asylum claims lodged on or after 28 June 2022.

Background

The Home Office is committed to ensuring asylum claims, where admissible, are correctly decided in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), in a timely and sensitive way and on an individual, objective and impartial basis.

The Department is pursuing a wide range of programmes that will transform the current asylum system, aiming to significantly speed up asylum decision-making for the benefit of all involved in the asylum system. The Department recognises that there is an opportunity to accelerate the processing of cohorts of claims which are generally manifestly well-founded.

The Streamlined Asylum Process will enable decision-makers to take positive decisions on claims without conducting a personal interview where it is appropriate to do so.

Due to their high-grant rate, nationals of Afghanistan, Eritrea, Libya, Syria and Yemen who claimed asylum before 7 March 2023 have been specified for inclusion in the streamlined asylum process on the basis of their high-grant rate of protection status (refugee status or humanitarian protection). They have a grant rate of over 95% and over 100 grants of protection status in the year-ending March 2023. Please refer to Migration statistics for further information.

Due to the on-going security and humanitarian situation in Sudan we assess that the indiscriminate violence threshold test set out in paragraph 339CA(iv) of the Immigration Rules is currently met in certain parts of Sudan. For this reason, Sudanese claims made on or after 28 June 2022 and before 7 March 2023, will be considered via the Streamlined Asylum Process. Legacy (pre-28 June 2022) Sudanese claims are being processed in the normal manner and will be decided by the end of 2023 in-line with the Prime Minister’s commitment.

There will still be occasions where a personal interview is required for nationals of Afghanistan, Eritrea, Libya, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Where this is the case, this policy encourages the use of targeted and shorter interviews to make the decision- making process as efficient as possible.

The diagram below provides an overview of the Streamlined Asylum Process.

1. Screening process.
2. Asylum questionnaire. (Asylum claim may be withdrawn if questionnaire is not returned.)
3. Mandatory checks.
4. Consider criminality and security indicators. (Referrals to specialist teams.)
5. Consider vulnerability, safeguarding and NRM. (Referrals to specialist teams.)
6. Proceed without interview?
   • If yes, proceed to grant protection status.
   • If no, continue.
7. Conduct a targeted or a shorter interview?
   • If yes, proceed to grant protection status or proceed to refuse asylum.
   • If no, refer to normal process for substantive interview and then proceed to grant protection status or proceed to refuse asylum.

Policy intention

The policy objective is to deliver a firm, but fair, and efficient asylum system that ensures those who need protection are granted as soon as possible to start to integrate and rebuild their lives in the UK whilst identifying those who should not benefit from a grant of protection status. Making an asylum decision without a substantive asylum interview wherever possible or completing a targeted / shorter interview will ensure claims are considered more efficiently and without unnecessary delay.

Relevant legislation

Current UK asylum law is derived from a range of sources; international and European Law, primary and secondary legislation, the Immigration Rules (which are in turn supported by policy and guidance), and a substantial body of caselaw. For more information, please see the ‘Relevant Legislation’ section of

Assessing credibility and refugee status in asylum claims lodged before 28 June 2022 and Assessing credibility and refugee status in asylum claims lodged on or after 28 June 2022.

Screening process

When an adult (those over the age of 18 years old) claims asylum in the UK, their asylum claim is registered. Following system and security database checks, including biometric checks, the Home Office undertake a screening interview to gather their basic details to confirm their identity and a brief overview of why they have come to the UK and claimed asylum. The screening interview also covers:

• whether they have any dependants on their asylum claim
• if they have family in the UK
• their travel history, including if they sought or could have sought asylum in a safe third country
• trafficking indicators
• any physical and mental health conditions which also helps to identify any vulnerabilities and decide whether someone is suitable for detention
• questions relating to criminality and security issues

Mandatory systems and security database checks must be completed during the screening process, normally this would be prior to the screening interview so as to establish if the person is already known in any capacity before the interview commences. If you identify that any of these checks have not been completed, you must arrange for any missing checks to be completed and update the results on caseworking systems before an asylum decision is made. For more information see section System and Security Checks in the Asylum screening and routing guidance.

