Your ability to travel may be limited during specific stages of the procedure, such as while the Home Office is reviewing your application.
The Home Office is under no obligation to continue reviewing your asylum claim if you leave the United Kingdom while it is being processed. You might have your asylum benefits cut off as if you decided to withdraw your claim, or they could reject it for reasons of noncompliance (in the latter case, you have a right of appeal).
Even if you are granted refugee status, you might not be free to go wherever you wish. Asylum seekers are generally not allowed to travel; however, there are some general considerations to keep in mind.
Under paragraph 334(i) of the Immigration Rules, asylum cannot be granted if you are not in the UK or at a UK port of entry.
Can I go back to My home country after receiving Refugee Status?
After receiving refugee status, many people long to travel back to their homeland for a visit with friends and relatives. Unfortunately, if you go back to your home country, you can lose your refugee status in the UK.
Keep in mind the explanations you presented to the Home Office about why you needed refuge. You probably told the Secretary of State that you were in grave danger if you went back to your native country, or that you were afraid to go back home for one reason or another. Because of this, you will have informed the Secretary of State that you do not feel comfortable returning to your home country or even specific third countries linked to the same danger or terror you experienced in your home country. To sum up, the UK’s Home Office must be convinced of two things before granting asylum: (a) that you have a genuine, subjective fear of persecution or apprehension of future harm; and (b) that, objectively, there is a reasonable degree of likelihood (or a real risk) of your fear being well-founded (i.e., likely to come true) on return to your home country.
You should think about if visiting a specific country would negate your previous argument. Since the Home Office may conclude that you no longer require the UK to protect you from your perceived danger, they may revoke your refugee status on the grounds that you no longer have it.
In exceptional circumstances, the Home Office may grant you permission to travel abroad; however, you must submit your request in writing. If you are seeking special permission to travel, your asylum status in the United Kingdom will be considered along with the reasons you need to return to your home country.
I have been granted refuge; After my asylum case is resolved, what kinds of documentation will I need to travel?
Once you have been given refugee status in the United Kingdom in whatever capacity, you have the opportunity to apply for a Travel document if there is a possibility that you will no longer have access to a passport from your home country. For instance, if you have a reasonable concern that the national authorities of your home country may persecute you, you might not be able to get a passport for your home country. The Home Office will be familiar with such situations and will be able to provide you with a Certificate of Travel in accordance with the requirements outlined in paragraph 344C of the Immigration Rules.
How do I obtain Travel Documents?
You may also be eligible for a Travel document if you can demonstrate that you have been formally and arbitrarily denied a passport by the home country. This is required in order for you to be eligible for the Certificate.
The vast majority of the time, your travel document will grant you permission to travel to most places in the globe, with the exception of your own country. Depending on the specifics of your personal situation, there is a possibility that there are some nations that are not covered by your travel document. One example of such a nation is any third nation in which you might also have a rational fear of travelling.
This information is provided solely for the purpose of providing general information and in no way purports to be exhaustive or to offer professional legal advice. While every effort is made to ensure that the information and the law are up to date as of the date of publication, it should be emphasised that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. This is because every effort is made to ensure that the information and the law are current as of the date of publication. We are not responsible for any losses that may be incurred as a result of accessing the material provided in this blog or relying on the information contained in this blog. Only in accordance with a formal agreement that is clearly labelled as such, signed by both the client and us (either personally or on its behalf), is legal advice.
