New Refugee "Move-on" Guide

Congratulations!

You have been granted refugee status, humanitarian protection or discretionary leave to remain (Permission to Stay). You can now:

• work
• study
• claim social security benefits

It is your responsibility to make sure that you understand your entitlements and responsibilities while living in Northern Ireland/UK.

You must obey the law and abide by any requirements placed upon you by the agencies you engage with, such as the Jobs & Benefits Office or the NI Housing Executive. It is your responsibility to update them of changes to your circumstances.

When a positive decision has been made on your asylum claim:

You will receive an Asylum Decision Letter from the Home Office telling you that you have been granted permission to stay in the UK. You should read this letter and keep it safe as it contains a lot of useful information. Your letter will explain:

• • What your immigration status is
  • How long your status lasts for
  • What you can do e.g. work, claim benefits
  • How to access your eVisa

You will receive a “discontinuation of support” letter from Home Office and you will be told that your asylum support (money & accommodation) will stop on “X” date.

You will receive a letter from Mears, sometimes called a Notice To Quit or a Notice To Vacate, telling you that you must leave your accommodation by “X” date.

If Mears ask you to leave your accommodation before you have accessed your eVisa, you can contact the Home Office and ask them to reinstate your support until you are able to access your eVisa. See ‘End of Support‘ section.

You will receive a “discontinuation of support” letter advising you that your asylum support (Mears accommodation & Aspen payments) will stop.

From 9th December 2024, the Home Office have temporarily extended the length of time given to a newly granted refugee or person with humanitarian protection to leave their Mears accommodation. The move-on period is now 56 days (instead of 28) from the date on the Asylum Decision Letter. You should try to access your eVisa before you leave asylum accommodation.

When you receive your Notice To Quit (vacate) your Mears accommodation you should have at least 7 days’ notice as outlined in the Asylum Support Regulations 2000.

If you receive a Notice to Quit but you have not been able to access your eVisa, or there are errors in your eVisa you should:

1. contact the Resolution Centre and/or report the eVisa error (see ‘Errors in the eVisa‘ section)
2. ask Home Office to reinstate your asylum support until the issue is resolved: reinstatements@homeoffice.gov.uk

Your responsibilities

Now you must urgently:

• find accommodation (see ‘Housing‘ section)
• secure an income (see ‘Social Security‘ and ‘Work‘ sections)
• open a bank account (see ‘Bank Account‘ section)

If you need support or advice with these processes you can contact Extern (if you are in Belfast) or Red Cross Refugee Support (if you are outside Belfast).

eVisa

(Check our eVisa Guide for more information).

An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status and the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK.

The Home Office stopped producing Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) on 31^st October 2024. This means that if you were granted refugee status, humanitarian protection or discretionary leave to remain from 1st November 2024, you will not receive a Biometric Residence Permit.

Instead, the Home Office will create a UKVI (eVisa) account for you. Your Asylum Decision Letter will explain that the Home Office will send you details on how to log in to your new UKVI account in order to access your eVisa.

Within 14 days of receiving your Asylum Decision Letter you should receive an email or a letter containing your UKVI customer number (e.g. KX12345678) and instructions on accessing your account. If you do not receive it, check with your legal representative. If it has not been received you should contact the eVisa Resolution Centre on 0300 790 6268 or +44 (0)203 875 4669. You can also use the eVisa Webchat service. Please note: Home Office does not provide an interpreting service.

Access your UKVI account

To access your UKVI account go to: https://www.gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details/update-your-ukvi-account.

You will be asked ‘what identity document did you use when you created your UKVI account?’. Select ‘Passport’ and on the next page, enter your UKVI customer number.

When you have accessed your UKVI account, you must then go to “View and Prove your immigration status” to access your eVisa.

Correct eVisa Errors

You should check that the details in your eVisa are correct. If there are errors or missing information (e.g. name misspelled, wrong date of birth, wrong nationality, wrong immigration status or no Share Code) you should report this error immediately here: https://www.gov.uk/report-error-evisa

For more information about UKVI accounts, eVisas you should read our eVisa Guide which can be auto translated in the website.

From 1st January 2025, you must use your eVisa to prove your entitlement to services such as social security, housing, healthcare, education and your right to work. If you previously held a Biometric Residence Permit, you may use it to demonstrate your rights until it expires on 31^st December 2024.