If the person wanting to claim asylum is already a failed asylum seeker or has previously had their claim for asylum withdrawn, it will not be appropriate to register it as a second claim for asylum instead the further submission process should be followed. Streamlined asylum processing does not apply to further submissions. See the further submissions guidance.

Asylum claims may also be withdrawn in line with paragraph 333C of the Immigration Rules at any point during the asylum process, after a claim has been registered.

Please see the Withdrawing Asylum Claims guidance for further information. If a claim has been withdrawn incorrectly, then the asylum claim will be reinstated and if suitable, will continue to be assessed through the Streamlined Asylum Process.

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Asylum questionnaire

Where a claimant has not had a personal interview but there is sufficient evidence on file to grant protection status, consideration should be given to making a quick decision if it is possible to decide the claim without a personal interview. If further information is needed, you should normally send an asylum questionnaire to claimants to seek further details about their asylum claim and to take account of any changes in circumstances. Claimants have 30 working days from date of service to return a completed questionnaire. The cover letter instructing claimants to complete the questionnaire provides the instructions on how to complete the questionnaire, the relevant timeframe and the consequences for not completing the questionnaire.

It would not usually be appropriate to serve an asylum questionnaire to claimants who have already taken part in a personal interview but there may be occasions where you deem this to be worthwhile, for example, you need to check whether there has been a change in circumstances between the personal interview and the decision. Alternatively, if specific further information is required from these individuals, you may write out to seek clarification.

The asylum questionnaire may cover matters such as:

• whether the claimant wishes to withdraw their claim
• personal details, for example residential address
• identity and nationality
• previous employment
• previous addresses
• family
• reasons for claiming asylum
• fear of what would happen if returned to country of origin
• physical and mental health issues
• exploitation (trafficking and modern slavery if applicable)
• other reasons for needing to stay in the UK
• whether there are grounds for suspecting the individual may have been involved in activities of concern that would cause them to be excluded from the Refugee Convention
• the family members dependant on the claim including any UK born children
• any further evidence the claimant wishes to provide in support of their claim

Any further evidence provided will be helpful in establishing whether a personal interview is required and may result in a quicker decision being taken on the asylum claim. If an interview is needed, completing the questionnaire can help ensure the interview is targeted and focused on the key elements of the claim.

You must provide claimants with a total of 30 working days from the date of service of the questionnaire to return the asylum questionnaire. The date of service is from when the cover letter about the questionnaire is sent to the claimant and/or their immigration advisor. Should the claimant not respond within 20 working days, you

must issue a reminder. This reminder will notify the claimant they have 10 working days to return their questionnaire. The reminder must be issued to the claimant’s registered address. If held, you must also issue reminders to the claimant’s email address and mobile number. If the claimant’s legal representative is registered with the Home Office, you must also issue a reminder to them at the same time. You must record all attempts to contact the claimant on Home Office case working systems.

Where a claimant requests an extension of the deadline to respond to the questionnaire, you must consider the request on a case-by-case basis. It will normally be appropriate to accept such requests provided that the requested extension is proportionate for the task of completing the asylum questionnaire. If the request is reasonable and proportionate, you must inform the claimant (and their legal representative, if applicable) that an extension has been granted. If the request is not reasonable and proportionate, you must inform the claimant (or their legal representative) that the claim may be withdrawn if it is not returned within the timescale provided.

Extension requests for durations of more than 30 working days are unlikely to be reasonable and proportionate unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Reasonable and proportionate requests may include for example, a claimant being unable to return the questionnaire due to physical or mental incapacity and/or receiving medical treatment such as a stay in hospital. It is generally considered that the questionnaire can be completed by claimants without the need to consult a legal representative. However, if a claimant wishes to seek legal advice in order to provide information about their asylum claim or needs support completing the questionnaire in English then extension requests may be granted in order to obtain this if they are reasonable and proportionate.

