asylum journey

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What is it like to seek asylum in the United States?

Why do people leave their homelands to establish lives in other countries? What factors do people consider in leaving behind their belongings, livelihoods, and even friends and family?

Lucía Mondragón made the difficult decision to flee her home country to save herself and her children from harm. After losing her father to the dangers of migration, Lucía Mondragón resolved never to take the same risks. But years later, as a parent herself, she would have to break her vow—making the long journey from El Salvador, through Guatemala and Mexico, to seek asylum in the United States.

Mondragón was born in 1972 and grew up in the countryside of Usulután. Her father was a farmer and her mother a seamstress, earning enough to send her and her two siblings to college, where she pursued a degree in business administration and marketing. While she was attending college, however, her father immigrated to the United States in search of better opportunities to support his family. When Mondragón bid him farewell, it was the last time she would see him. The treacherous journey took his life.

In 2013, El Salvador’s rampant gender-based violence forced Mondragón to flee. According to data collected by the Wilson Center in 2018, 6 to 7 of every 100,000 women and girls in El Salvador are targets of femicide—intentional killing because the victim is female. This is one of the highest rates in Latin America and nearly 10 times the global average.

Mondragón hoped for asylum in the United States but arriving did not deliver her family to safety. Border patrol officers apprehended her and her children, escorting them to an immigration processing center in McAllen, Texas. Their story represents those of hundreds of thousands of migrants who cross international borders in search of sanctuary. For Mondragón and countless more, escaping persecution and endemic violence often means enduring further violence before finding safety, if at all.

Mondragón fled El Salvador as an asylum seeker—a person who has left their country of origin to find protection from persecution or human rights violations. Asylum is a protection granted to people who are already in the country or have arrived at the border or port of entry seeking admission into another country. The term “asylum seeker” is often used interchangeably with “refugee” because both seek protection from persecution. The difference is in the process. Refugees must apply from overseas, such as in a refugee camp, and applicants for refugee status must be vetted and approved before traveling to the United States. Asylum seekers already live in the United States or at the border. They must apply for protection within a year of arriving. Obtaining legal status in the United States can take years.

Upon arriving in the United States, Mondragón and her children were swept up into a sprawling prison industrial complex. U.S. Customs and Border Protection detained Mondragón and her children and placed them in facilities surrounded by chain-link fences, where they were imprisoned alongside thousands of people who had also fled their home countries due to violence and other untenable conditions.  As Mondragón quickly learned, detention facilities strip away people’s unique histories and social contexts, rendering them a mere statistic in a punitive system. The dehumanization is not lost on the people incarcerated. Spanish-speaking migrants, including Mondragón, refer to such places as perreras , translated from Spanish as “dog kennels,” to denote their degrading treatment as animals.  

Inside the facilities, migrants endure humiliating hardships and emotional, psychological, and physical abuse, which contribute to yet another cycle of violence in their migration journeys. Human rights advocates, like the Texas-based civil and human rights organization Grassroots Leadership, have brought greater public scrutiny and accountability to these facilities, which are often run by private corporations with little federal government oversight. People in the detention centers do not receive adequate medical care, food, and legal assistance. And the remote areas where detention facilities are located intensify the experiences of imprisonment by isolating people detained from family, friends, advocates, and larger society.

Mondragón recalled that one of the more difficult moments of the detention was when guards separated her daughter and placed her with children her age. Meanwhile, Mondragón was allowed to stay with her son; they were provided aluminum blankets, which made them look like “baked potatoes,” as her son remembered. One day later, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) transferred the family to another immigration facility in Texas, where the three were reunited.  

Mondragón’s imprisonment should be seen as part of the long and torturous history of immigration detention, not as a unique phenomenon of the 21st century. As scholars like Erika Lee, Judy Yung, and Anna Pegler-Gordon—and my fellow co-creator of this blog series, A. Naomi Paik—have shown, migrants have been subjected to dehumanizing conditions of incarceration throughout the 1800s and 1900s. Migrant detention stretches back to Ellis Island in New York, where European and Asian migrants were detained and vetted for entry starting in 1892, and across the continent to Angel Island in California, which imprisoned over half a million migrants between 1910 and the 1940s, most of them Asian migrants excluded because of their race. This history of detention works alongside the history of deportation, which began in the 1800s and remains a mechanism of immigration control that has torn apart families and communities.

Unlike most asylum seekers, who languish indefinitely in detention centers while awaiting their asylum hearings, Mondragón fortunately received her hearing in three weeks. After her release, she moved with her children to North Carolina on a one-year humanitarian visa. She was unable, however, to secure work authorization for several years. As a practicing Catholic, she searched for churches in her area and found solace in the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry (EFWM). There, Dr. Mireya Loza, a professor at Georgetown University and a former curator at our museum, and I first met Mondragón, in March 2020.  

The EFWM is a faith-based organization in Dunn, North Carolina. It provides direct social services to local communities, comprised mostly of Latin American immigrants with temporary work visas, as well as asylum seekers like Mondragón. These services include mental health care, English instruction, job placement, and support for agricultural workers. Its members have organized a women’s support group whose participants engage in arts and crafts, create programs for traditional medicine and reproductive health, and deliver sanitary napkins to women farmers while they toil in the fields, among other activities.  

The EFWM is central to the region’s sanctuary politics. It offers more than protection. EFWM organizes local communities, empowering its members to advocate on behalf of agricultural workers who labor under exploitative conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, many Latinx essential workers in meat processing plants owned by Butterball and Tyson Foods succumbed to the virus while laboring to supply food to a country mostly sheltering in safety. Mondragón has found refuge with EFWM. At the time that Loza and I met with Mondragón, she had received authorization to work in the United States and was working as an office administrator in EFWM, where she was supporting other migrants and agricultural workers, drawing on her own journey seeking asylum. Today, Mondragón is working toward a path to U.S. citizenship, and her children have quickly adapted to their new home.

Mondragón’s story raises crucial questions. What conditions must migrants endure in their search for safety and protection? And what kinds of tradeoffs do people make when transitioning from one violent situation only to confront yet another form of violence? While Mondragón’s story is extraordinary, it is not unique. Her story reflects many migration experiences—stories that remain untold, ignored, and hidden from public view. Her story casts light on the everyday forms of harm and violence that migrants, especially women and children, encounter in their search for sanctuary. It also highlights the relationships, advocacy, and empowerment that communities can forge by working together.

Sam Vong is curator of Asian Pacific American History in the Division of Work and Industry at the National Museum of American History.

This post is part of a series, The Politics of Sanctuary. Visit the series’ introduction to learn more and to explore other entries. The series has received funding support from the Smithsonian’s Latino Initiatives Pool and the Asian Pacific American Initiatives Pool.

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Journey to Asylum FAQs

What is the difference between asylum and sanctuary programs and is this legal? The Journey to Asylum program is a way to accompany and shelter migrants who are pursuing asylum. Though these migrants lack permanent status, they are legally present in the U.S. as they pursue their claims. In contrast, through a sanctuary program, a migrant who has temporarily exhausted their legal options and is under a deportation order takes shelter within the building of a faith community. The migrant cannot leave church property without risking deportation, so in a sense must live under house arrest.

What does it mean to host an asylum seeker? Congregational sponsorship means that a group within a faith community makes a commitment together to support a person or a family who has entered the legal process of seeking asylum in the United States. This commitment is generally for a year (or longer) and includes providing secure housing, fundraising for basic needs, accompanying the guest(s) to ICE meetings and court hearings, and offering friendship and community throughout the process.

Are there any legal risks? Sponsoring an asylum seeker is entirely within the parameters of the law. If a person has credible fear for their safety in their home country, they are permitted under international law to enter the U.S. and make a plea for asylum. The congregation is not legally responsible for their actions.

Will the asylum seeker(s) participate in WUU services? This will be the decision of the asylum seekers. They will of course be welcome to join our activities, but are under no obligation to participate. They may also choose to participate in activities of other faith traditions or none at all.

What country will the asylum seekers be from? In many cases they will be from a country in Central America, though this may not always be the case.

Will we receive details about why they are seeking asylum? We will honor the wishes of the asylum seeker(s) about how much information is shared. Each person’s comfort level will be different and may or may not change over time.

What is the goal of the program? The goal is to walk in solidarity with the asylum seeker through both the legal process and the journey of adjusting to life in the U.S. Although the legal process can be very drawn out, we will work with the individual to achieve self-sufficiency on all other fronts within approximately one year of their arrival.

How can I learn more about the UUSC’s Congregational Accompaniment Project for Asylum Seekers? Visit https://www.uusc.org/asylum-is-a-human-right-uuscs-congregational-accompaniment-project-for-asylum-seekers-capas/ .

The Stages of a Young Person's Asylum Journey

With illustrations by young asylum seekers

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How to seek asylum in the U.S.

To seek asylum, you must already be in the U.S. and believe you will be in danger of persecution if you return to your country. Learn how to seek asylum and sponsor someone else.

Learn if you are eligible and how to apply for asylum

To be eligible for asylum, you must be:

• Inside the United States
• Nationality
• Social group
• Political opinion

In most cases, a decision will be made on your asylum application within 180 days after you file. Learn more about the process of seeking asylum in the U.S. , including:

• Filing asylum application Form I-589 within 1 year of arriving in the U.S.
• Working in the U.S.
• Helping family members seek asylum
• Filing for permanent residence (Green Card)

How to sponsor an asylum seeker

If you came to the U.S. in the last 2 years as an asylee, you may be able to sponsor your spouse and qualifying children to join you.

Find out how to sponsor your family member for asylum. Learn:

• How to qualify as a sponsor
• Who is eligible to be sponsored to come to the U.S.
• How to download and fill out Form I-730 to request asylum for your family member

LAST UPDATED: December 12, 2023

Have a question?

Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They will get you the answer or let you know where to find it.

What asylum-seekers face at the U.S. border after a grueling journey through Mexico

Amna Nawaz Amna Nawaz

Christine Romo Christine Romo

Sam Weber Sam Weber

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• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-asylum-seekers-face-at-the-u-s-border-after-a-grueling-journey-through-mexico

Wednesday, we reported from Mexico on the global migration making its way through that country to the U.S. border. With producers Christine Romo and Sam Weber, Amna Nawaz continues that journey and speaks with migrants, ranchers, Border Patrol officials and advocates.

Read the Full Transcript

Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors.

Geoff Bennett:

Last night, we reported from Mexico on the increasingly global migration making its way through that country to the U.S. southern border.

And, tonight, Amna Nawaz continues that journey starting in Green Valley, Arizona.

How often do you do this drive?

Pastor Randy Mayer, Green Valley-Sahuarita Samaritans:

I do this at least once a week.

Amna Nawaz:

It's about an hour-and-a-half drive from Pastor Randy Mayer's church to the rugged border between Arizona and Mexico in the Sonoran Desert.

Pastor Randy Mayer:

It's a time-honored tradition of giving help to the stranger.

Mayer is the founder of Green Valley Samaritans. And for nearly a quarter-century, he's been providing aid to migrants.

A year ago, we were running into groups out in the desert, but it was eight, 10, 15 people a day. Now we're out there some days and we're running into 300, 400.

Three or 400 people a day?

But it's not just more people. It's where they're coming from.

Hey, do you guys need anything?

Bangladesh.

Bangladesh. (Speaking in foreign language)

(Speaking in foreign language)

Within minutes of reaching the border wall, Pastor Randy is out of the truck and handing out granola bars and water to a group of men from Bangladesh.

They have been traveling for three months and just arrived at this makeshift border camp. Before long, more arrivals. They're from Guatemala, finding the Samaritans after walking for five hours. The group, including a 5-year-old, had been traveling for a month.

A five-minute drive further down the border road, another large group that recently crossed, including this father and his children from Senegal.

Six months ago, we had never seen somebody from Bangladesh or Africa in this part of the desert. It was all Mexicans and Central Americans, and sometimes it would be a few people from South America, but now this is pretty regular.

I notice one of the first things you say is welcome.

Yes, we want to make sure that at least their first encounter is one of great welcome and saying we are glad you are here.

Among the group are three sisters, 13-year-old Nicole, 14-year-old Genesis and 8-year-old Valeria. They're traveling alone from Chiapas, the southernmost state in Mexico.

Did you see any other kids traveling alone along the way?

