How much do you know about asylum-seekers and refugees?

Admir Selemovic, a caseworker for Refugee Action and Guy Richardson, a solicitor at Dent Abrams in Southampton reveal the answers.

1. What is a refugee? AS

“A refugee is someone who has a well founded fear of persecution because of their race, religion, nationality or political beliefs and therefore has to leave their country."

2. Are asylum-seekers illegal immigrants? AS

“No, asylum-seekers are not illegal immigrants. Once they come to the country they make themselves known to the authorities and to immigration so they are not illegal.”

3. Are many asylum-seekers given status? GR

“No, very few are given status, on initial decision by the Home Office it is well under 10% and depends very much upon what country someone is coming from at the time?”

4. What support is an asylum-seeker entitled to? AS

“When they arrive in the UK and claim asylum, they are entitled to five hours of legal representation for their asylum claim. Once they claim asylum they are entitled to financial and housing support. They are usually placed in multiple occupancy homes and given about £40 per week to cover essential needs and food. If the accommodation is full-board, payment is approximately £10 per week.”

5. What are the legal rights of an asylum-seeker? GR

“They are allowed to stay in the UK until a decision is made. They also have a right of appeal in most circumstances. This depends on whether the application is made on arrival or left until later.”