To prove your immigration status, you can access your eVisa using View and prove your immigration status: Get a share code. Log in with the credentials you used to access your UKVI account (eVisa).

To prove your immigration status to Universal Credit, NIHE, an employer, etc you must generate a Share Code and share it with the relevant agency. They will then use your code to check your rights and entitlements.

A Share Code is usually valid for 90 days and is made of 9 alphanumeric characters like 1AB-2CD-3E4.

Social Housing – NIHE

You are entitled to homelessness assistance (short-term) from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) and can also apply for “social housing” (permanent). It is important that you contact the Housing Executive to discuss your housing options as soon as you receive a decision from the Home Office. Mears or Migrant Help can direct you to the Housing Executive or you can “drop in” to one of the NIHE offices.

A Housing Advisor from the Housing Executive will assess your application for homelessness assistance and can provide you with temporary accommodation. The Housing Executive will try to find the most suitable type of temporary accommodation based on your household needs but this can be offered anywhere in Northern Ireland. The types of accommodation available could be a house, an apartment, a room within a house, a hostel or hotel type accommodation and this will be based on what is available on the day you leave your Mears accommodation.

If you refuse an offer of temporary accommodation, the Housing Executive may not make you another offer. You should not take housing advice from people who are not qualified as you risk becoming homeless.

The Housing Advisor from the Housing Executive will also assist you with an application for permanent social housing in Northern Ireland. It is important to understand that there are large numbers of people on the social housing waiting lists for certain areas in Northern Ireland and that you will be subject to the same rules and process as any other applicant. Your Housing Advisor will explain how the process works, how your needs will be assessed and help you choose areas in which you would like to live.

If your family move to an area away from your child’s school, it is likely they will need to find a new school as free school transport is only available in limited circumstances. See ‘Children’s Education’ section.

A person who rents a property from a private landlord or NIHE is called a “tenant”. As a tenant you have certain rights and responsibilities. You can find out more about Landlord and Tenant obligations on nidirect (remember – nidirect website can be translated using the blue square at the bottom of the page). You should also receive a copy of your signed tenancy agreement which tells you more about your rights and responsibilities.

Challenging an unsuitable housing offer

You might think that the accommodation the Housing Executive offers does not meet your needs or is ‘unsuitable’. When deciding if accommodation is suitable, the Housing Executive should consider the accommodation’s:

• size
• safety
• location
• affordability

The Housing Executive also considers how long you are likely to stay in the accommodation.

Get advice before rejecting temporary accommodation.

If you reject an offer of temporary accommodation for this reason, the Housing Executive is unlikely to offer you different accommodation. This means you may have nowhere to live. But if you accept the offer, you can:

• tell the Housing Executive why the accommodation is unsuitable, and
• ask them to provide different accommodation

It is not a good idea to reject an offer of temporary accommodation. If you are not happy with the offer, contact Housing Rights.

Housing Rights is a charity that provides free, specialist support and advice on housing & debt issues. If you have a problem, you can phone their helpline at any time (028 9024 5640). You can also find useful information on their website.

Private Rental

A lot of people in Northern Ireland rent accommodation from private landlords, or eventually buy their own home. You might wish to speak to friends about finding a property to rent together. Depending on your employment situation, you could be entitled to claim UC Housing Costs which will help you to pay rent.

You can find more information about renting privately from nidirect website (remember – nidirect website can be translated using the blue square at the bottom of the page).

You are entitled to apply for social security benefits like Universal Credit (UC) – this is money from the government to support you while you look for work, or because you cannot work.

You can apply online (www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim) or ask for an appointment at a Jobs and Benefits office if you need help. You are entitled to request an interpreter.

UC is managed by an online account. You should keep your account login details safe. If you have difficulty using your online account you should tell your Universal Credit “Work Coach”.

Your Work Coach will explain any conditions of your benefits payments and your responsibilities. Your Work Coach can also advise you on Housing Costs, Child Benefit etc. You must show your eVisa to prove your identity and entitlement to claim social security benefits. You should apply as soon as you receive your decision letter.

You will find a list of Jobs and Benefits Offices on nidrect: www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/jobs-and-benefits-offices

eVisa delays

Since 31^st October, the Home Office are not producing BRPs and will provide newly granted refugees with login details for their UKVI account and access to their eVisa. The Home Office aim to provide these login details within 14 days of a positive asylum decision.