Nicole, Mexican Migrant (through interpreter):

No. Most just had their families or their parents or their aunts and uncles or even close cousins. Everybody had somebody.

And you had each other?

Nicole (through interpreter):

Yes, just us three.

The sisters are heading to reunite with their mother, their sole provider, who came to the U.S. 7.5 years ago to support the family. Over the phone, she shares her relief that her daughters made it safely across the border.

WOMan (through interpreter):

I was desperate and I was so scared because I didn't know what was going on.

The girls, like everyone here, are now just waiting to turn themselves into Border Patrol. Virtually all will seek asylum in the U.S., a legal protection that takes years to formally determine.

But, for now, with a snack, water and reassurance from Pastor Randy that transport would eventually come, spirits seem high. But in this remote stretch of the Sonoran Desert, the journey can quickly turn dire.

00 in the afternoon. I just met this group of folks who just crossed over earlier this morning, they said, in the middle of the night. Two are from Mali. One is from Mauritania. One is from Guinea. Two of them are very, very sick. They said that they have been waiting for Border Patrol to arrive for hours, and it looks like they have now arrived.

So they will start to get some medical help and see what happens next. An hour passes. The group is taken by ambulance to a hospital more than 90 minutes away. It's these moments that show why this border is the deadliest land migration route in the world.

In Arizona's Pima County, more than 3,000 migrants have died in the last 30 years.

This shouldn't be so deadly. By our people being out here, we literally are saving lives day in and day out.

Along the same span of rugged terrain, Stephen Cristinzio with U.S. Customs and Border Protection echoes that sentiment.

Stephen Cristinzio, U.S. Customs and Border Protection: When the organizations are pushing family groups across in the middle of nowhere, that's been a big challenge.

When you say the organizations, you mean the cartels?

Stephen Cristinzio:

The cartels. The cartels. The cartels control everything here.

Cristinzio helps lead Border Patrol's Tucson Sector, which covers 262 border miles in Arizona.

Tucson Sector is the most inhospitable terrain on the Southwest border.

I mean, how does that impact your resources? You have got larger groups, more people coming across and more remote crossings. What does that mean for your team?

It makes it incredibly difficult for us to respond in a quick Manner.

For us, the number one thing with the give-up groups is safety and preservation of life. We triage things in that Manner.

Driving that border with Agent Cristinzio, we quickly get a sense of what his team is Managing. This group of 17 migrants, all Mexicans, crossed the border just moments earlier through a broken section of the border fence.

The pace of what Border Patrol calls give-ups, or people turning themselves in, is relentless. Apprehensions in this part of Arizona were up 30 percent in March compared to a year ago and just down from record levels a few months ago.

Probably can't get them all in, right?

The group is loaded onto a van to be taken to a nearby facility in Nogales, Arizona.

We will get a medical screening. Basic biographical information will get taken. That will happen first. Yes, they're coming across right there.

Before Cristinzio can finish his thought, he sees another group approaching.

Do you have space, staff, resources to support all of them?

Yes, we might — I don't know when we can get the next van. It might be a little bit before he comes back, and then…

(Crosstalk)

Over the course of an hour, we document at least 70 people, minors, families, children as young as 6 months, crossing the border to turn themselves in at this one remote spot.

But it's not just asylum seekers. Agent Cristinzio says a masked Man on the border fence is likely a scout for a cartel.

He will watch us. If it's people or drugs, whatever that guy is looking to push across, he's just trying to tie up our resources, get us out of the area.

In fact, moments earlier, agents on ATVs marched two men out of the brush who'd been evading Border Patrol.

It's a sight that fifth-generation rancher Jim Chilton says he's increasingly seeing at his ranch, which spans 50,000 acres, including 5.5 miles along the Mexico border.

Jim Chilton, Cattle Rancher:

Through the Obama and Trump administration, averaged about 230 people coming through the ranch. In the last three years, it's been at about 1,200 people.

Chilton tracks the solicit traffic using motion-activated cameras on his property.

What do you think should be done to stop those guys from cutting through your ranch?

Jim Chilton:

President Biden made a huge mistake stopping the wall. The wall is a very helpful tool. It would require the Border Patrol being at the wall, and anybody trying to cut it or crawl over it or under it, they apprehended them and kick them back into Mexico.

He says he supports more legal immigration pathways, but the current flow of people claiming asylum between ports of entry is untenable.

I feel for the undocumented immigrants. They're just trying to get into the country. But we can't accept everybody that has an issue.

A lot of folks on the outside looking in say there's a siege going on, there's an invasion going on at the border. Is that how you see it?

When you have eight to 10 million people coming into the United States, one could almost say it's an invasion.

But opinions on this frontier differ. Chilton's neighbor, just down the road, doesn't see it exactly the same way.

Cattle rancher Lori Lindsay's property also runs along the Mexico border.

Lori Lindsay, Cattle Rancher:

It's super peaceful. It's beautiful. I have lived in nine states. This is my favorite place.

And this comes with the view of the border wall.

Lori Lindsay:

Right here.

Oh, I hadn't noticed.

Lindsay says she's never felt threatened here. And she doesn't put much stock in the immigration debate among people thousands of miles away.

If you're not familiar with the border, it sounds very scary. It sounds like we're being invaded, criminals are coming in to get us. And it's just not true. I mean, not that there isn't a problem. There is a problem with the cartels. We need to deal with those.

But there are two separate issues going on. You have got that, and then you have got a mother who's come seven countries away with her young children. I think, how desperate are you? Because I wouldn't want to do that with my kids.

Back at the border, Division Chief Stephen Cristinzio and Border Patrol agents are on the front lines of disentangling these two issues and Managing a huManitarian mission that Many Border Patrol agents didn't necessarily sign up for.

Do you worry, after seeing hundreds of people a day, thousands of people every week, that there's compassion fatigue, burnout?

I don't think so. It's hard to look at a group like this and see all these little kids. Those kids didn't ask to be here.

And you can put yourself in that situation. Imagine you having to make those sacrifices, make those decisions to travel hundreds or thousands of miles with that little girl right there. She's probably 9 months old.

Maybe a year.

And so, no, I don't worry about compassion fatigue. I don't.

Pastor Randy and the Green Valley Samaritan volunteers say they're frustrated by elected officials' failure to act.

For over 30 years, our politicians, both the Republican and the Democrats, have not chosen to do anything but throw money at security And it hasn't changed a single thing. In fact, it's probably brought more people here.

As the sun starts to set, dozens of migrants wait for Border Patrol to arrive, including Sisters Genesis, Nicole and Valeria, eagerly anticipating seeing their mother for the first time in more than seven years.

Genesis, Mexican Migrant (through interpreter):

I'm very excited to see her. It's been so long since I have seen her.

But, after we leave, that excitement turned to worry. In a moment of confusion, as night fell over the desert, the girls are left behind by a Border Patrol van.

Their mother alerted "NewsHour." We alerted Border Patrol, who carried out an overnight rescue of the girls. Last week, the sisters reunited with their mother, three more survivors of a dangerous journey who've reached their next safe space, whatever the path ahead.

Listen to this Segment

Watch the Full Episode

Amna Nawaz serves as co-anchor of PBS News Hour.

Sam Weber has covered everything from living on minimum wage to consumer finance as a shooter/producer for PBS NewsHour Weekend. Prior joining NH Weekend, he previously worked for Need to Know on PBS and in public radio. He’s an avid cyclist and Chicago Bulls fan.

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Asylum Journey: Online Guide

• Culturally specific
• Housing issues
• Refugee & asylum seekers

Last updated: 11th Dec 2023

Key Information

Asylum Journey is an online resource for anyone who is seeking asylum or has refugee status in Sheffield.

It covers all stages of the asylum process with comprehensive informal and statutory support at each point.  They provide informed, up to date and holistic advice on a number of issues, concerns or problems asylum seekers or refugees may face.

This online resource can also be used by anyone who works with asylum seekers and refugees at any stage of their journey or resettlement.

Asylum Journey is supported by Sheffield City Council, Sheffugees, City of Sanctuary Sheffield, ASSIST, VAS and YouMee.

If you would like anymore information or can see any gaps or errors in the resource please contact [email protected]

Contact Information

Try out our mental health toolkit.

Join our community driven website, My Toolkit, which has been co-created to complement the Sheffield Mental Health Guide website. Sign up to create your own confidential space to put together ideas, services, and activities that interest you and support your mental health.

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Understanding Asylum: The Journey to Safe Haven in the UK - A Resettlement Perspective

Updated: Aug 22

At Resettlement, our mission is to not only support but also to inform the public about the

real challenges and hardships faced by asylum seekers on their path to achieving settled

status in the UK. The journey toward asylum is not merely a bureaucratic process; it involves

navigating through an emotionally and physically taxing landscape, fraught with uncertainties and challenges. This blog post seeks to provide a deeper understanding of what the asylum process genuinely entails, backed by facts and insights into the support system provided by the government, including financial aid and accommodation, and the realities faced once asylum seekers are granted settled status

The Asylum Process Unveiled

The United Kingdom extends asylum to individuals fleeing persecution on grounds of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. This compassionate initiative, however, is coupled with a demanding and complex process:

Step 1: Application

The application process is the first step towards asylum, where individuals recount their

persecution experiences and justify their inability to return home. It's a stage marked by

emotional vulnerability, as applicants relive traumatic events through detailed interviews and

Step 2: Screening Interview

Following the application, a screening interview is conducted, focusing on administrative

details but essential for establishing the identity and the basis of the asylum claim.

Step 3: Substantive Interview

Here, the core of the asylum claim is thoroughly examined. Applicants must provide detailed

evidence of their persecution, often recounting traumatic experiences. Their narratives are

assessed for credibility, a step that can be retraumatizing for many.

Step 4: Decision

After reviewing the application — a period that can last from several months to years — the

Home Office makes a decision. Successful applicants are gran ted refugee status, allowing a

five-year stay in the UK, after which they can apply for settlement. Unsuccessful applicants

have the option to appeal, entering another phase of uncertainty.

Government Support for Asylum Seekers

During this process, asylum seekers receive some level of support from the government,

though it is often minimal:

Financial Aid: Asylum seekers are provided a small weekly allowance to cover basic needs.

As of my last update, this amount is approximately £39.63 per person, per week. This figure

is intended to cover food, clothing, and toiletries, and is notably below the poverty line,

making daily life incredibly challenging.

Accommodation: The government provides temporary accommodation, which can range

from shared houses to flats or even hostels. The conditions and locations of these

accommodations vary widely, and residents often have little choice in where they are placed.

The Reality of Gaining Settled Status

Once asylum seekers are granted settled status, the transition is not as smooth as one might

expect. Individuals are given a limited time to vacate government-provided accommodation,

often leading to a new set of challenges:

Housing: Refugees must find new housing within 28 days of receiving notice, a daunting

task given the short timeframe and the challenges of securing affordable housing.

Employment: Although gaining the right to work is a significant milestone, the job market

can be difficult to navigate, especially for those who may still be improving their English

language skills or adapting to a new cultural environment.

Integration: Beyond the practicalities of housing and employment, integration into a new

community poses its own emotional and social challenges. Refugees must build new

networks, often while coping with the lingering effects of the trauma they've escaped.

At Resettlement, we believe it's crucial to shed light on the realities faced by asylum seekers

and refugees in the UK. By providing a factual overview of the asylum process, including the

support system and the challenges of transitioning to settled status, we aim to foster a

deeper understanding and empathy among the public. The journey to asylum is more than a

series of administrative steps; it's a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Through

awareness and support, we can make this journey a little less daunting and ensure that

those seeking refuge find not just a safe haven but a place to call home.

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SEEKING ASYLUM

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SEEKING ASYLUM is an award-winning feature documentary that bears witness to the endless deterrents migrants face when petitioning for asylum in the United States. In a dismantled system that has been designed for failure, we follow one woman’s journey as she searches for protection for her and kids. 

Many people view getting to the United States as the final hurdle of the migration journey, but we quickly learn that once in the U.S. the fight has just begun. During one of the most uncertain times in our country's history, Seeking Asylum documents the challenges asylum seekers face and shows why asylum is an integral part of the American Dream that we cannot afford to lose.

TAKE ACTION

With your help we can reform the asylum system.

ENSURE PEOPLE CAN SEEK ASYLUM

The Biden administration just announced a proposed federal rule to implement a near-total asylum ban at the U.S. southern border. 

