Housing Surgeries

Streamlined Asylum Process (SAP) and Asylum Legacy Cases (Non-SAP)

On 23 February 2023, the Home Office introduced a new ‘streamlined asylum processing’ policy, where some people seeking asylum will have to complete a questionnaire instead of having an interview. 

This policy applies to adults from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Libya, Syria and Yemen who claimed asylum on or before 7 March 2023, or from Sudan who claimed asylum on or after 28 June 2022, and who have not had an asylum substantive interview.

There is also a new Asylum Legacy Cases process which currently applies to Iraqi and Iranian nationals who claimed asylum before 28 June 2022 but have yet to receive a decision from the Home Office.

We are working with the Council and Southwark Law Centre, Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers, Panjshir Aid and Southwark Refugee Communities Forum, to assist people who need help to complete these questionnaires.

Streamlined Asylum Processing – Important Information

If you are a national of Afghanistan, Eritrea, Libya, Syria or Yemen who submitted a claim for asylum on or before 7 March 2023; or a national of Sudan who claimed asylum on or after 28 June 2022, and have not received a decision on your claim, you may be contacted by the Home Office asking you to complete an Asylum Claim Questionnaire.

It is very important that you complete this form and return it back to the Home Office as soon as possible. Please be aware that it may be possible to apply to the Home Office for an extension on the deadline. You should contact your legal representative if you have one.

Asylum Legacy Cases – Important Information for Iraqi and Iranian nationals

If you claimed asylum on or before 28 June 2022 but have yet to receive a decision from the Home Office, and you are not a national of Afghanistan, Eritrea, Libya, Syria or Yemen, you may in due course be contacted by the Home Office asking you to complete a questionnaire. The government has stated they intend to clear this backlog of cases (the “legacy cases”) by the end of 2023.

Please note that these legacy cases, other than from the 5 nationalities listed above (and also Sudan in certain circumstances), are not part of the Streamlined Asylum Process. The government has stated that the first nationalities this process will apply to are Iraqi and Iranian nationals.

If a questionnaire form is provided to you, it is very important that you complete it and return it back to the Home Office as soon as possible. Please be aware that it may be possible to apply to the Home Office for an extension on the deadline. You should contact your legal representative if you have one.

Advice Line

Free Phone: 08082787849

Opening hours:

9:30am – 4:30pm Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays

9:30am – 7:00pm Tuesdays

Streamlined Asylum Process (SAP) Leaflets in Arabic, Amharic, Tigrinya, Pashto, Dari

Asylum Legacy Case (Non-SAP) Leaflets in Arabic, Farsi, Kur Badini, Kurd Sorani

If you currently live in Southwark and are struggling to access legal help to complete these questionnaires, or you are worried because you have not yet received the Questionnaire, please contact Citizens Advice Southwark