Don’t delay making your application for social security – you can open a Universal Credit account using your Home Office Asylum Decision Letter and your Application Registration Card (ARC) and you should do so as soon as possible. Bring both documents to your local Jobs & Benefits Office and ask for help to open an claim.

If you have not accessed your eVisa, you might also have difficulty opening a Bank Account. Without bank details it can be difficult to open a UC claim. You should visit your local Jobs & Benefits Office to ask if it is possible to open a UC account and provide your bank details at a later date, can they use substitute details, or if you can receive your payments through a voucher (Payment Exception Service) until you have opened a bank account.

Advance Payments

There is normally a 5-week wait for your first UC payment so you should apply as soon as possible to avoid being left with no income. Once you have made a UC application, and completed all of the “To Dos” on your account, you can apply for an Advance Payment. Advance Payments will be deducted from future payments – this means you will receive a reduced amount until you have repaid the debt. Your Work Coach can help you to apply for an Advance Payment.

Discretionary Support

You may also be entitled to apply for a one-off Universal Credit Discretionary Support Contingency Fund payment, or a Discretionary Support Loan for help with living expenses or household items. Speak to your Work Coach about this, or apply on nidirect. If you have difficulty applying online, contact Finance Support on 08005872750.

You can find more information on nidirect (remember – nidirect website can be translated using the blue square at the bottom of the page).

To arrange an urgent appointment at your local Jobs and Benefits Office telephone 0300 200 7822. If you require an interpreter at your appointment you should request it in advance.

Child Benefit – Backdating

This section applies to people with refugee status only.

If you have received refugee status, you can apply for your Child Benefit to be backdated to the date you made your asylum claim.

If you have children you should request that HMRC backdates your Child Benefit claim. You must request this within 3 months of getting your refugee status, otherwise you will not get the back payment.

More information:

https://revenuebenefits.org.uk/child-benefit/guidance/how-do-child-benefit-and-guardians-allowance-work/making-a-claim/

You can contact HMRC here:

www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/child-benefit

If you claimed asylum before September 2017, you may also be able to claim Child Tax Credit. You must make a claim within 1 month of receiving refugee status. Seek social security advice if you think this applies to you.

Everybody needs a National Insurance Number (NINO) to start work or apply for social security benefits.

Your NINO should be displayed in your eVisa along with your personal details. If it is missing you should report it as an error: https://www.gov.uk/report-error-evisa

You will only be allocated one NINO and it remains the same for life.

Your National Insurance Number is unique to you and cannot be changed or transferred. You must not use someone else’s NINO, or allow anyone to use yours. You should keep your NINO safe and not share it with anyone who does not need to see it.

National Insurance is a type of tax – read more about it here. You pay National Insurance contributions to qualify for certain benefits and the State Pension.

If you start work you must report this “change of circumstances” online in your UC account, or by Telephoning the UC Telephone helpline if you have a phone claim for UC.

To receive payments from an employer, or social security benefits, you must have a UK bank account. Some banks allow you to open an account online, then visit them to verify your identity. You should do this as soon as possible, otherwise, you cannot receive Universal Credit.

To open an account, you must prove your identity (Application Registration Card (ARC) / Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) / eVisa Share Code) and your address (letter from Housing Executive, Home Office, Mears or Universal Credit).

Different Banks will have different accounts, and different ID requirements.

When you open an account will receive an account number, a sort code, and a bank card that you can use in shops, online, and at ATMs. Most banks have Mobile Banking Apps where you can monitor your account, view your balance, or cancel your card if it is lost. You can find more information on nidirect.

You should avoid signing up for credit cards or loans unless you are certain you can avoid getting into bad debt. You should not sign up for loans for other people- this is fraud. Debt advice is available for free. You can find more information on nidirect (remember – nidirect website can be translated using the blue square at the bottom of the page).

Work Rights

You are allowed to work and you have full employment rights. You should learn about your rights as an employee. More information is available on nidirect (remember – nidirect website can be translated using the blue square at the bottom of the page)

Employers must provide you with at least:

• a minimum wage
• payslips
• written terms & conditions

Your employer is responsible for deducting tax from your payments, this will be detailed in a payslip which you should receive at least monthly.

You are also entitled to join a trade union.

If you are in receipt of Social Security (benefits) and you start work you must report this “change of circumstances” online in your UC account, or by Telephoning the UC Telephone helpline if you have a phone claim for UC.