Sign the Welcome With Dignity pledge today to stand up for restoring asylum  and learn how you can get involved asylum local organizations in your area.

The  Welcome With Dignity Campaign also has a list of solutions and policy resources for those who want to learn more about what experts recommend we do next.

REPRESENTATION

Asylum is a complex legal process that is practically impossible to navigate without a lawyer and the government does not provide legal counsel to asylum seekers.

Without representation, only 10% of asylum seekers are granted asylum.  Once an asylum seeker secures representation they are five times more likely to win their case.

Help fund organizations that provide pro-bono legal counsel to asylum seekers.

REFORM IMMIGRATION COURTS

The immigration courts are a part of the Department of Justice (DOJ). The same law enforcement agency that is charged with prosecuting immigration cases in federal courts.

This inherent conflict of interest has been used to manipulate the courts for political purposes and fundamentally compromises their integrity.

Urge congress to support the Real Courts, Rule of Law Act of 2022 (H.R. 6577), which creates an independent immigration court that is separate from DOJ.

Educate your friends and family by sharing about Seeking Asylum on social media.

Let everyone know why asylum is an important issue for you.

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Questions and Answers: Affirmative Asylum Eligibility and Applications

ALERT: Court Order on Circumvention of Lawful Pathways Final Rule

On Aug. 3, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a stay of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California’s order in  East Bay Sanctuary Covenant v. Biden , 18-cv-06810 (N.D. Cal.), vacating the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways (CLP) rule . At this time and while the stay remains in place, USCIS will continue to apply the CLP rule.

Under the rule, certain individuals who enter the United States through its southwest land border or adjacent coastal borders are presumed to be ineligible for asylum, unless they can demonstrate an exception to the rule or rebut the presumption. Individuals are encouraged to use lawful, safe, and orderly pathways to come to the United States.

ALERT: Interpreters at Affirmative Asylum Interviews

Starting Sept. 13, 2023, affirmative asylum applicants must bring an interpreter to their asylum interview if they are not fluent in English or wish to have their interview conducted in a language other than English. Your interpreter must be at least 18 years old and fluent in English and a language you speak fluently.

Sign language interpreters are the only exception to this requirement. USCIS continues to provide sign language interpreters as a disability accommodation. Follow the instructions on your interview notice to request this disability accommodation.

If you need an interpreter and do not bring one, or if your interpreter is not fluent in English and a language you speak, and you do not establish good cause, we may consider this a failure to appear for your interview and we may dismiss your asylum application or refer your asylum application to an immigration judge. We will determine good cause on a case-by-case basis.

On Sept. 23, 2020, USCIS published a temporary final rule (TFR) requiring affirmative asylum applicants to use our contracted telephonic interpreters for their asylum interviews, instead of bringing an interpreter to the interview. We published this TFR to reduce the spread of COVID-19 during asylum interviews with USCIS asylum officers while the COVID-19 national emergency and public health emergency were in effect. We published four subsequent TFRs extending the requirement, with the current extension effective through Sept. 12, 2023. This fourth extension provided additional time after the national and public health emergencies expired to allow USCIS to prepare to return to the prior regulatory requirement. With the expiration of the TFR, we revert to a long-standing regulatory requirement for an affirmative asylum applicant to provide an interpreter under 8 CFR 208.9(g).

If you were placed in expedited removal proceedings, you received a positive credible fear determination, and USCIS retained your asylum application for further consideration in an Asylum Merits Interview, please visit our Asylum Merits Interview with USCIS: Processing After a Positive Credible Fear Determination page.

You may apply for asylum if you are at a port of entry or in the United States. You may apply for asylum regardless of your immigration status and within 1 year of your arrival to the United States.

You will not be eligible to apply for asylum if you:

Filed your application after being in the United States for more than 1 year. However, you may qualify for an exception if you show

• Changed circumstances materially affecting your asylum eligibility for asylum or
• Extraordinary circumstances relating to your delay in filing.

You must still file your application within a reasonable time under the circumstances to be eligible for an exception.

Changed circumstances may include but are not limited to:

• Changes in conditions in your country of nationality or, if you are stateless, your country of last habitual residence
• Changes in your circumstances that materially affect your eligibility for asylum, including changes in applicable U.S. law and activities you become involved in outside the country of feared persecution that place you at risk
• If you were previously included as a dependent in someone else’s pending asylum application, the loss of the spousal or parent-child relationship to the principal applicant through marriage, divorce, death, or attainment of age 21

Extraordinary circumstances may include but are not limited to:

• Serious illness or mental or physical disability, including any effects of persecution or violent harm suffered in the past, during the 1-year period after your arrival in the U.S.
• Legal disability, such as your status as an unaccompanied child or you suffered from a mental impairment, during the 1-year period after your arrival in the U.S.

Ineffective assistance of counsel, if:

• You file an affidavit explaining in detail the agreement that you had with your lawyer about the actions to be taken by your lawyer on your behalf and what your lawyer told you he or she would do for you
• You have informed the lawyer whom you are criticizing of the accusations against him or her and the lawyer has been given an opportunity to respond
• You indicate whether you have filed a complaint with appropriate disciplinary authorities about any violation of your lawyer’s ethical or legal responsibilities, and if not, why not
• You had Temporary Protected Status (TPS), lawful immigrant or nonimmigrant status, or you were given parole, until a reasonable period before you filed your asylum application
• You filed an asylum application before the expiration of the 1-year deadline, but USCIS rejected your application as not properly filed, returned the application to you for corrections, and you re-filed your application within a reasonable time after the return
• The death or serious illness or incapacity of your legal representative or a member of your immediate family

For a list of circumstances that may be considered changed or extraordinary circumstances, see 8 CFR 208.4 and the Asylum Bars  page.

You will be barred from applying for asylum if you previously applied for asylum and were denied by the Immigration Judge or Board of Immigration Appeals, unless you demonstrate that there are changed circumstances which affect your eligibility for asylum.

You will also be barred if you could be removed to a safe third country to a two-party or multi-party agreement. Currently, the United States has a safe third country agreement with Canada that does not apply to you if you are applying for asylum affirmatively with USCIS. The Agreement only applies in Credible Fear Screenings. For more information about the safe third country agreement with Canada, see the Questions & Answers: Credible Fear Screenings  page. For more information about bars to applying, see the  Asylum Bars page.

In the affirmative asylum or defensive asylum processes, to apply for asylum, you must complete a Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal . For more information about applying for asylum in the affirmative or defensive asylum processes, see the Obtaining Asylum in the United States  and the  Affirmative Asylum Process  pages.

If you were placed in expedited removal proceedings, you received a positive credible fear determination, and USCIS retained your case for further consideration of your eligibility for asylum in an Asylum Merits Interview, please visit our Asylum Merits Interview with USCIS: Processing After a Positive Credible Fear Determination page for information on the procedures that apply to your case. If this applies to you, you do not need to file a Form I-589. See the Form I-589 page for more information.

Yes. You may apply for asylum with USCIS regardless of your immigration status if:

• You are not currently in removal proceedings
• You file an asylum application within 1 year of arriving to the United States or demonstrate that you are within an exception to that rule.

Yes, but you may be barred from being granted asylum depending on the crime. You must disclose any criminal history on your Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, and at your asylum interview. If you do not disclose such information, your asylum claim will be referred to the immigration court and may result in fines or imprisonment for committing perjury. For more information on bars to receiving asylum, see the Asylum Bars  page.

You must list your spouse and children on your Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, regardless of whether they are:

• Alive, missing or dead
• Born in other countries or in the United States
• Under 21 years old or adults
• Married or unmarried
• Living with you in the United States or elsewhere
• Stepsons or stepdaughters or legally adopted;
• Born when you were not married
• Included in your asylum application or filing a separate application

You may include your spouse as a dependent on your asylum application. You may also include your children if they are:

• Under the age of 21
• In the United States

You should bring your family members to your asylum interview. If you are granted asylum status, family members included on your application will also be granted asylum status (unless they are barred from asylum) and will be allowed to remain in the United States. If you are referred to the Immigration Court, your family members will also be referred to court for removal proceedings if they are not in legal status.

If you are granted asylum and your spouse and any unmarried children under 21 years old are outside the United States, you may file a Form I-730, Refugee and Asylee Relative Petition , for them to obtain derivative asylum status. For more information about benefits for your dependents, see the Family of Refugees & Asylees  page.

We will send you a notice to go to a USCIS Application Support Center (ASC) to have your fingerprints taken after we receive your asylum application. You are exempt from the fingerprinting fee and do not need to submit a fingerprint card. Your spouse and children will also need to be fingerprinted if they are between 12 years and 9 months of age and 79 years of age. For ASC locations, see the ASC Locator  page.

Yes. Every individual who applies for asylum will be subject to a series of background and security checks. If you are not eligible for a final grant of asylum, your application may be referred to Immigration Court for removal proceedings. Background and security checks consist of:

• FBI check on your biographical information and fingerprints
• Check of your biographical information against law enforcement databases.

Your child will continue to be eligible as a dependent on your asylum application if they turned 21 after you filed your application and while it remains pending. For more information about derivative asylum, see the Family of Refugees & Asylees page.

There is no fee to apply for asylum.

The asylum officer will determine if you are eligible for asylum by evaluating whether you meet the definition of a refugee. See section 101(a)(42) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). We will make the determination of whether you meet the definition of a refugee based on information you provide on your application and during an interview with an asylum officer.

The asylum officer will also consider whether any bars to asylum apply. You will be barred from being granted asylum if you:

• Ordered, incited, assisted, or participated in the persecution of any person on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion
• Were convicted of a serious crime (including aggravated felonies)
• Committed a serious nonpolitical crime outside the United States
• Pose a danger to the security of the United States
• Were firmly resettled in another country prior to arriving in the United States

For more information on bars to asylum, see the Bars to Applying and Receiving Asylum page.

A decision should be made on your asylum application within 180 days after the date you filed your application unless there are exceptional circumstances. For more information about the step-by-step asylum process, see the Affirmative Asylum Process  page.

The legal provisions governing the Asylum Program can be found in Section 208 of the INA. Rules concerning eligibility requirements and procedures can be found at 8 CFR 208 . Asylum officers also rely on case law to adjudicate asylum claims. Administrative decisions made by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) can be found on the BIA Appeals  page.

You have a right to bring a lawyer or representative to your asylum interview and to immigration proceedings before an immigration court. See the Finding Legal Advice  page.

Representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) may also be able to assist in identifying persons to help you complete your Form I-589. The current address of the UNHCR is:

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 1775 K Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006 Telephone: (202) 296-5191

For more information about UNHCR, see the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees  website.

You must bring an interpreter if you do not speak English fluently. The interpreter must be fluent in both English and a language you speak and must be at least 18 years old. USCIS does not provide any interpreters during the asylum interview. The following people cannot serve as your interpreter:

• Your attorney or representative of record
• A witness testifying on your behalf at the interview
• A representative or employee of your country

If you have a document that is not in English, you are required to provide a certified translation of the document in English.

You can find out the status of a pending asylum application by sending a written inquiry or by visiting the asylum office with jurisdiction over your case. Please provide in writing the following information when you write to the asylum office:

• Your A-Number (the 8- or 9-digit number following the letter "A")
• Your legal name and, if different, the name as it appears on the application
• Your date of birth
• Date and location of your asylum interview, if applicable

You may also inquire at the asylum office where your case is pending. See the Asylum Office Locator  page.

You can check also your Case Status Online . All you need is the receipt number that we mailed you after you filed your application.

If you applied for asylum and have not yet received a decision, you should not leave the United States without first obtaining advance parole. Advance parole allows certain individuals to return to the United States without a visa after traveling abroad. If you leave the United States without first obtaining advance parole, we will presume you abandoned your asylum application. Advance parole does not guarantee that you will be allowed to reenter the United States.

To obtain advance parole, you must file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. For more information about travel documents, see the Fact Sheet: Traveling Outside the United States as an Asylum Applicant, an Asylee, or Lawful Permanent Resident Who Obtained Such Status Based on Asylum Status (PDF, 45.16 KB) .

If you plan to depart the United States after being granted asylum, you must obtain permission to return to the United States before departure by obtaining a refugee travel document. Your spouse and children who were granted asylum must also obtain refugee travel documents before leaving as well.

