IMMIGRATION
If you need help with an immigration problem, search for your nearest Immigration Advisor or contact your nearest Citizens Advice for free and confidential advice.
Your local Citizens Advice might be able to help you with issues like:
problems with coming to the UK or staying in the UK - for example, leave to remain or residence permits
becoming a British citizen - also known as ‘naturalisation’
your right to work, claim benefits & use public services in the UK
getting replacement immigration documents
COVID-19: STAYING LONGER IN THE UK
If your visa expires before the 31 July 2020, you must contact the Home Office
You will be allowed to stay in the UK until the 31 July 2020 if you can’t leave because of travel restrictions or self-isolation.
You must request an extension by updating your records with the Coronavirus Immigration Team (CIT) if your visa is expiring and you cannot leave the UK at present but are not planning to stay in the UK in the long term.
If you have immigration queries related to coronavirus, contact the Coronavirus Immigration Help Centre.
IRREGULAR MIGRANTS
WHAT ARE YOU OPTIONS
IF YOU'RE IN THE UK ILLEGALLY?
If you're living in the UK illegally, you might be able to apply to make your stay legal. You’ll be living here illegally if you came to the UK without permission or your permission to stay has expired.
The best thing you can do is seek out legal advice.
Whether you can legalise your status remain in the UK will depend on your circumstances, but you might be able to apply to rectify your situation if:
returning to your home country would be dangerous i.e. threat of persecution, war etc.
you’ve got a partner who has a right to stay in the UK
you’ve got children in the UK, especially if they're British citizens, settled or have been in the UK for 7 years or more
your last visa was as a partner and you've suffered domestic abuse at the hands of the partner related to your visa
If you can't stay, you might be able to get help from the government to arrange and pay for your journey back to your home country. This is known as making a 'voluntary return'.
JOINT COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF IMMIGRANTS
If you are in the UK without status and need legal advice, the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants provides free and confidential advice to people living in the UK illegally Their helpline is open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10AM and 1PM.
MIGRANT HELP UK
Migrant Help provides advice, guidance and support to asylum seekers, refugees and victims of modern-day slavery and human trafficking. They operate a freephone 24-hour asylum helpline.
VOLUNTARY RETURNS SERVICE
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LOCAL SERVICES
JESUIT REFUGEE SERVICE UK
JRS UK works to accompany, serve and advocate for the rights of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons. They operate a Day Centre and Detention Outreach Services.
The Day Centre is a service for destitute asylum seekers who are not eligible for and do not receive asylum support. For help and support from the Day Centre, you first need to book an appointment by calling the number above to register with their services.
They also meet with detainees at Colnbrook and Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centres near Heathrow. You can request a visitor who will come on a regular basis or a pen-befriender who will write letters to you. You can ask to see a member of the Detention Outreach staff on Wednesday afternoons at IRC Colnbrook for additional support and guidance to additional services.
NOTRE DAME REFUGEE CENTRE
NDRC assists refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented migrants and other human rights applicants who are in the UK seeking protection or who need other immigration advice through their drop-in services, classes and activities.
The immigration advice and housing welfare benefits advice drop-in services are available on Mondays and Thursdays from 8:30AM. Counselling from a qualified individual is also available on these two days. All services are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Alternatively, you can contact the advice line above on Fridays between 10.30AM - 1.30PM.
Additional services include a drop-in cafe, a weekly drop-in health clinic, and a monthly doctors advice session, English classes, IT support, employment support and creative activities.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
IF YOU SUSPECT (MODERN DAY SLAVERY) OR THINK YOU’RE A VICTIM
CALL THE POLICE
Call 999 if it’s an emergency, or 101 if it’s not urgent.
If you’d prefer to stay anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
If you don’t want to call the police you can talk to a charity anonymously.
There are a number of specialist organisations you can contact:
MODERN SLAVERY HELPLINE
0800 012 1700
The Modern Slavery Helpline, operated by UnseenUK helps raise awareness of the issue and provides an ongoing central point of contact for anyone wanting to access information, advice and support relating to all aspects of modern slavery. The number is free to call and is available 24/7. Reports can also be submitted online and via their App.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING FOUNDATION
0203 773 2040
The Foundation has worked with the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner and ATLEU to map support services for survivors of trafficking in the UK.
For more information refer to the awareness guidance produced by the Home Office.
Please note this has nothing to do with tracking and is simply extra guidance.