Asylum

Entering the United Kingdom

Permission to enter the United Kingdom - Conditions

When permission is given to enter the United Kingdom, there will be conditions. These will be in the form of a letter or entered onto your passport. The conditions will routinely include:

Time of permitted stay
Barring from recourse to public funds i.e. no right to benefits
Whether work is permitted
Work restrictions e.g. students may be able to work holidays

Additional conditions include:

Registering with the Police (non European Economic Area or Commonwealth citizens)
Medical reporting

Failure to comply with conditional permission is a crime and may lead to removal from the United Kingdom

Requirement to support yourself without recourse to public funds

The general principle is that a person who comes to the United Kingdom must be able to support themselves and their family without recourse to public funds. If a person receiving benefits wishes to sponsor a person to join them, specialist advice will be needed. See contacts.

Settling in the United Kingdom

If you wish to settle in the United Kingdom, it is highly recommended that specialist advice be sought as time limits can apply. If you fall into 1 or more the following categories:

Have a work permit
Self-employed
Retired of independent means
Permit-free

Then you can apply to settle to the Home Office in your 4th year of stay. If the application is granted, you will be given 'indefinite leave to remain'. Leaving the United Kingdom for periods of time can jeopardise this.

Family members

British citizens and those who are settled can sponsor close family members including:

Husband or wife
Unmarried partner including same sex
Fiancé or fiancée (time limited to 6 months to get married)
Children up to 18
Parents or grandparents over 65

Time limits may apply except for parents, grandparents and children. They will have to demonstrate that no one else could care for them. Again, it is recommended that specialist advice be sought. See contacts.

Appeals

If an Immigration Officer turns down your application, there may be a right of appeal. Again, it is highly recommended that specialist advice be sought. Time limits may apply. See contacts.

Contact

Barking and Dagenham Direct:

Tel: 020 8215 3000

Fax: 020 8227 5184

Textphone: 020 8227 5755

Email: 3000direct@lbbd.gov.uk|

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am - 8pm.

Please note: All enquiries regarding Immigration and Asylum should be made through the Home Office.