Final intervention letter

If the Asylum Questionnaire is not returned after 30 working days, you must issue a final intervention letter to the claimant and any legal representative. The final intervention letter advises the claimant they must return the questionnaire or contact us within 10 working days to confirm they wish to continue with their asylum claim and be invited to an interview where they can provide further information regarding their claim.

If the claimant does not respond within 10 working days – either with a questionnaire or confirmation they wish to continue with their asylum claim – you must undertake final checks, including but not limited to ensuring that all correspondence has been sent to the correct and most up-to-date address and contacting any legal representative to seek an update.

After this, if all attempts have been unsuccessful in engaging the claimant, you must treat the claim as withdrawn under Paragraph 333C of the Immigration Rules. See the withdrawing asylum claims guidance for further guidance.

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Trafficking and modern slavery indicators

There are questions asked during the screening interview that help to identity whether someone has potentially been or potentially is a victim of human trafficking or modern slavery. If there are any indicators, the screening officer, (and subsequent officers if this has not been done previously), is under a statutory duty as a First Responder to refer the person to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). If they are an adult, then consent needs to be obtained to be referred. If an adult does not consent to being referred into the NRM process, then a Duty to Notify online form is completed instead.

The relevant NRM and Duty to Notify referral forms are available here: Report modern slavery – GOV.UK.

An NRM referral does not prevent an assessment of someone’s asylum claim which results in a positive protection decision (a grant of permission to stay). If someone is eligible for refugee status or humanitarian protection, then you can grant protection status or refuse the asylum claim with a right of appeal, even if there is an outstanding NRM reasonable or conclusive grounds decision as to whether they are a victim of human trafficking or modern slavery.

For further information, please see the statutory guidance in relation to Modern Slavery.

Safeguarding

Protecting vulnerable adults and children is a key cross-cutting departmental priority and safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. If you believe that anyone may be in danger at any stage of the asylum process, you need to take immediate action to ensure their safety. In all circumstances a referral should be made to the Safeguarding Hub and advice sought on case progression, in line with the asylum casework process. Please see the ‘Safeguarding’ section in the

Assessing credibility and refugee status in asylum claims lodged before 28 June 2022 and Assessing credibility and refugee status in asylum claims lodged on or after 28 June 2022.

You do not have to stop making the asylum decision whilst a safeguarding issue is investigated. However, if there is information to suggest that a claim should not be considered as part of the streamlined asylum process, refer the case to the Safeguarding Hub and seek advice from a Senior Caseworker.

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Consideration of the asylum claim

All decisions on asylum claims must be taken in accordance with Part 11 of the Immigration Rules and the published asylum policies, primarily but not limited to assessing credibility and refugee status, humanitarian protection and refugee and humanitarian protection leave.

Exclusion

There are some exceptions to the obligation to provide protection based on the conduct of the claimant.

If you identify that someone may fall for exclusion under Article 1F of the Refugee Convention or that Article 33(2) of the Refugee Convention may be applicable, then it will not be appropriate for the claim to be processed through the streamlined asylum process by Asylum and Human Rights Operations.

For more information about the application of Article 1F and 33(2), please see the Asylum Policy Instruction on Exclusion.

If you are unsure about whether the criteria are met to refer the claim outside of the streamlined asylum process, please speak to a technical specialist.

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Omitting the personal interview where protection status can be granted

Under Paragraph 339NA(i), a decision to grant refugee status or humanitarian protection can be taken without conducting a personal interview where sufficient evidence is available. Where the claimant does not qualify for refugee status or humanitarian protection, a decision must not be made without a personal interview even if the claimant qualifies for, discretionary leave or other kind of leave to remain (unless one of the other criteria in paragraph 339NA(i) is met). This is to ensure that the claimant has an opportunity to advance their claim and explain all their reasons they wish to remain in the UK.