You can contact our Employment Team for free, specialist support and advice on employment issues.

www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates

Finding Work

Your UC Work Coach can help you to find work or support you to register with courses to improve your skills and training. They may also be able to help get your previous qualifications recognised in the UK.

Nidirect has lots of information about how to find jobs in Northern Ireland (remember – nidirect website can be translated using the blue square at the bottom of the page)

Your local Council website also has information on employment opportunities in your area. For example, Belfast Employment Academies are run by Belfast City Council.

There are also many recruitment agencies in NI that can help you to find a job.

If you are in receipt of Universal Credit, you can get help to cover your dental treatment and optician services. Complete a HC1 application and you will receive a 12-month HC2 certificate. You should bring the HC2 certificate to your dentist/optician to prove that you are eligible for free treatment.

HC1 applications can be found at Jobs & Benefits Offices and some GP/Dental Practices. Your HC2 certificate is normally valid for 12 months, then you must apply again. This is your responsibility.

You can find more information on nidirect.

Children do not need a HC2 as their treatment is always free. If you are working, you will have to pay towards your dental treatment and optician services.

Adult Education

English is the key to unlocking your future independence. You should try to study and practice English as much as possible. In addition to formal classes, you can find many casual conversational classes in your area. ESOL teachers can help you find them.

You are still entitled to attend free ESOL classes. The ESOL website can be translated and has information on classes in your area, including those with childcare: https://esolwebapp.azurewebsites.net/

Further Education (F.E.)

You may wish to study a particular subject at an FE College like Belfast Met. FE Colleges provide a Careers Advice Service. You should contact your local College and book an appointment to discuss your options.

Most jobs will require at least a basic level of English – speaking English will improve your opportunities. You should learn & try to practice every day.

Education – Child

If you have children, they may need to change schools depending on where your new accommodation is. The Education Authority (EANI) can provide advice and support relating to schools. You can translate their website by clicking this symbol at the top of the page.

The Intercultural Education Service (IES) at EANI supports refugee children. They have produced a number of translated “Education in Northern Ireland Videos” which can be found on their website.

www.eani.org.uk/school-management/intercultural-education-service-ies/education-in-northern-ireland-videos

• School Meals & Uniforms
• School Transport Assistance
• Intercultural Awareness
• Responses to Bullying
• The Education Journey

Schools can use interpreting facilities and it is your right to request an interpreter to discuss your child’s education.

You can find more information about the Asylum Seeker and Refugee (ASR) Support Team here.

If you wish to log a query or a request for support for a child or young person from an asylum or refugee background, you can do so via the IES Helpdesk.

A Refugee Integration Loan is a small interest-free loan from the government. It may only be used for things which are essential to help you settle into UK society. This includes:

• a housing deposit, rent payment or moving costs
• essential items for your home
• training or education
• basic living costs (such as food or household bills)
• work clothing and equipment

When applying you must provide details of exactly how you will spend the money, and agree a repayment plan. It takes at least 4 weeks to receive your loan.

You must be over 18 to be eligible to apply and be one of the following:

• a refugee
• a person with humanitarian protection
• a dependant of a refugee or someone with humanitarian protection

You will find more information on the Refugee Integration Loan here.

Permission to stay (leave to remain)

You have permission to stay in the UK – also known as Leave to Remain. Your BRP or eVisa will show a start date and a ‘valid until’ date. The ‘valid until’ date marks the end of your permission to stay in the UK.

If you already have a BRP it will expire on 31/12/2024 because the government plan to move proof of immigration status to an online eVisa online – you should create your eVisa as soon as possible. See our eVisa Guide for more information. Your Home Office decision letter also tells you how long your permission to stay is valid for.

Indefinite Leave to Remain (settlement)

If you wish to stay in the UK after your initial grant of leave – you must speak to a solicitor before it expires and apply for further permission to stay. Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) allows you to live permanently (settle) in the UK. After this you may be eligible to apply for British citizenship if you wish. See ‘British citizenship’ section.

Criminal convictions can have long-term implications for you and your family members. A serious offence, including a driving offence or domestic abuse, may be held against you in any future immigration application, including for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

UK (domestic travel)

You are free to travel within the UK using your eVisa. The UK consists of Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. If you wish to travel outside of the UK (including to the Republic of Ireland) you must check the visa requirements of that country and ensure you have the correct travel documents.