A refugee travel document may be used for temporary travel abroad and is required for readmission to the United States as an asylee. If you do not obtain a refugee travel document in advance of departure, you may be unable to reenter the United States, or you may be placed in removal proceedings before an immigration judge.

To obtain a refugee travel document file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document .

Yes, asylum-related information may not be shared with third parties without the asylum applicant’s written consent or the Secretary of Homeland Security’s specific authorization.

Yes. For more information on children applying for asylum, see the Asylum Procedures for Minor Children  page.

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Pregnant migrants balance journey to childbirth, asylum

( NewsNation ) — Leticia Alvarez didn’t realize she was pregnant when she left Venezuela, determined like millions of other asylum-seekers to trade the political persecution and hardships for new opportunities elsewhere.

Alvarez learned she was 13 weeks pregnant in Panama after she developed intense belly pain early in her family’s trek to the Mexico-U.S. border. The news pushed the 25-year-old into a population of migrant women who navigate the already stressful process of giving birth while also seeking asylum in a new country.

Abbott announces Texas crackdown on Venezuelan gang

In 2021, President Joe Biden reversed a Trump-era policy that allowed pregnant women or nursing mothers to be detained by border officials. Despite the change, the American Civil Liberties Union submitted a petition with more than 900 signatures that called for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to change its policy to minimize harm to women who are pregnant, postpartum, or nursing, saying that mothers-to-be continue to be mistreated.

Yet for Alvarez, pregnancy and migrant-related challenges pale to what she would have faced had she remained home.

“If I would have been pregnant in my country, I would be dead with my baby,” Alvarez told NewsNation in Spanish.

Searching for a new life across the border

Alvarez and her family needed 15 days to reach the U.S., traveling mainly by bus thanks to money she and her husband, Lisandro Escola, saved.

But the couple, along with Alvarez’s sister, niece and niece’s father, also walked for two days, including through the treacherous jungles of the Darien Gap , a 60-mile stretch of rainforest that sits on the border of Colombia and Panama and connects Central and South America.

The area is known to be dangerous, considering its tough terrain and steep mountains, but it has become a main thoroughfare for migrants making the journey to the southern border.

“It was exhausting because you fight to get out of the jungle, and (it was) traumatic because you see infinite amounts of things that are not told but are carried in the mind,” said Alvarez, who fell several times in the jungle. “Once you start the trip, you don’t stop walking.”

Anxiety filled Alvarez once she learned she was expecting, including fears she could lose her baby.

She and Escola were separated from her relatives, who remained in Mexico City after they ran out of money.

Alvarez and Escola crossed near McAllen, Texas, and surrendered to border officials. Alvarez was immediately released but said Escola was held at the Joe Corley Detention Center for seven months. She says she doesn’t know why.

In late January, the Venezuelan government announced that it would halt repatriation flights from the U.S. as of Feb. 13 in response to the economic sanctions that the United States reimposed on Venezuela after previously lifting them in 2023, according to information provided by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico .

With her husband in federal custody, Alvarez flew to Chicago and then traveled by car to Indianapolis, where she worked a construction job. She says she worked from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, cleaning and helping lay ceramic tiles and flooring in a newly constructed building along with other duties.

She saw a doctor only once in three months, fearing the cost. Alvarez saw her first Chicago doctor in early January. Two months later, she gave birth to a baby girl, Sophia, who entered the world at 8 pounds, 9 ounces.

Two weeks after that, Escola was freed from detention, but by then, Alvarez was carrying the emotional toll.

“Going through the pregnancy alone is very hard and very sad,” Alvarez told NewsNation. “All you want is to be accompanied at that moment, and I was alone.”

The costs of migrant pregnancy

Over the past two years, the health system for Illinois’ largest county has treated more than 35,000 patients, including 670 pregnant women. The health system connects women to prenatal care and since 2022 has spent more than $30 million on migrant medical care, a spokeswoman for Cook County Health told NewsNation.

Like Chicago-area locals facing economic hardship, migrants are eligible for financial assistance. Of those who apply, 99.5% receive a 100% discount, with the health system’s operating budget absorbing the costs, the spokeswoman said.

In New York, which has processed more than 225,000 migrants, NYC Health + Hospitals assisted 300 babies born to asylum-seekers in 2023 while also contributing 2.1 million baby wipes, 400,000 diapers and 100,000 bottles of baby food and formula, National Public Radio reported last year.

Border arrests rose slightly in August; Encounters at ports of entry hold steady

In Denver, city officials have budgeted $90 million for migrants this year when some new arrivals who have given birth since arriving in the Mile High City find difficulty adjusting. According to a city spokesman, Denver has spent $75 million on providing services for migrants and asylym seekers since December 2022.

Denver Health , the city’s safety net hospital, lost about $2 million in 2023, according to The Denver Post , which reported that the facility provided about $136 million in care it didn’t receive compensation for. In the past year, the hospital provided medical care for 8,000 migrants from Central America, which made 20,000 visits to the hospital for care, including childbirth, the report said.

The hospital’s CEO told the newspaper that the facility isn’t reimbursed by the state or federal government to cover the cost of migrant health care, which runs into the millions. Hospital officials did not immediately return an email from NewsNation seeking details on migrant childbirth costs absorbed by the health system.

Ivanni Herrera was eight months pregnant when her family’s shelter assignment in Denver ended. She was told she could seek care at a local hospital, where the costs of her appointments and the baby’s delivery would be covered by Medicaid, according to The Associated Press . She declined the help.

“How could I sleep in a warm place when my son is cold on the street?” she told the AP.

Denver city officials have committed to keeping families off the streets and, in turn, have helped thousands of migrants gain work authorization. As she waits, Herrera has no means of regular income. She told the AP she owes $18,000 in medical bills because she forgot to sign up for Medicaid.

“I’m afraid they’re going to deport me,” she said.

What Chicago migrant care looks like

Doctors working within Illinois’ Cook County Health System say they strive to provide the same care to migrants and asylum-seekers as anyone else.

The biggest challenge, however, is higher levels of fractured care experienced by migrants because of the countries from where they came from and the amount of time that may have passed since their last appointment.

“A pregnancy really can’t wait for you to be in the best possible place to get your care,” Dr. Mary Arlandson , an attending physician and OBGYN at Chicago’s Stroger Hospital, told NewsNation.

Mexican drug cartels are operating in Southern Colorado, DEA says

Doctors are not able to make up for lost time. But they can assess what care a woman needs at the time and help them navigate a pregnancy that is stressful even without challenges like learning a new city, a lack of work and finding transportation to appointments.

“The type of person who would take that journey is probably categorically different than the person who decides they’re not up for that,” Arlandson said.

Since Sophia’s birth, Alvarez has struggled at times with postpartum depression. The family resides in a rented room as they await permanent living conditions. While Alvarez remains home with the couple’s daughter, Escola said that her husband works construction from time to time and handles all of the young family’s expenses.

Alvarez says Sophia is adjusting as her parents wait for necessities like work authorizations and immigration court appearances. She says that ever since she learned she was pregnant, she has only thought about the opportunities that await her daughter if she and her husband can do their part.

For now, things are as good as they can be.

“The baby is fine, thank God,” she said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.

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• UK Visas and Immigration

Information booklet about your asylum application

Updated 22 July 2024

© Crown copyright 2024

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/information-leaflet-for-asylum-applications/information-booklet-about-your-asylum-application

Claiming Asylum

The Home Office is responsible for considering asylum claims. Throughout the asylum process you will be treated with respect, dignity and fairness regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief.

This guidance contains important information about claiming asylum in the United Kingdom (UK) and explains what to expect during the asylum process. 

 We will also explain:

where to claim asylum

where you can find help and advice

claiming as a child

what to expect after claiming asylum

asylum support

your rights and responsibilities as an asylum claimant

What is asylum?

You should only make a claim for asylum (international protection) if you fear return to your country of origin / nationality. An asylum applicant becomes a refugee once they are granted asylum.

To be recognised as a refugee under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, you must have left your country and be unable to go back because you have a well-founded fear of persecution based on one of the following convention reasons:

nationality

political opinion

membership of a particular social group*

(*a group sharing a common characteristic that cannot be changed)

If it is decided that you are not a refugee because your claim is not based on one of the five convention reasons listed above but there are substantial grounds for believing that you would face a real risk of suffering serious harm if returned to your country, you may qualify for Humanitarian Protection.

If you do not require international protection (asylum or Humanitarian Protection) but would still like to remain in the UK for other reasons, you should seek legal advice. If your claim for international protection is refused, it may affect any further claims you may have to stay or to visit the UK.

Note that asylum claims registered before 28 June 2022 will be considered under previous legislation and asylum policies.

 Asylum claims made on or after 28 June 2022 will be considered under Section 16 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 .

‘Inadmissible’ claims

Note that the Illegal Migration Act 2023 became law on 20 July 2023 but not all parts of it have started.

If you made an application for asylum after the 6 March 2023 you may be affected by changes within this act once it is fully implemented.

The information below will change when this section of the Illegal Migration Act has started.

For further information see the Illegal Migration Act 2023 . You can find the latest asylum guidance at Visas and immigration operational guidance

If you have travelled through a ‘safe third country’ on your way to the UK or have a connection to a safe country, your asylum claim may not be admitted to the UK asylum process. A ‘safe third country’ is one which is assessed as safe according to specified criteria. For further information, see Inadmissibility: safe third country cases ).

In such cases, we will make arrangements to find a safe country that will admit you there. This country may be a safe third country in which you were present before claiming asylum in the UK, one with which you have some other connection or any other safe third country that will accept you. If you are being removed to a safe third country your asylum claim will not be considered in the UK. You will be informed of this and any appeal rights you may have.

If you are an EU national, then the UK will not substantively consider your claim except in exceptional circumstances.

For further information on inadmissible claims see Nationality and Borders Act 2022 .

Claiming with or as a dependant

What happens if i have dependants, or i am a dependant of someone else claiming asylum.

If you are claiming asylum and you want any of your dependants (a spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner or children under 18 years old) to be part of your asylum claim, then you must bring them with you. (An unmarried partner is defined as someone that you have been living with in a subsisting relationship akin to marriage or a civil partnership for two years or more.) Dependants can be added to your claim at a registration event, but not once a decision has been made on your asylum claim.

You have the right to apply as a dependant of a main claimant, but you should make your own individual claim for asylum if you have your own protection needs. If you are claiming asylum as part of someone else’s claim (for example as a dependant of your spouse), you will also be asked in private (by a Registration Officer) whether you would like to claim for asylum in your own right. If you have protection needs, you are expected to claim asylum at the earliest opportunity. Failure to do so may affect your credibility.

If you have child dependants under 18 years old, you will be asked about their protection needs. Their protection needs may be the same as you, or they may have additional/ different protection needs.

If they have the same protection needs, the claims can be considered together as a Family Asylum Claim. Whilst the main claimant and any children will each be a claimant in their own right, the claim will be dealt with in a single consideration. This is on the basis that the protection needs of each claimant are the same as those established by the main claimant.

Where your children have additional or different protection needs, their asylum claim will be individually considered. They will be treated as an accompanied asylum-seeking child and their case dealt with by officers trained in children’s asylum cases.

If your children have no protection needs, they can still be a dependant on your claim. This means that they will be considered for permission to stay in-line with the main claimant should their asylum claim be successful.

Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children

Claims from those under 18 years of age are considered under a different process from adult claims, due to the specific needs and requirements of children. We will, when considering claims from children, consider the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the UK.

We will contact your Local Authority’s Children’s Services department on your behalf if you are not already known to them. They will also be responsible for looking after you and giving you accommodation if you are not accompanied by an adult.

If you are an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child, we will also give your details to an organisation independent from the Home Office called “The Children’s Panel”, who will advise and assist you in your contact with the Home Office and local government agencies.                                   

Apply to stay in the UK as stateless person

If you do not fear return to your country of origin or country of former habitual residence, you may decide to apply for permission to stay in the UK as a stateless person. You can apply to stay in the UK as a stateless person if you meet the requirements in Part 14 of the Immigration Rules . You can normally stay in the UK for 5 years if you’re given permission to stay (known as ‘leave to remain’). You can apply for settlement or further leave when your leave expires.

If you cannot return to another country because you fear persecution there, you should claim asylum first.

You must apply online . It does not cost anything to apply. 

