The Asylum Process
For information on the UK’s asylum law, immigration system and decision making process.
Right to Remain have also produced this very helpful video guide explaining the asylum appeal process for anyone going through it:
Asylum Applications and Christian Belief
Many people seek asylum in the UK on the grounds that they fear persecution as Christians or as converts to Christianity in their country of origin. Some may have entered the UK as Christians or have experienced a conversion to Christianity after they have arrived. Some of these worship in our local churches and participate in the life of the congregation.
As a result, ministers and members of our congregations are confronted, possibly for the first time, with the complexities of the asylum process. Some ministers are called to testify at hearings as to the genuineness of an applicant’s Christian faith.
This briefing offers some general guidance for ministers called to give evidence in support of asylum applications. Although the scenario refers to a URC congregation, this guidance is intended to be used by all denominations – please adapt it to your individual circumstance.
This briefing was last updated in May 2018 in order to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information:
Asylum applications and Christian belief
The Nationality and Borders Bill (2021)
The Joint Public Issues Team invite you to join a mailing list to be kept up to date about developments around the Nationality and Borders Bill. Just send us an email to let us know you’d like to receive updates.
Following the Government’s consultation this year on a ‘New Plan for Immigration’, the Nationality and Borders Bill has been introduced in Parliament. If passed, this Bill would have a major effect on the way the country responds to those in need of sanctuary.