Asylum and Immigration

Immigration and asylum statistics released:

26 November 2009

Immigration statistics for July to September 2009 have been released by the Home Office today. This range of statistics covers asylum applications, total removals for those illegally in the United Kingdom and migration from eastern Europe.
Net migration is falling, showing that migrants come to the UK for short periods of time, work, contribute to the economy and then return home. Phil Woolas, Border and Immigration Minister
Figures show that applications for asylum have dropped to 5,055 for the third quarter of 2009 - a 24 per cent reduction compared to the same period in 2008.
Decisions on asylum cases have risen by 38 per cent compared to the same quarter in 2008, with the grant rate for asylum falling to 12 per cent. In December 2008 the UK Border Agency met its target of concluding 60 per cent of new asylum cases within six months.
Applications from eastern Europeans to work in the United Kingdom under the worker registration scheme have stabilised at 29,085, compared to 41,265 during the same period last year and 28,060 in the second quarter (April to June) of 2009.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures published earlier today also show that net migration fell to 163,000 in 2008, from 233,000 in 2007, the lowest level since the eight accession countries joined the European Union in 2004.
The ONS figures also show that, 14 per cent of those coming to the United Kingdom in 2008 - 85,000 people - were British citizens returning to live in Britain. This was more than any other individual nationality.

Changes to the Asylum Process:

13 October 2009

The UK Border Agency has announced changes to the way it registers further submissions and initial in-country asylum applications.

From 14 October 2009, further submissions - where someone whose appeal rights have been exhausted asks to have their claim re-examined owing to a change in their circumstances - will have to be made in person rather than by post.

The following arrangements will be in place:

• Those who claimed asylum before 5 March 2007, and whose case is being managed by our case resolution directorate, will be required to make any further submissions by appointment and in person at Liverpool further submissions unit (formerly the asylum screening unit).
• Those who claimed asylum on or after 5 March 2007 will be required to make any further submissions in person at a specified reporting centre in their region.

In addition to these changes, it will no longer be possible for initial asylum applications to be made in Liverpool, and anyone wishing to make an initial asylum application in country will be required to do so in person at the asylum screening unit in Croydon.

(UK Border Agency website)