You can find further details on how to Apply to stay in the UK as a stateless person

Your rights and responsibilities while claiming asylum

If the UK is responsible for considering your claim your rights and responsibilities whilst you are claiming asylum include:

remaining in the UK throughout the duration of your asylum claim

having the opportunity to give full account of your reasons for claiming asylum

having your claim considered fairly and accurately

being assured of confidentiality concerning your asylum claim (the UK will not inform your country of origin that you have made a claim for asylum)

having access to support and accommodation if you are eligible

having legal representation (free legal advice depends on your financial circumstances)

having the right to appeal against your asylum decision, if you are eligible

As an asylum claimant, we expect you to co-operate with the asylum process and Home Office officials at all times. Any omission or misrepresentation of facts may affect the decision we make on your claim. If you use deception to obtain leave to enter or remain in the UK, any leave you have been granted may be taken away. It is also a criminal offence, and you may be prosecuted.

It is your duty to submit all available documentation to substantiate your claim, including your age, your background (including background details of relatives), your identity, your nationality or nationalities, any country or countries and place(s) of previous residence, any previous asylum claims, your travel routes, your travel documents, any medical evidence and any evidence that may support your asylum claim.

It is also your responsibility to:

keep in regular contact with the Home Office

maintain up to date contact details. You can update your address online by visiting www.visa-address-update.service.gov.uk

attend asylum interviews and other appointments

respond to Home Office correspondence

exit the UK if you are not granted leave and any appeal fails

obey the law - if you are in doubt about what the law is then it is your responsibility to find out

How to claim asylum

You are expected to claim asylum at the earliest possible opportunity. Failure to do so may be taken into account and affect the credibility of your claim. For most people this should be immediately on arrival to the UK.

If you are a social worker or guardian with an unaccompanied asylum seeking child in your care based in London and the South East, contact us on this email address: [email protected] .

If you are a social worker with an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child based elsewhere in the UK, contact  [email protected] .

All unaccompanied children should/will be advised to use the walk-in service.

If you are an adult who is not detained, you should contact the Intake Unit Appointment Line. The appointment system is for those who have somewhere they can stay until their appointment. The appointment location will be based on your location. 

If you have nowhere to live, you will still need to call the asylum intake unit appointments line. They will call you back and you may be told to attend a screening appointment or to go to a ‘walk-in’ service at an asylum registration location.

Even if you don’t have somewhere to stay, where possible you should book an appointment by telephone which will confirm the date, time and location of your appointment.

For bookings and queries, call the Intake Unit Appointment Line 0300 123 4193. Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 9am to 4.45pm, Friday 9am to 4:30pm

Tell us as soon as possible about any special needs or requirements for the registration interview. This may be when you are booking an appointment or as soon as possible afterwards by calling us back.

Examples of special needs are mobility difficulties or whether you would prefer to be interviewed by a male or female Registration Officer. You should also inform us of any special needs on the day that you are making your asylum claim. Where feasible, we will try to accommodate any requirements you tell us about.

If you are delayed or are unable to attend your appointment for any reason, notify us as soon as possible by calling 0300 123 4193.

If you are unable to travel to Croydon due to a health condition, a disability, or an exceptional circumstance, we may be able to offer you an appointment closer to your home, at one of our regional offices.

Where to find us  

Croydon Intake Unit (CIU)  Lunar House  40 Wellesley Road  Croydon CR9 2BY

You can park in one of the two car parks in central Croydon (sat nav reference: CR0 1UP and CR0 0XH).

There are trains to East and West Croydon stations from London Victoria and London Bridge. If you are travelling to West Croydon, use the available underpass to get to Lunar House. Both stations are in Travelcard zone 5. To plan your journey, visit  www.nationalrail.co.uk .

There are buses to Croydon from locations including Brixton, Bromley, Crystal Palace, Heathrow, Streatham and Tottenham Court Road. To plan your journey, visit  www.tfl.gov.uk .

Tramlink is a light railway linking Croydon with Wimbledon, Beckenham and New Addington. To plan your journey, visit  www.tfl.gov.uk .

The asylum process

You must make every effort to comply with the asylum process. Failure to attend the asylum interview without a good reason may result in your asylum claim being treated as withdrawn. In addition, if you have an appointment, such as a reporting event, which you fail to attend then your claim could be withdrawn. If you have any problems with regards to attendance or compliance with our requests, you should contact the decision-making unit handling your claim and inform them at the first opportunity. The contact information will be included in your substantive interview invitation letter. If your non-compliance with the process is due to illness or exceptional circumstances, evidence should be provided such as a doctor’s letter.

You must maintain up to date contact details to allow important information regarding your asylum claim to be issued to you, for example questionnaires and appointment details. You can update your address online by visiting www.visa-address-update.service.gov.uk . Failure to maintain up to date contact details or respond to important information regarding your asylum claim in a reasonable time frame may result in your asylum claim being treated as withdrawn.

We will send you various letters during the asylum process. Most of these will be in English. If you do not understand what a letter says, then you should ask your legal representative, to explain the letter to you.

If you do not have a legal representative, ask a friend or family member to help. You can also use the support detailed in  section 4 of this guidance  (Getting advice and assistance).

Asylum questionnaire

During your asylum claim, you may be asked to complete an asylum claim questionnaire (ACQ). You will be contacted with all the necessary information if this is applicable to you. Submission of an asylum questionnaire may lead to a positive decision being made without a substantive interview or a decision being made following a shorter interview. If you cannot complete the questionnaire, contact the Home Office using the details on the letter to let us know and make alternative arrangements.

If you fail to complete an asylum questionnaire as specifically requested by the Home Office, without a reasonable explanation, your asylum claim may be withdrawn.

Separately, you can complete a form called a ‘Preliminary Information Questionnaire’ which is also known as a ‘PIQ’. The PIQ is designed to help you provide information about the reasons why you need protection in the UK and will assist you in setting out your claim. It may also help you to prepare for your substantive asylum interview.

The information you provide in your PIQ will give the Home Office a better understanding of your asylum claim and it could also help us to make any reasonable adjustments that you may require when attending your interview.

If you do not feel able to complete this form (the PIQ) yourself, you can seek assistance from your legal representative or from organisations such as Migrant Help. Further details about where you can obtain advice and assistance can be found in  section 4 of this guidance .

An electronic copy of the Preliminary Information Questionnaire can be found at  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preliminary-information-questionnaire-for-asylum-claims .

Registration and screening

What to bring to your registration appointment.

It is important that you attend your appointment with any dependants who are present in the UK that you wish to be part of your asylum claim. By dependant we mean your spouse or unmarried partner (an unmarried partner is defined as someone that you have been living with in a subsisting relationship akin to marriage or a civil partnership for two years or more) and your child/children (under 18).

When making your asylum claim it is essential that you bring with you:

Your passport and the passport(s) of your spouse and any dependants in the UK that you wish to be part of your claim.

Other identification documents which will help us to establish your identity and nationality: these may include, birth certificates, driving license, marriage certificates and any other national identity documents.

Any other documents that will support your claim.

Any medication you or your dependants are currently taking.

Any necessary items for young children (nappies, milk etc.)

Food/water due to the possible long waiting time.

Evidence of your accommodation:

If you are living in the UK, provide documentary evidence of your accommodation such as a tenancy agreement or recent utility bill (for example gas, electricity) showing your full name and UK address.

If you are living in someone else’s house, bring a letter (no older than 3 months) from the householder which says you can stay in their house and documentary evidence such as a utility bill showing the householder’s full name and address.

Note that it is your duty to provide us with all available documentation to substantiate your claim as soon as possible.

If you claimed asylum anywhere other than an Asylum Intake Unit and you do not have with you the documents listed above, you should give them to your asylum casework team as soon as possible following registration.

What happens when I arrive for my registration appointment?

Security check.

Every member of the public who enters the building must undergo a series of security checks, including of your baggage.

Reception desk

You will be greeted at the reception desk and asked some questions and to show your verification form.

Fingerprinting

Everyone that makes a claim for asylum must have their photograph and fingerprints taken.

Children under 5 years of age will not have their fingerprints taken.

Registration interview

You will be asked to confirm your personal details such as your name, date of birth and address.  You will also be asked briefly to outline why you are claiming asylum’.

The asylum registration interview is divided into several parts:

Basic questions about your identity and details of your family.

Questions about how you travelled to the United Kingdom and links to other countries.

Questions about whether you have any disabilities, medical or health conditions.

You will be asked why you left your country and reason you cannot return (requiring just a brief explanation).

Questions relating to any criminal offences and national security.

If you booked an appointment by telephone, you will be asked to confirm your personal details, family details, any medical conditions and other information gathered during the telephone booking.

Children do not have a registration interview, but where required they will have a welfare interview.

If you are unable to provide reliable evidence of your country or place of origin or we have reason to doubt your claimed nationality, we may ask you to undergo Language Analysis testing during your registration interview or when you are invited to your substantive interview. If you agree to this, you will be interviewed by a language expert over the telephone to help determine your country or region of origin and a report is then produced to help us establish your country of nationality. Failure to participate fully in the language analysis interview may undermine your claim to be a refugee and forms part of the evidence that is available for the consideration of your claim.

Your documentation

When all actions related to your registration appointment have been completed, your documents will be returned to you.

Accommodation

If you can stay with a friend or relative whilst your claim is considered you can apply for financial support to cover essential living items such as food, clothing and toiletries.

If you have requested and qualify for accommodation, you may have to wait for transportation. Do not leave until you have been issued your documents.

How long will my registration appointment last?

We aim to complete your registration appointment within four hours, however, there are occasions where it will take longer. You should bring anything you need, for example: medication, food/water and anything you need for any young children you have with you.

If you require accommodation and need transport to take you to initial accommodation your wait is likely to be longer. Whilst in the waiting area, listen for announcements that will keep you informed of any change to the waiting times during the day.

Will I be detained?

If it is decided that the UK is not obliged to decide your claim because another country has responsibility for considering it, then you may be detained.

If the UK has responsibility for considering your claim and you are suitable for detention under detention policy and other qualifying circumstances apply, then you may be detained and your asylum claim considered whilst you are detained.

You will be asked if there are any reasons why you should not be detained.

If you are detained, we will explain the detention processes to you in more detail and regularly review your suitability for detention. You will be able to apply for  immigration bail .

If you are not detained, and the UK is responsible for considering your claim we will allocate your case to an asylum decision making team. You will be able to contact this team if you have questions about the asylum process. If there is a change in circumstances, then your suitability for detention could be reviewed.

Application Registration Card (ARC)

When will i receive it.

The ARC is evidence that you have submitted an asylum claim in the UK. Once your asylum claim has been registered, your biometrics taken and we have your address details, we will send you an ARC.

If you move address, notify the Home Office immediately as failure to do so may lead to delays in receiving your ARC.    

You can update your address online by visiting www.visa-address-update.service.gov.uk .

Generally, the ARC will be delivered within a few working days. The ARC is not an identity card, but it will contain your personal details including your name, date of birth and nationality in addition to your photograph. Each of your dependants will have their own card. You may be asked for it when you access some services, such as registering with a doctor and interacting with the Home Office.

You can find further information on the ARC at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-registration-card-arc/application-registration-card-arc

Substantive asylum interview

When will i have my interview.

If we need to interview you to make a decision on your claim we will send you information about the date of your asylum interview in a letter. Your asylum interview will be conducted in private. If you have asked for either a male or female interviewing officer, then we will arrange this for you.

What can I expect at my asylum interview?

Your asylum interview is your opportunity to speak to us face to face (or via video conferencing). It is very important that you attend the interview. Decision Makers doing the interview are specially trained and are aware of how difficult it can be to talk about traumatic experiences, they will make it as sensitive and reassuring as possible. However, it is important that the information is shared in these interviews as this is your opportunity to give an account of all the reasons you left your country and why you are afraid of returning home. It is very important that you provide as much detail as possible.

We will interview you in your first language or a language that you are reasonably able to understand. The interview will be recorded, and you will receive a copy of your interview record. It is very important that you give us any evidence or information that you can to support your account at this time.

If you have further evidence you wish to submit after your asylum interview, you should do so within the timescale we give you and you should inform us and your legal representative if this will be a problem for you.