Evidence can be provided during the screening interview that confirm someone’s identity, nationality, and the core materials facts of their claim. Claimants may have also submitted documents in support of their claim for example family, or civil identification documents, arrest warrants, court documents, political membership cards, letters of support from religious leaders / community groups, newspaper articles, social media printouts, photographs, medical evidence. You must also consider the contents of any asylum questionnaire which has been returned when considering whether the substantive asylum interview can be omitted.

Whilst the burden is on the claimant to provide evidence, decision makers must assess the available evidence and, if appropriate, refer to the relevant team to invite claimants to submit further information to help substantiate certain aspects of their account. As part of this, decision makers should refer to the relevant country information note. Further information from the claimant may be requested in writing where you decide that to do so is likely to be more efficient than interviewing the claimant.

Based on the answers in their questionnaire if a claimant does not qualify for protection status but qualifies for another form of permission to stay the claimant must be invited for interview (unless one of the other criteria in paragraph 339NA is met).

To decide whether the claimant qualifies for protection status based on the evidence available, you must consider the relevant Assessing credibility and refugee status and humanitarian protection guidance.

High-grant countries

The streamlined asylum processing model is intended to be used for the processing of manifestly well-founded cases. The Home Office currently assesses it appropriate to omit personal interviews from nationals of Afghanistan, Eritrea, Libya, Sudan (post-28 June 2022- pre 7 March 2023 only), Syria and Yemen where sufficient evidence is available to, grant protection status and there are no other factors that

would mean a personal interview was required, for example considerations related to exclusion. This is on the basis that Afghanistan, Eritrea, Libya, Syria and Yemen are currently the top 5 highest-grant rate countries due to the current security and humanitarian situation in those countries. These nationalities have a recorded grant rate of over 95% and over 100 grants of protection status in the year-ending September 2022. Please see Migration statistics for more information. Whilst this is the threshold for inclusion in the model currently, this, along with the countries included, is subject to change and will be regularly reviewed. As part of a regular review, it has been decided due to the on-going security and humanitarian situation in Sudan, claims made after 28 June 2022 and before 7 March 2023, will be included in streamlined asylum processing.

Omitting the personal interview will only be appropriate where you have decided that the claimant is a national of these countries to the relevant standard of proof and having considered the relevant Country Policy Information Note, you have decided that the claimant qualifies for protection status. Where the claimant’s nationality is unconfirmed based on the evidence available, then you must refer the case to the relevant team to seek further evidence or interview the claimant. The high grant rate of SAP nationalities may satisfy a caseworker that the standard of proof to grant is met where all of the following apply:

• no negative indicators are identified (- criminality or security)
• no additional factors that require further investigation (for example, safeguarding and trafficking indicators)
• there is nothing in the information and evidence presented to suggest the claimant is not the nationality claimed and the grounds for claiming asylum raise no concerns and the claimant is at risk on return

Other types of claims

Omitting personal interviews is not limited to the nationalities noted in the high-grant countries section or claimants who are being asked to complete an asylum questionnaire and can be done in-line with paragraph 339NA of the immigration Rules on a case-by-case basis.

Separately, the Home Office will continue to consider whether other cohorts can be added to the streamlined asylum process outside of the nationalities identified in the high-grant countries section.

Other reasons to omit a personal interview

There may be other circumstances where it is appropriate to omit the substantive asylum interview, including but not limited to:

Medical cases

In line with Paragraph 339NA(vii) of the Immigration Rules, it may be appropriate to omit the personal interview, where there are medical issues that prevent the claimant from attending or participating fully in a personal interview.

However, interviews must not be suspended or cancelled solely on the basis that a claimant has informed the Home Office that they intend to seek medical evidence in support of their asylum claim. You must consider any relevant medical issues as part of the consideration of the claim in line with the policy on Medical evidence in asylum claims guidance. See ‘Requests to delay substantive interviews’ section and ‘non- attendance due to illness’ in Conducting asylum interviews guidance for further information.

