Immigration Information

Immigration advice relates to who can enter and remain in the UK, the types of visa, travel document or permits required, changing immigration status, and restrictions and rights relating to immigration status. Landlords and employers also need to be aware of how immigration law affects them and the potential of large fines and prosecution if they do not adhere to the law.

Immigration Advice is a very specialised and regulated area of law. Different agencies are limited to the level of advice they can give, and you should ensure that anyone providing immigration advice is registered, trained and insured to do so. Remember: Paying a lot of money does not always mean the advice will be good and no-one can guarantee your application will succeed, no matter what they say.

Please be aware that there can be strict time limits in relation to immigration appeals and applications. Bad advice and incorrect applications could result in the loss of all fees paid, and could potentially lead to a 10 year ban on further applications.

For more information on how to ensure you are getting the best advice click here.

 Useful links:

http://asylumhelpuk.org/ - Also known as Migrant Help; this organisation offer help in making Asylum Support Applications. They also offer a free telephone advice service- It is free to call them from any UK mobile except Labara and another international card

http://opendoors-hull.org.uk/ - Somewhere to meet people also for destitute refused asylum seekers to get food parcels

http://www.cityofsanctuary.org/

http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/

http://www.refugee-action.org.uk/

http://www.eavesforwomen.org.uk/about-eaves/our-projects/the-poppy-project Support for trafficked women

http://www.iom.int/cms/home

http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration

If you have a Immigration issue there is information and details of advice providers available below.

General Immigration Advice Providers what's this?

General advice means you will be assessed and information will be provided relating to how the information given relates to your circumstances. You can be assessed as to meeting and criteria or eligibility for the advice you are given, and you will be advised on your rights, obligations and entitlements, and the suitability of different options available; this could include benefit calculations, debt solutions, being provided with the correct forms for basic immigration enquiries, and housing rights relating to the circumstances of your tenancy or ownership situation, for example.

Citizens Advice, Hull and East Riding

Citizens Advice, Hull and East Riding is an independent charity providing free advice for the problems people face, helping them find a way forward

Immigration Information Advice Providers what's this?

Information only means these agencies can provide you with information relating to your enquiry, but will not assess your eligibility, the suitability of the advice to your specific situation or offer advice on how the information relates to you personally. It is your responsibility to ensure that the information relates to your circumstances, and seek further General Advice if you require help with this.

British Red Cross

We are a volunteer-led humanitarian organisation that helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are.

Hull Advice

Hull Advice is part of Hull City Council's Customer Service team. It provides a drop in service for Hull residents that gives advice on a whole range of issues including benefits, debt, housing, family, community care and employment. The Hull Advice team works on behalf of the customer, even if the customer has a dispute with the Council.

Important notes on immigration advice: Please remember the rules change a lot, so always get advice first

Immigration advice is regulated under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Under this Act the Office of Immigration Service Commissioner (OISC) became responsible for regulating the provision of immigration advice. This made it a criminal offence to provide immigration advice and services unless appropriately registered.

The importance of obtaining immigration advice from an appropriately registered advice service cannot be stressed strongly enough. For example, if an application for citizenship is incorrectly completed there is a good chance the application will be rejected which will mean the application fee of £906 will be retained by Home Office. If Home Office decides that due to the mistake the application can be considered fraudulent then a ten year ban on further applications can be applied.

If you have a complaint about the standard of service you have been provided with or if you are aware someone is providing immigration advice without being appropriately registered you can submit a complaint by going to: https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-an-immigration-adviser. Complaints forms are available in 13 different languages.

Legal Aid may be available for initial asylum applications if the client passes the destitution test. Any further applications or appeals will have to pass the 50% merits test (there needs to be a better than 50% chance of the appeal or application succeeding before qualifying for Legal Aid) . This causes lots of difficulties for people trying to get legal representation for their asylum cases. It is also difficult to obtain Legal Aid for an immigration application and some applications (such as Family Reunion for refugees) are no longer under Legal Aid. This can make it difficult for new refugees to reunite with their spouse and children.

Asylum Seekers waiting for a decision as to whether they can stay on the UK may be eligible for support from the Home Office. This can be somewhere to live and some money. Asylum seekers are not allowed to work unless they have been waiting for a decision for a long time. If they are granted permission to work it is only for jobs on the shortage occupation list. Refused asylum seekers have their accommodation and money withdrawn and are not allowed to work so become destitute. An employer can be given a £10,000 fine for employing someone who does not have the right to work in the UK.

Obtaining a positive asylum decision is the first hurdle to life in the UK. New refugees are given just 28 days before they are required to leave their temporary property. They then need to find somewhere to live and, until they find employment, apply for Job Seeker’s Allowance. Quite often their Home Office decision has been issued without them being sent a National Insurance Number. This causes massive delays in getting their benefits which leads to destitution. Asylum seekers have often arrived in the country with no more than the clothes on their back. Asylum support rates are much lower than normal benefit rates so when they obtain their decision they do not have any resources to fall back on. Friends and family have been left behind when they have fled persecution so new refugees often do not have any one they know who can help them through this difficult time. New refugees are often overwhelmed at trying to navigate the system especially if they do not speak much English. It is important to get good advice during this process so reduce the chance of mistakes and delays occurring.