If your claim includes gender-based persecution, which is persecution you may have experienced because of your gender (for example domestic violence and/or abuse, forced marriage, ‘honour-based’ violence, Female Genital Mutilation, rape or other forms of sexual violence) we will ask about your experiences sensitively. You will not be asked for precise details about any sexual assaults. However, you may be asked about the events leading up to and following the assault if this is relevant to your asylum claim.

We recognise that if you are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or any other minority orientation or gender identity (or perceived to be), you may have experienced discrimination and/or persecution in your home country. You should be assured that we will treat your claim sensitively and will consider your statements against the objective country information (this is information collated from trusted sources).

If you have children, some offices provide partitioned family rooms or can provide childcare so that your children can be looked after whilst you are being interviewed. To check if this is available, contact the casework team handing your case.

How long will my asylum interview last?

The length of your asylum interview can vary and will depend on your asylum claim. It is advisable that you keep the day of your asylum interview free to allow sufficient time for the interview to be completed in full.

Can I bring anyone with me to my asylum interview for support?

You can bring your legal representative with you to this interview. If you are receiving free legal advice (known as Legal Aid), you should check with your legal representative if they will be able to attend or not.

If there are exceptional reasons, you may also wish to bring a friend, companion, or supporter with you for emotional, medical or spiritual support, particularly if you have suffered traumatic experiences or sexual violence. You should agree this with us before the interview. Note that this person will not be able to answer any questions for you.

 I cannot attend my interview

Interviews can only be postponed for reasons of ill health or other exceptional reasons. You should inform the asylum team as soon as possible if you think you may have a problem coming to your interview. You are expected to provide medical evidence of any illness from your doctor (GP), consultant or other appropriately qualified, regulated, relevant healthcare professional.

If you do not come to your asylum interview, we will write to you to find out why you did not attend. If you do not reply within 5 working days (24 hours if detained) providing an explanation why you were unable to attend for reasons beyond your control, your asylum claim will be withdrawn.

If your claim is recorded as withdrawn, we will not consider your asylum claim any further and you will be required to leave the UK.

Asylum decision

Who will decide my asylum claim.

A decision-maker will decide your asylum claim after your asylum interview. You should note that the person who interviewed you may be different from the person making the decision on your claim, in some circumstances a decision may be made without you having to complete a substantive interview. We will notify you of this decision in writing.

How long will it take to decide my asylum claim?

We will aim to make a decision on your claim as soon as possible, however, there may sometimes be delays. We will seek to prioritise claims based on individual circumstances.

Possible outcomes

Grant of refugee status.

If you are granted refugee status, you will also be granted permission to stay for a minimum of five years.  

During your period of limited leave, if there is a significant and non-temporary change in country conditions, it may be decided to review grants of refugee status. Your status may also be reviewed if we receive information relating to your actions that may mean you were not eligible to be granted refugee status, such as if your refugee status was obtained by misrepresentation.

Individuals granted refugee status can apply for settlement after five years on the protection route. Applications for settlement can be made one month before your grant of permission to stay expires.

Grant of Humanitarian Protection

If you do not qualify as a refugee under the 1951 Refugee Convention but it is accepted that you have a need for international protection, you will be granted Humanitarian Protection. If you are granted Humanitarian Protection, you will be granted permission to stay for a minimum of 5 years.

If there is a significant change of circumstances in the country you fled from during your initial grant of leave and you no longer require international protection, or if there is other evidence that shows that Humanitarian Protection is no longer appropriate, we may review your status.

Individuals granted Humanitarian Protection can apply for settlement after five years on the protection route. Applications for settlement can be made one month before your grant of permission to stay expires.

Grant of other leave

If you are not accepted as needing international protection but it is considered that there are reasons for allowing you to stay on a temporary basis, you will be granted Limited permission to stay. One month before your limited leave expires, you should contact the Home Office and make arrangements to leave the UK or apply for additional leave.

Integration assistance

If you are granted status (or permission to stay) in the UK, you will be provided with information to help you access your entitlements and assist with your integration into the UK. Migrant Help ( section 4 of this guidance ) will also be able to provide advice and support.

Biometric Residence Permit application

If you are granted status (or permission to stay) in the UK, you will be issued with a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). When you claim asylum, it is a legal requirement that you also apply for a BRP. You do this by confirming your personal details.

We may also need to take your fingerprints again. We will inform you If this is required.

Refusal of an asylum claim

If you are refused asylum, we will give you a letter explaining why. The letter will explain whether you have a right of appeal against this decision. If you disagree with the decision and are entitled to appeal, you will also receive information on how to appeal.

Requirement to leave the UK

If your asylum claim is withdrawn or we refuse your claim and you are at the end of any appeal process (or if you do not submit an appeal), you will be required to leave the UK. It is expected that you should leave the UK within 21 days. If you do not leave voluntarily, the Home Office will enforce your removal. If your removal is enforced, you will be banned from travelling to the UK for 10 years.

Voluntary Returns Service (VRS)

There is support available to you at all stages of the asylum process if you decide that you wish to return home as you no longer want to claim asylum in the United Kingdom. If you decide to make your own arrangements to leave the UK, you should inform the Home Office and your asylum claim can be closed. .

You can notify us directly or use the independent support services detailed within this guidance ( see section 4 – Getting advice and assistance ).

If you need support to return home, the Home Office voluntary returns service can help you to make arrangements to return home including help with financing your return and financial support of up to £3000 to help you after you have left the UK. For details about how to use the Home Office voluntary returns service visit  www.gov.uk/return-home-voluntarily .

To apply online you will need to provide your UK residential address and an email address.

To speak to the Home Office voluntary returns service, call 0300 004 0202 lines open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

Asylum support

Financial and accommodation support, am i entitled to asylum support.

When you claim asylum, we will ask you if you need accommodation. If you have nowhere to stay or insufficient funds to provide for your own accommodation, we will firstly accommodate you in what is called ‘initial accommodation’ (IA). Initial accommodation is housing that can be full-board, half- board, or self-catering. It is usually communal accommodation in a hostel-type environment or hotel but may be something else such as on a vessel.

Migrant Help ( migranthelpuk.org ) are an independent charity contracted to provide independent advice to asylum seekers by the Home Office. In addition to providing information and assistance about the asylum process (but not legal advice), they will assist you with a support application and any changes in circumstance, such as applying for subsistence only. See  section 4 of this guidance  for contact details for Migrant Help asylum services.

Whilst you are in initial accommodation, you will need to complete an asylum support application form (ASF1) which will be assessed to see if you qualify for support.

Checks will be made to see if you have your own income or assets. You will need to declare any resources that you have in the UK and abroad. A decision will be made on whether you should use them to fund your own living expenses.

If we accept that you qualify for accommodation (and financial support) you will be granted Section 95 support and await dispersal to longer term accommodation. The amount of time people stay in initial accommodation can vary before moving onto dispersal accommodation, but it could be significant. This means that you may be in initial accommodation for an extended period, and your accommodation may not consist of what would be considered a ‘conventional’ dwelling, like a house or flat. However, your provider and the Home Office will ensure that your needs are met during this time and any form of accommodation offered will be adequate for your purposes. If you consider that your needs are not being met, you should raise this with Migrant Help to look at how changes can be made to your accommodation.

If you need accommodation, it is offered on a no choice basis. We will not accommodate you in a specific location unless we consider you to have an exceptional need.

How long will asylum support be provided for?

Support can only be provided until a decision is made on your asylum claim and whilst an in-country appeal is pending. Separate rules apply if you have children.

Can I apply for support if I only need accommodation or only need financial support?

Yes. If you have accommodation, for example with a relative or friend who can provide you with a place to stay, you can stay with them and still apply for financial support for your day-to-day needs. If you have money or a regular income but no accommodation, you can apply for accommodation only.

What if my circumstances change?

You should advise us immediately if your circumstances change. You can notify us directly or use the independent support services detailed within this guidance ( see section 4 ). For example, if the relative or friend who you are staying with can no longer provide you with accommodation, you will be able to apply for accommodation and financial support.

What happens if I delay making my asylum claim?

If you delay making your asylum claim, your support application may be refused so you must make your asylum claim as soon as possible. The time between booking your appointment and attending the appointment will not count as a delay.

Am I liable for prosecution if I fail to disclose that I have funds?

When applying for asylum support you must tell the Home Office about any funds you have, either in the UK or elsewhere. This will be taken into account when we arrange support for you. Failure to disclose this information may result in prosecution. It is an offence to secure support through false or dishonest representations. When you apply for support you will have to agree to a credit check and databases (such as bank databases) will be checked.

Is additional asylum support available?

If you are pregnant or have children under the age of 4 and are in receipt of asylum support, you are entitled to receive additional payments for the purchase of supplementary foods.

More information on asylum support can be found at: Asylum support: Overview

Useful information

Getting advice and assistance, migrant help.

Migrant Help Asylum Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

They provide free independent advice, guidance and information on:

how to claim asylum

financial support

finding legal representation

the asylum process

accessing healthcare

accommodation support

any other asylum issues

Migrant Help cannot assist with ARC related issues.

Feel free to contact them for assistance. You can contact Migrant Help by:

webchat: https://ellis.custhelp.com/app/chat/chat_launch

raising and issue on their website: https://ellis.custhelp.com/app/ask/session

calling their freephone helpline on: 0808 8010 503

These services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and offer full interpreting service. Note: If you reside at Napier, Migrant Help personnel are available on site.

More information and translated advice in 10 languages is available on Migrant Help’s website  www.migranthelpuk.org .

Getting legal help

As well as Migrant Help, you might want to contact the following organisations for help finding legal representation:

Legal Aid Agency

GOV.UK Find an immigration adviser

Scottish Legal Aid Board

Law Society of Scotland

Law Society of Northern Ireland

Support available for people seeking asylum

If you have concerns about your physical or mental health, you may wish to, in the first instance, consider what support mainstream NHS can provide. Your asylum claim will not be affected by any illness or treatment you are receiving. You are entitled to see a doctor (GP) and have NHS provided hospital care without charge.

Find out more about physical and mental health support for people seeking asylum .

If you have funds of your own you may have to contribute to your healthcare costs by paying for your prescription medicines (England only). Prescription medicines in Scotland and Wales are free of charge. Further information is available at: NHS entitlements: migrant health guide .

Here is a list of other services, from the NHS and from non-governmental organisations, who provide information and support to migrants:

Refugee Action (England and Wales)

The Refugee Council (England and Wales)

Bryson Intercultural (Northern Ireland) , telephone: 028 9244 8447

Scottish Refugee Council (Scotland)

Help if you’re a child or young person

If you need to talk to someone about something that’s happening or something you are worried about:

Barnardo’s https://www.barnardos.org.uk/get-help

call Childline on 0800 1111

NSPCC on 08088005000

Tracing your family

If you have lost contact with your family, the Red Cross may be able to assist. We can refer you to the Red Cross, who will contact you to arrange an appointment. They have offices throughout the UK which can be found at: 

• the British Red Cross https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/get-help-as-a-refugee

Modern slavery

Modern slavery is a term that covers all forms of slavery, trafficking and exploitation. Trafficking includes transporting, recruiting or harbouring an individual with a view to them being exploited. Modern slavery crimes may involve, or take place alongside, a wide range of abuses and other criminal offences such as grievous bodily harm, assault, rape or child sexual abuse.

Victims of modern slavery can be men, women and children of any age across the world. 

To be considered a victim of human trafficking there must have been action (recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt) achieved by a means (threat or use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or vulnerability) for the purpose of exploitation (e.g. sexual exploitation, forced labour or domestic servitude, slavery, financial exploitation, illegal adoption, removal of organs).

For example, you may have been told you were coming to the UK to work legally, but once in the UK you have been forced to work as a domestic servant or as a prostitute, with threats of violence if you refused.

The National Referral Mechanism (known as the NRM) is the process by which people who may have been victims of modern slavery are identified, referred, assessed and supported in the United Kingdom.

The Salvation Army provides specialist support for all adult victims of modern slavery in the UK.

The confidential Referral Helpline 0800 808 3733 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to anyone who suspects that they, or someone they have come across, might be a victim of modern slavery in need of help.