Abroad (international travel)

Depending on your immigration status, absences from the UK, or returning to your country of origin may impact your future option in the UK. For more information see: https://www.lawcentreni.org/news/how-do-absences-from-the-uk-affect-your-immigration-status/

If you have refugee status or humanitarian protection there are restrictions on where you can travel – see below – Travel Documents.

To travel internationally you should check your destination country’s immigration website for information on:

1. whether your Travel Document is accepted by that country; and
2. if there are any visa requirements for you to travel there

As a refugee/HP holder you maintain your own nationality – using a UK Travel Document does not mean you are treated as British when travelling abroad.

In future people must link their Travel Document/Passport to their eVisa account. Currently, it is not possible to link a Refugee Travel Document to an eVisa account. Therefore, if you are a refugee, you should continue to travel using your Travel Document, but make sure to carry your Biometric Residence Permit (even if expired) while traveling. It is advisable to create your eVisa before leaving the UK.

On 5th December 2024, the government announced a grace period for people who are travelling after 31 December 2024, where their underlying status has not expired. In order to smooth the transition to eVisas, Home Office have decided to allow (airline) carriers to accept a BRP or EUSS BRC expiring on or after 31 December 2024 as valid evidence of permission to travel until at least 31 March 2025 and this date will be kept under review. People travelling in the early part of the year are therefore advised to continue carrying their expired BRP, as this will add to the range of checking options already available to carriers.

Travel Documents

Refugees

Refugee status is granted to people who have demonstrated that it is not safe for them to return to their home country.

If you have refugee status and return to your home country, you risk losing your refugee status. This is because the UK is entitled to decide that you no longer require protection.

So, if you decide to return to your country, even for a short trip, or to reestablish your life, there is a risk that your refugee status will be revoked (cancelled) on your return to the UK. There is also a risk that you will not be admitted back into the UK.

Remember that if you have refugee status, you should not travel with your own passport. You should instead apply for a Refugee Travel Document. Your Refugee Travel Document will tell you if you are not permitted to travel to your home country.

Humanitarian Protection

If you have Humanitarian Protection, your situation is more complicated.

Whether you can return to your home country without jeopardising your immigration status depends on the reason you were granted Humanitarian Protection.  If you were granted Humanitarian Protection because the Home Office accept that you have a fear of your national authorities, you should not travel to your home country and should not use your own national passport (see above, refugee status).

However, some people with Humanitarian Protection can continue to travel with their own national passport.

If you have Humanitarian Protection, you may be eligible to apply for a UK issued Certificate of Travel.  If you have Discretionary Leave to Remain you may also be eligible to apply for a UK Certificate of Travel. Seek advice.

You can find more information on all Travel Documents here: www.gov.uk/apply-home-office-travel-document

If you qualify for Family Reunion, your family members may be able to get visas to join you in the UK. This applies to:

• a family that existed before you left your home country
• a spouse or partner
• children under 18

Your solicitor can help you to make an application. There is no fee for a Family Reunion Visa, and you can claim Legal Aid to cover the legal costs. If your family member does not meet the criteria, a solicitor will tell you if you can make an application “outside the rules”. Family Reunion can sometimes be a long process.

You should financially prepare for Family Reunion. It is likely that if visas are granted you will be responsible for covering the full cost of your family’s travel to the UK.

If your family are granted Family Reunion visas you should contact the Red Cross as soon as possible to ask what support they can offer to help you prepare for your family’s arrival.

You may apply for British Citizenship when you have completed:

• at least 5 years Leave to Remain; and
• 1 year Indefinite Leave to Remain

You must also:

• be over 18
• prove your knowledge of English
• have passed the Life in the UK Test
• intend to continue living in the UK
• be of good character (this means not having a criminal record)

Criminal convictions can have long-term implications for you and your family members. A serious offence, including a driving offence or domestic abuse, could risk your future immigration status in the UK.

You should read the Citizenship guidance carefully, including sections of eligibility, fees and time spent outside of the UK.

www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-indefinite-leave-to-remain

Children may “register” as British citizens after they have lived in the UK for 5 years and completed one year of Indefinite Leave to Remain. Children are not required to complete the above tests. A fee waiver is available for those who cannot afford the children’s registration fee.

More information is available here.