Thousands of asylum seekers in the UK could have their claims approved without attending a face-to-face interview, according to a new Home Office guidance published on Thursday.
In a bid to clear the soaring backlog of asylum applications, the Home Office is set to fast-track well-founded legacy claims made before June 28, 2022, when new rules in the Nationality and Borders Act took effect.
The new guidance (pdf) came after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vowed to “abolish” the UK’s asylum applications backlog by the end of this year.
Under the new rules, legacy claimants who haven’t had a interview will instead be given a questionnaire, asking each claimant their personal details, the details of their claims, whether they wish to proceed with their applications, etc….