Cases where an interview is necessary

Where you are unable to grant protection status on the basis of the information available pre-personal interview (screening interview and questionnaire) and the required information cannot be sourced via another method, such as writing to the claimant, and there are no other reasons why the interview should be omitted in accordance with Immigration Rules 339NA, you must refer the case to the relevant team who will proceed to interview the claimant.

Any interview must be conducted in accordance with the guidance on asylum interviews.

Targeted interviews

Where further information is required to establish a claimant’s nationality, a targeted interview may be completed. A targeted interview is a personal interview for the

purposes of paragraph 339NA and therefore you must refer to the Asylum interview guidance.

Targeted interviews will predominantly be used to establish a claimant’s nationality, for example where insufficient evidence has been provided to confirm that the claimant is the nationality they claim to be. These interviews will typically last 30 to 45minutes in length as they focus on the specific area of nationality to obtain the information required to make an asylum decision.

A targeted interview is not indicative of the final determination of the asylum claim and may lead to a grant of protection status, other form of leave to remain, or refusal.

Shorter interviews

Where limited further information is required to establish a small number of key issues, such as material facts, you should conduct a shorter interview. This may be on issues relating to fundamental aspects of the individual’s asylum claim, for example a Convention reason (such as religion) or a claimant’s journey to the UK.

Shorter interviews will involve asking questions which will help you to assess the credibility of certain elements of the asylum claim. You should probe for further information that cannot be obtained through documentation, a questionnaire, or by writing out for further information.

A shorter interview may also be used when a claimant has not completed a full screening interview. These interviews will typically last between 60 and 90 minutes and should not exceed 2 hours, unless there are exceptional circumstances, as they focus on specific core material facts in order to make an asylum decision. If you have sufficient credible evidence to make a positive protection status decision to the required standard of proof, then the interview should be concluded.

A shorter asylum interview is a personal interview for the purposes of paragraph 339NA of the Immigration Rules and is not indicative of the final determination of the asylum claim. Following a nationality or targeted interview, if the decision-maker is minded to refuse the protection claim, a substantive interview will be conducted before the refusal decision is made.

When targeted and shorter interviews are not appropriate

A substantive interview must be conducted where you determine that more substantial information is required regarding the claim than can be obtained in a targeted or shorter interview. The need for a substantive interview may be identified based on the evidence available pre-interview, such as evidence provided in response to an asylum questionnaire, or during a targeted or shorter interview. If there is any information that affects credibility adversely, such as conflicting statements or evidence that requires further probing and investigation, then a full substantive interview will usually be conducted that examines all the necessary and relevant aspects of the asylum claim. This may include where vulnerability factors

such as safeguarding, trafficking, modern slavery indicators, criminality or security concerns become apparent. These may need to be covered during a longer, substantive interview, in line with the Asylum interview guidance. This enables the Home Office to undertake its key duties and functions and affords the claimant a reasonable opportunity to explain any inconsistencies or discrepancies with known information. If the interviewing officer considers that they have sufficient credible evidence to grant protection status, then the interview can be concluded. A substantive interview must be conducted if there is insufficient information to grant protection status, for example if the information gathered suggests the claimant does not qualify for refugee status or humanitarian protection or there are credibility issues to consider.

A substantive asylum interview is a personal interview for the purposes of paragraph 339NA of the Immigration Rules and is not indicative of the final determination of the asylum claim and may lead to a grant of protection status, other form of leave to remain, or refusal.

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Granting protection status and permission to stay

For further information on granting protection status and permission to stay please refer to the guidance on Refugee and Humanitarian Protection Leave.

For further information on implementing and serving asylum decisions, please refer to the guidance on drafting, implementing and serving asylum decisions.

For further information on the status and permission to stay for dependants, please refer to the guidance on Dependants.

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