You can also visit their websites for further information:

https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/modern-slavery/supporting-survivors

National referral mechanism guidance: adult (Northern Ireland and Scotland)

Help groups

Modern slavery helpline: http://www.modernslaveryhelpline.org/

Victim support: http://www.victimsupport.org.uk/

The Salvation Army: http://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/

The TARA project (Scotland): http://www.tarascotland.org.uk/ (female victims of sexual exploitation)

Migrant Help (Scotland): [email protected] (male and female victims)

Migrant Help (Northern Ireland): [email protected] (male victims of labour exploitation; female victims of labour exploitation can also be assisted if accompanying their male partner who is a victim of labour exploitation)

Belfast and Lisburn Women’s Aid (Northern Ireland): [email protected] (female victims of any exploitation)

Victims of torture

If you have been the victim of torture, you may need support from specialist organisations that work with torture victims. Freedom from Torture and the Helen Bamber Foundation are two charities, independent of the Home Office, that can provide medical and social care, practical assistance and psychological and physical therapy:

Freedom from Torture: http://www.freedomfromtorture.org/

Helen Bamber Foundation: http://www.helenbamber.org/

If you feel you are in need of assistance from one of these organisations, then your legal representative, your doctor (GP) or voluntary sector organisations can refer you to them. If you feel able to do so, you should also inform the officer who interviews you either at your asylum registration interview or at your substantive asylum interview.

Gender based violence and abuse

You may have suffered gender-based violence and/or abuse in your home country, in transit to the UK or whilst in the UK. This can include acts that inflict physical, mental or sexual harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion (threats made against you that made you feel like you had no choice) and other deprivations of liberty.

If you have experienced this type of violence and/or abuse, you should disclose such information as soon as possible. We want you to feel safe so that you can tell us about any rape, sexual violence or other harm that you have suffered either in your country of origin or here in the UK. If you feel unable to tell a Home Office official, speak to your legal representative. If the violence and/or abuse has taken place in the UK, you should contact the police. You can also contact one of the specialist organisations below for independent advice and support:

Rape crisis (England and Wales): http://www.rapecrisis.org.uk/

Rape crisis (Scotland): http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/

Survivors Trust: http://www.thesurvivorstrust.org/

Women’s Aid: http://www.womensaid.org.uk/

Men’s advice line: http://www.mensadviceline.org.uk/

Galop (for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender experiencing abuse): http://www.galop.org.uk/

FGM (Female Genital Mutilation)

FGM is the mutilation of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It is sometimes known as female circumcision, cutting or ‘sunna’. FGM is illegal in the UK. It is also illegal to arrange for a child to be taken abroad for FGM. Offenders face a large fine and a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

What can you do?

If you are worried about someone who is at risk of FGM or has had FGM after coming to the UK, then you must share this information with the police or with Social Services. It is their responsibility to investigate and protect any girls or women involved.

If you have been affected by FGM, you can contact Forward for information on the services available including one-to-one support:

Forward (Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development): https://www.forwarduk.org.uk/violence-against-women-and-girls/female-genital-mutilation/

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC): https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/female-genital-mutilation-fgm/  The NSPCC has a FGM helpline which is a free, anonymous 24-hour service - you can call the FGM helpline if you’re worried a child is at risk of, or has had, FGM.

Sexual and gender identity support

For advice, information and support if you identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or another minority orientation or gender identity you can contact:

• Rainbow Migration  https://www.rainbowmigration.org.uk/en

Living and working in the UK

Will i be given permission to work in the uk.

You are generally not allowed to work while your claim for asylum is being considered. However, if you have previously been given valid leave and Permission to Work in the UK, you should contact the asylum team considering your case to clarify whether you still have the right to work and whether there are any restrictions.

If we have not made a decision on your initial asylum claim after one year (and this delay is not attributed to you), you may request Permission to Work in certain job roles. This right will cease if your claim for asylum is finally determined as unsuccessful.

For more information on how to apply, see the  caseworker guidance on permission to work for asylum applicants .

Will I be able to undertake any voluntary work?

You may undertake voluntary activity for a registered charity or voluntary organisation. However, you should check with the asylum team considering your case before you volunteer, as there are exceptions to this position. The activity must not amount to unpaid employment or payment in kind (such as you are being given something other than money in exchange for working, including, for example, accommodation).

Criminal and anti-social behaviour

Criminal and/or anti-social behaviour is not tolerated in the UK. Action may be taken against you if you are found taking part in:

rowdy, nuisance or intimidating behaviour

vandalism or graffiti

begging, fighting, spitting or anti-social drinking

using or selling drugs

carrying illegal weapons

not following road safety laws

dumping rubbish or abandoning cars

The carrying of offensive weapons, such as a knives, may result in a prison sentence.

Violence and sexual offences are serious crimes that deeply affect the lives of victims and warrant significant prison sentences. The age of sexual consent in the UK is 16.

Smoking ban

It is illegal to smoke inside public buildings or enclosed public spaces and business premises (this includes restaurants, shops, buses, trams, trains and hospitals). You may be prosecuted and fined for smoking in public places.

Driving laws

As an asylum claimant you are not entitled to apply to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for a UK driving licence and you should not send your ARC to the DVLA to obtain a driving licence. Additionally, access to or ownership of a vehicle may affect your asylum support claim or ongoing support payments.

Driving laws in the UK may be different from those in your home country. If you have access to a vehicle, you must:

have a current and valid driving licence

have current and valid insurance cover allowing you to drive the vehicle

have a current and valid MOT certificate for the vehicle – which means the vehicle is safe to drive

have current and valid road tax for the vehicle

abide by UK traffic laws and drive on the left-hand side

Driving without any of the above is against the law. You could also be prosecuted if you drive a vehicle under the influence of alcohol (over the legal limit) or drugs, or if you use a mobile phone while driving.

Your asylum claim will not be affected by any illness or treatment you are receiving. You are entitled to see a doctor (GP) and have National Health Service (NHS) provided hospital care without charge. You may also receive free NHS prescriptions, dental and optical care.

You can check if you are eligible for NHS help with health cost HC2 certificates: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-low-income-scheme/hc2-certificates-full-help-health-costs

Note that if you have resources of your own you may have to contribute to your healthcare costs by paying for your prescription medicines (England only). Prescription medicines in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are free of charge.

If you think that you may have tuberculosis (TB) or any other contagious disease, virus or infection you should seek medical assistance straight away.

Medical emergencies

If you require an ambulance for a medical emergency, that is a serious threat to life, then you should telephone 999 or 112 for the emergency services (ambulance, fire and police). Calls to emergency services are free of charge from a landline or mobile telephone. Always call 999 or 112 if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. Where you need medical help in non-emergency situations you can call 111.

Disability care needs

If you have a disability or special care need, you can contact your local Social Services to request a community care assessment. The local authority may decide to offer you accommodation and support.

Find your local council: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council

If any of your dependants are of compulsory school age, they must go to school. The compulsory age for a child to start full time education in the UK is the start of the autumn school term after the child’s fifth birthday. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland compulsory education continues until the year the person is 16 (when someone can leave depends when their birthday occurs). In England, young people are required to be in school or training until they are 18. Further information can be found here: School leaving age

Reporting crime and emergency numbers

If you are the victim of a crime or if you have witnessed a crime, it is important that you report it to the police who will help you. You can go to your local police station or telephone 999 or 112 for emergency services and request police assistance for urgent help, for non-urgent issues you can contact the police on 101. Non urgent crimes can also be reported online.

For further information on reporting crime: https://www.gov.uk/contact-police

Harassment is any unwelcome or hostile act carried out towards you and includes verbal or physical threats, abuse, or violence. If someone threatens you or has harmed you because of your age, a disability, your nationality, race, gender, gender reassignment, religion, belief, or sexual orientation you should report the incident to:

your local police station

your accommodation provider (if you are housed by the Home Office)

your asylum casework team who can help you contact the police or an accommodation provider

you should also inform your legal representative and/or the advisory services for asylum seekers

Domestic violence and abuse

Domestic violence and/or abuse is a criminal offence in the UK. It is defined as any threatening behaviour, violence, or abuse (physical, sexual, emotional or financial) between adults who are, or were, in a relationship together or between family members, regardless of gender, age or sexuality. If you are the victim of domestic violence, be aware that it is safe to report it.

Anything you tell us will not be passed on without your consent. Your identity and those of your dependants will be protected. You have choices about the types of protection you and your dependants receive. We will move you and your dependants into alternative accommodation.

Information can be provided by your accommodation provider (if accommodated by UK Visas and Immigration) and the advisory services for asylum seekers about how to get the support you need.

The following people or organisations will be able to assist you and your dependants to seek help and protection:

your asylum casework team

your legal representative

Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline: https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/

We take complaints seriously. Our aim is to resolve complaints fairly and quickly. We will take steps to put things right when they have gone wrong and to learn lessons on how to improve our service. If you have a complaint, it will not affect your asylum claim. The procedure for making a complaint depends on the type of complaint that you want to make. You can make a complaint in person or in writing. You can pick up a leaflet from one of our public offices or read our complaints procedure at : https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration/about/complaints-procedure

Frequently asked questions

What if i don’t have evidence to prove my age.

If you claim to be under 18 years of age but your physical appearance and demeanour very strongly suggest you are significantly over 18, we will consider your asylum claim under adult procedures. If we do not think that you are significantly over 18 but we doubt you are the age you claim to be, you will be afforded the benefit of the doubt and treated as a child pending further consideration of your age, which may include a holistic Social Worker-led Age Assessment.

If you disagree with our decision to treat you as an adult, you may approach your Local Authority’s Children’s Services department who will decide whether a further assessment of your age is required.

What happens to my asylum claim if I travel abroad?

Your asylum claim will normally be considered as withdrawn if you leave the UK without first seeking our agreement.

How do I contact the Home Office?

We will give you contact numbers and addresses at which you can contact us. You are also required to keep us informed of your address and of any changes of address. You can update your address online by visiting www.visa-address-update.service.gov.uk . If you do not keep the Home Office up to date with your contact details your claim may be withdrawn.

Will I need to report to the Home Office?

If you did not have permission to enter or stay in the UK when you claimed asylum and you are not detained you will be given an Immigration Bail form, which will inform you of the bail conditions. You may be asked to attend reporting events as one of the conditions. You must make sure you follow any conditions you are given, as you may be committing an offence if you do not, you may be detained and or your asylum claim may be withdrawn.

If you still had Leave to Remain when you claimed asylum, then your conditions will be stated on the form IS248. If you do not follow your conditions, you may be detained. If you fail to attend a reporting event your asylum claim may also be withdrawn.

What if I wish to return home?

The Voluntary Returns Service (VRS) is available to support you at all stages of the asylum process if you decide that you wish to return home as you no longer want to claim asylum in the United Kingdom.

If you decide to make your own arrangements to leave the UK then you should inform the Home Office so that any documents can be returned to you and your asylum claim can be closed.

You can notify us directly or use the independent support services detailed within this guidance ( see section 4 – Getting help and assistance to notify us).

If you need support to return home then the Home Office voluntary returns service can help you to make arrangements to return home including help with financing your return and financial support for when you arrive.

For details about how to use the Home Office voluntary returns service visit  www.gov.uk/return-home-voluntarily

To speak to the Home Office voluntary returns service call 0300 004 0202 (lines open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm).

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They fled violence and poverty. Now, in Florida, asylum seekers face an endless wait

In recent years, a record number of immigrants have entered the U.S. and sought asylum. Instead of relief, they're met with a staggering backlog and uncertain future.

Editor's note: In this story, we’re not using the full names of asylum seekers, so we don’t jeopardize their asylum claims.

At 4 a.m., with only the light of a full moon, Maria, her mother and 1-year-old daughter, waded across the Rio Grande, a natural barrier between Mexico and the U.S.

After weeks of travel from their home in Venezuela, the three finally set foot on U.S. soil in Del Rio, Texas. With a group of other migrants, they turned themselves in to border patrol agents, with hopes of claiming asylum.

“It was scary for me,” Maria said, not knowing if she’d be able to protect her mother and daughter on the journey.

But what gave her comfort was the people around her — immigrants from various countries who all shared “the same dream.”

“When you find so many people in your same condition, it makes it easier,” she said.

Maria and her family arrived in the U.S. in December of 2021 — the tail end of a year where encounters at the southern border reached record highs . Many of them, like her, fled a mix of violence, poverty and political instability, risking their lives to come to the U.S. to apply for asylum. The protection allows them to stay in the country and opens up a pathway to citizenship.

But a large number of asylum seekers may not receive it or at least wait years not knowing what the outcome will be. Over a million individuals are waiting for their day in immigration court , stuck in a historic backlog.

