The August 2011 “Making Asylum Claims” information sheet provides information about how an  asylum claim may be made by someone in the UK. It includes information about the telephone appointment system operated by the UK Border Agency – including the telephone number to make an appointment, and the hours during which that number is answered.
This information sheet gives further information about the telephone appointment system. In particular, it sets out the information that the UK Border Agency may ask for if someone telephones to make an appointment to make an asylum claim. If the UK Border Agency wishes to ask these questions, it can be asked to phone the caller back and to get an interpreter.
The UK Border Agency has stated that when someone telephones to make an appointment, they may be asked for the following information about the person who wishes to claim asylum – this is not necessarily the order in which the information will be requested (if it is requested at all):
Personal details:
ď‚· Full name and date of birth
ď‚· Whether the person has used any other name or aliases.
ď‚· Nationality
ď‚· Race or ethnicity, and any religion
ď‚· Current or previous occupation
 Last permanent address in the person’s country of origin, and any addresses in that country over the last five years
Identity and passport information:
 Whether the person holds, or previously has held a passport. If so, the passport number. Whether the person can produce the passport at an appointment to claim asylum. If the person does not hold a passport, the reasons why
 Whether the person holds, or previously has held an identity document (e.g. a national identity card, a military identity card, a driving licence). If so, where the document is now.
Family:
 Whether the person has any dependants with him or her in the UK. If so, their names, dates of birth and how they are related to the person (e.g. husband, wife, daughter, son)
 Whether the person is married, and when was the marriage (how long have the couple been married). Similar questions may be asked about other forms of partnership or relationship
ď‚· If the person has a spouse or partner, whether the spouse or partner is with him or her in the UK. If not with him or her, when the person last saw his or her spouse or partner and where is the spouse or partner now
 Whether the person has any children. If so, how many, where are the children now (all of them – some may be in different places) and when did the person last see them
 Names (and any aliases) and dates of birth of family members. In particular, this is likely to include – spouse/partner, children, parents and brothers and sisters
Contact information and accommodation:
ď‚· Current address
ď‚· Whether the person requires accommodation in the UK
ď‚· A contact telephone number (landline or mobile)
Immigration history:
ď‚· Whether the person has ever before claimed asylum in the UK. If so, whether the person had an asylum screening interview
 Whether the person has ever before applied for a visa to the come to the UK. If so, whether this was granted and whether the person’s fingerprints were taken. Other details about the visa application may be requested – e.g. when was the application made, if granted when was it granted and for how long, what was the visa for (e.g. to study, work, visit family)
ď‚· Whether the person has ever before applied for leave to enter or remain in the UK. If so, whether this was granted and where, when and why was it granted (e.g. to study, work, visit family)
ď‚· Whether the person has ever before applied for or been granted a visa to another country
Medical and related information:
ď‚· Whether the person has any medical conditions (e.g. illness, physical or mental). How long the person has had each condition and by whom/where was it diagnosed
ď‚· Whether the person has a disability. If so, what is the disability and how it affects the person
 Whether the person is pregnant. If so, what is the due date and are there any complications to the pregnancy – and/or has the person seen a doctor
ď‚· Whether the person is receiving treatment in the UK. If so, from whom (on the National Health Service?)
 Name and address of the person’s General Practitioner
ď‚· Whether the person is taking any medication. If so, what medication
ď‚· Whether the person is receiving specialist care. If so, what care
Some or all of this information may be checked when the person attends his or her appointment to claim asylum. If an asylum-seeker does not know the answer to all these questions, this should not prevent a claim being made.
ILPA has urged the UK Border Agency to make arrangements to receive this information in writing. ILPA has suggested that a pro-forma would be useful, and that if this is made generally available – including to legal representatives and others supporting asylum-seekers – it would help the UK Border Agency to collect information accurately. The UK Border Agency is, we understand, currently considering these suggestions.
9th September 2011
Information sheets provide general information only, accurate as at the date of the information sheet. Law, policy and
practice may change over time.
ILPA members listed in the directory at www.ilpa.org.uk provide legal advice on individual cases. ILPA does not do so.
The ILPA information service is funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust.
An archive of information sheets is available at www.ilpa.org.uk/infoservice.html
Steve Symonds ILPA Legal Officer 020-7490 1553 steve.symonds@ilpa.org.uk
Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association www.ilpa.org.uk 020-7251 8383 (t) 020-7251 8384 (f)