But that uncertainty, at least, comes with hope – something Maria didn’t have in Venezuela.

The COVID-19 pandemic had exacerbated Venezuela's spiraling economy . Maria, who was an accountant, watched the businesses she worked for shut down one by one. She opened her own beauty supply store, but gang members asked her and other store owners to pay up.

“It was like extortion all the time,” she said.

Maria earned $40 a week, barely enough to cover the cost of her newborn daughter’s baby formula. She couldn’t afford groceries or her mother’s medication. Leaving was the only option, she said.

“When you have to start selling things from home … you have to sell the computers or sell the cars so you can keep the house, you realize that it’s not going to be better,” she said.

Maria had relatives in the Tampa Bay area and set her sights on the U.S. On their journey, she paid smugglers , immigration officials and law enforcement to let them make their way north. Sometimes she couldn’t tell the difference between them.

“They ask you for money, they ask you all the time, and that’s the scary part,” she said.

More than 7.7 million Venezuelans have left the country in the last decade, making it one of the largest displacement crises in the world . Most have escaped to neighboring Latin American countries like Colombia, Peru, Brazil and Chile.

But nearly 550,000 have settled in the U.S., and Florida is one of the top destinations . The Tampa Bay-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area is home to one of the largest Venezuelan communities.

Upon their arrival in Tampa, Maria and her mother applied for asylum. By law, they’re required to submit their application within a year of their entry into the U.S. And, after 150 days, Maria was able to request a work permit and begin earning a living for her family.

But three years later, she has yet to see an immigration judge. She doesn’t even have a court date.

Typically, those who arrive at the border are given a Notice To Appear in court, signaling that they’ve been placed in removal proceedings. Their application for asylum is then used as a defense against their deportation. But amid an influx of arrivals, some people like Maria were not assigned an initial court appearance.

At the immigration office in Tampa, Maria said she scrolled endlessly through the portal looking for an appointment.

“I scroll, scroll, scroll, scroll, and 2040 and I couldn't find an appointment…and you will get to 2050 and you will not find,” Maria said. “It’s like a lottery.”

For the moment, Maria is in limbo. When she asked immigration officials what to do, they told her:

“Well, you are not in the system yet, but you are here. They allow you to be here,” she recalls them saying, “So you just have to be good and appreciate everything at least.”

Maria said she believes in the process and she just has to be patient. For now, she found work at a screen printing shop in St. Petersburg. Her daughter will be in kindergarten next year, and she’s finally getting a hearing aid for her mom, a task that was all but impossible in Venezuela.

“This is the kind of life I want for my family right now,” she said.

She can only hope for the future too.

A broken system

An endless wait is the reality for many asylum seekers.

Florida, which has immigration courts in Orlando and Miami, tops the nation in the backlog, with about 178,000 pending cases. It will take about four years before asylum seekers even see an immigration court judge, on par with the national average, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University.

Jean Espinoza, an immigration lawyer in Lakeland, remembers a time when the crushing backlog didn’t exist.

“Before 2010 [if you] file for asylum, you will get your interview in three or four months. Their goal was to interview you before the five month window,” said Espinoza.

But since then, asylum case filings have climbed fairly steadily, save for a drop in 2021 following decreased migration due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the following year, new filings shot back up to a record high of 256,000, more than seven times the number in 2010.

The reasons why people are coming to the U.S. in record numbers are complicated. Many are fleeing humanitarian crises caused by political upheaval, natural disasters and poverty. Because there are few legal pathways to the country, many of those migrants seek to enter the country through the asylum process .

To quell the surge straining the border and overwhelming the immigration system, the Biden administration introduced severe restrictions in June , barring most who cross the border between ports of entry, like Maria did, from claiming asylum.

Since then, it’s led to a drop in new cases in immigration court . But unless there is comprehensive immigration reform, deterrence policies are a stop gap solution that don’t last long and fail to address the root causes of migration, according to immigration attorneys and advocates .

“I don't even know how they're going to resolve this backlog issue because there are not enough officers, there are not enough judges, not enough private practitioner lawyers,” said Espinoza, “I mean, that system has just collapsed.”

'Everything is destroyed, broken'

One of Espinoza’s clients, Lisandro, received asylum in 2023. He calls it a blessing.

We’re not using Lisandro’s full name because he still has family members in Venezuela, who may face persecution.

Lisandro was a successful mechanical engineer working in the oil industry, the source of the country’s once prosperous economy before the authoritarian regime took over. He watched as institutions like his alma mater, Zulia University , fell into disrepair. Nationwide power outages threw Venezuelans into periods of darkness. People were afraid to step out at night and risk being robbed or kidnapped.

Lisandro frequently posted his critiques of the government on social media.

“My ideas, my own way, I don’t want to change that. Never,” said Lisandro.

But voicing opposition can get you killed . One day, a friend in the army tipped him off – that his name was circulating amongst those working for President Nicolás Maduro. That’s when he and his family decided to leave.

“Only one suitcase per person and run away to U.S.A.” he said. “We left everything behind.”

They flew to Miami on a tourist visa, obtained before the U.S. shut down its embassy in Venezuela in 2019 when diplomatic relations between the two countries withered.

Settling in the Orlando area, Lisandro and his family applied for asylum, detailing the fear and political repression they experienced in their home country. Three years later, they were granted relief.

With asylum, Lisandro and his family can apply for a green card after a year to become lawful permanent residents.

Through tears, Lisandro recounted how some family members were not as lucky. A brother-in-law had hung himself to escape threats and scrutiny from the government. Some of his relatives who had made it to Florida as well have been waiting for an answer on their asylum claim for nine years.

He’s not sure what they would go back to. Everything in that country “is destroyed, is broken,” Lisandro said.

“I needed a better life for my family,” he said. “U.S.A is that place. I love U.S.A.”

Amid the wait, they build a life here

In the halls of the Christ Central Presbyterian Church in Tampa, children run after each other in a game of tag and call out in Spanish. Their parents sit at tables, eating a meal of pork paleta, plantains and rice prepared by a local nonprofit.

The Hispanic Services Council hosts a weekly workshop for Spanish-speaking families, teaching them how to navigate the public school system, healthcare and social services.

This community has grown over the years, partly due to immigration from overseas.

Edgar is here with his son, daughter-in-law and grandson. He was a former university professor, who fled Venezuela in 2018 when the government started cracking down on the school’s faculty union protests.

He was able to enter the U.S. with a tourist visa and apply for asylum, which he’s still waiting for. However, in the meantime, Edgar was able to receive temporary protected status or TPS, a designation that lets him stay in the U.S. temporarily because of conditions in a person’s home country.

With that protection, Edgar was able to bring his son’s family to the U.S. this February through parole , which allows them to stay for up to two years.

That brought relief, he said. His five-year-old grandson Matias needed medical treatment for a genetic condition. But in Venezuela, just the diagnostic test would have cost ten months of pay. Here in Tampa, Edgar and his son, Edwin, a former engineer, were able to find work as electricians and pay for Matias's medical needs.

But without something more stable, Edgar said, nothing is guaranteed.

“It’s temporary, all temporary,” Edgar said in Spanish. “The [U.S.] government can change, the politics and laws can change.”

He and over 240,000 other Venezuelans with TPS depend on whether the Department of Homeland Security decides to extend the designation, which currently ends in 2025.

Edwin and his wife say they hope to stay in the U.S. longer with work visas, but they’re not sure if that will pan out.

As Edgar waits for his asylum case to wind through the system, he worries about the outcome of this fall's presidential election and how immigration policies and enforcement can change under a new administration.

“It’s very clear who is and who is not in favor of the Latino community,” he said.

Asylum decisions depend on many factors, including the details of a person's case and the officer or court judge’s interpretation of whether it meets the threshold outlined in asylum law . But win rates can fluctuate under different administrations as well. During former president Donald Trump's term, asylum grant rates fell significantly .

Edgar kissed the top of Matias's forehead. The most important thing is seeing his family together, he said.

In the six years they were separated, he missed the birth of his grandson in Venezuela, something he’ll always regret. Now, holding him in his arms, he said he can’t bear the thought of missing anything else.

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

• What Is Cinema?

Who Needs Batman When We Have The Penguin ?

Backhanded as it may be, it’s a compliment to the new crime drama The Penguin (premiering on HBO on September 19) that it barely feels like a franchise offshoot. The series is a spin-off of Matt Reeves ’s 2022 film The Batman , yet another reimagining of Gotham City and its various heroes and villains. But save for a few references here and there, The Penguin —from creator Lauren LeFranc —mostly plays as its own thing entirely, a chewy and gratifying underworld saga with a half-righteous politics at its heart.

The titular character is not an umbrella wielding, whimsically rotund dandy named Oswald Cobblepot, as he has long been in the Batman world. He is now Oz Cobb, a shambling golem of a man, coarse and ruthless as he tries to claw his way to the top of Gotham’s criminal hierarchy. He is played, as he was in The Batman , by a heavily made-up Colin Farrell , a mighty act of physical transformation complemented by Farrell’s more analog shifts in voice and bearing. It’s a big, engaging performance, mesmerizing in both its broad gestures and its careful detail.

Oz is probably a sociopath, yet he is capable of old-school neighborhood charm. He’ll rough up a politician and then help him back out of a tight parking spot. He’ll come very close to killing a meddlesome street kid, Victor ( Rhenzy Feliz ), but at the last minute decide instead to take him under his wing, acting as if the suddenly vanished mortal threat was really no big deal at all. Time and again, we see his remorseless villainy pasted over with regular-guy affability, either a calculating strategy or representative of a genuine conflict between morality and a howling void.

To further complicate the portraiture, there is the matter of Oz’s mother, Francis (the great Deirdre O’Connell ), a senile old battleax to whom Oz is intensely devoted. She may be the last thing truly tethering Oz to the realm of decency, though their relationship is anything but pleasant—as is thoroughly, perhaps exhaustively explicated as The Penguin ’s wears on.

The series is a tangle of plots. At first it seems that Victor’s protege narrative will occupy center stage, but then he fades into the background so Oz can tend to his mommy issues. And so a formidable antagonist can emerge: Sophia Falcone, the addled scion of a mob family newly released from Arkham Asylum, played with tic and purr by Cristin Milioti . She, like Oz, is a baddie of complex emotional shading. Sophia has been grievously wronged in her life, but has chosen to process all that pain by doubling down on her family’s wickedness.

Sophia and Oz are vying for control in a Gotham ravaged by the events of The Batman . The climactic floods of that film have destroyed a downtrodden neighborhood, and a drug war is being fought on multiple fronts. There is opportunity in that bedlam, which Oz hopes to exploit. He and Sophia both adopt a populist platform in trying to rally gangs to their cause. The Penguin imagines a sort of proletariat of the criminal class, rising up to reclaim their autonomy from the syndicate oligarchs. It’s a nifty trick, a rousing allusion to real-world debate couched in gangster pulp.

The Penguin is a clever show, shrewdly balancing gritty violence with melodrama, social commentary with wry humor. Its failings lie in its hungry ambition to tell too many stories at once. Characters either get lost in that narrative thicket, or are forced to change motivational course on a dime. One craves a more solid, concentrated arc for the season, one that would make the finale’s grim payoff that much more satisfying. A lot of plot is burned through in eight episodes; one wonders where the show could possibly go next, should Farrell agree to go on the arduous prosthetic journey for another tour of duty.

While that is no doubt an ordeal, one hopes Farrell will agree to go through it all over again. He gives an endlessly compelling performance, well matched by his co-stars—particularly O’Connell, Milioti, and an underused Carmen Ejogo as Oz’s sorta girlfriend. They all richly inhabit the show’s well-articulated version of Gotham, a morass of tribes and cultures scrambling to survive amid the entropy of all things.

The series almost certainly could have flourished on its own, unconnected from the I.P. lore that got it made in the first place. It doesn’t exhibit the same synergistic strain that bears down so heavily on the Marvel shows that have cluttered Disney+ in the last four years. Here is where D.C. finally finds its perhaps accidental advantage: its scattered mythology, its myriad stops and starts and reinventions, have created gaps through which creative thinking can sneak in. If The Penguin had to act tightly in service of a larger narrative, I doubt it would have as much snap and personality as it does. Which may be the Penguin’s dream realized: from chaos comes order.

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