Refugee Resettlement to the UK: How does it work?

A training session provided by the House of Commons, aimed at Member’s staff caseworkers.

Time: 15:00 – 16:30
Date: Tuesday 10 December 2024
Location: Online
Booking essential – https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=1918

Casework and correspondence to MPs from resettled refugees in constituencies across the UK has grown in recent years as the number of resettled refugees arriving in the UK has increased, as has the number of constituencies hosting them. This increase was primarily a result of the launch of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS) that ran from 2014-2021 and resettled over 20,000 refugees across the UK. The first large scale resettlement programme to the UK in decades.

The VPRS’ successor: the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) continues to resettle refugees across the UK, and Pathway 2 of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) has also been established.

An understanding of what refugee resettlement is, how it works and the rights refugees arriving will enjoy will be of crucial importance to MP’s offices when responding to correspondence. This training is intended to support caseworkers and parliamentary researchers with significant experience already, as well as those who are new to this policy area.

The training will cover:

Introduction to refugee resettlement and the global context
Step by step run through of resettlement to the UK
UNHCR procedures abroad
Resettlement Submission Categories
The UK’s resettlement programmes: The UK Resettlement Scheme and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme
Key differences between resettlement and other pathways for refugees like family reunion.

The Right to Remain Toolkit

The Right to Remain Toolkit is a step-by-step guide to the UK immigration and asylum system. It’s free to use, and it’s for people who want to learn more about the legal process, or a particular part of the legal process. It’s written in simple terms by legal experts and by people who have lived experience of the system, and it is available in many languages.

It’s aimed at people who are currently navigating the UK immigration and asylum system as well as those who are helping them to do so.

To read more about this fabulous resource and to access the Toolkit, please see the Right to Remain website by clicking the link below.

Right to Remain Toolkit

Changes to Home Office Contact Details

Please note that the email addresses used to contact the Home Office for immigration matters have been changed.

Please check the Hotlines List for the new addresses.

There is a new document giving an overview of the MP Account Management Services. Please do take a few minutes to read it, as it could save you a lot of time when submitting queries to the Home Office. You can find it here: https://hopuk.sharepoint.com/sites/hct-mstinfo/SitePages/Caseworker-Hub.aspx

Migrant Help

Migrant Help exists to protect people affected by displacement and exploitation, helping them thrive as individuals and recover from their trauma. They support those most in need and least likely to find support elsewhere, whilst aiming to bridge community gaps and bring services and support together.

You can read more about Migrant Help here: https://www.migranthelpuk.org/

Whilst there is no MP hotline for Migrant Help, they have provided some information on how to help your constituents:

A guide to reporting issues via their website:
https://w4mp.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Migrant-Help-Guide_RaiseIssue_v02b.pdf

Accessing Migrant Help’s Service User Portal and webchat:
https://w4mp.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Migrant-Help-Webchat-and-Portal-guidance.pdf

The Immigration Act 1971: Celebrated or Flawed?

On 30 September 2021, Gresham College broadcast a 1-hour lecture by Professor Leslie Thomas QC and David Neale.

It’s really worth watching as it gives an excellent background to the history of Britain’s immigration law which will be of interest to anyone who works as an MP’s caseworker, particularly those who process immigration casework.

Here’s the lecture summary:

“Commonwealth citizens once enjoyed the right to live, work and settle in the UK without any restrictions. But a racist backlash against Black and Asian immigration led to legislators introducing immigration controls in the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962, which were broadened by the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1968 to deprive East African Asians of the right to settle in the UK. Its shameful successor, the Immigration Act 1971 continues to form the basis of our xenophobic immigration laws today.”

You can watch the lecture on Gresham College’s website here: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/immigration-act

Constituency casework: asylum, immigration and nationality

Members of Parliament handle a high volume of immigration, nationality and asylum enquiries from constituents.

The Commons Library has produced a briefing which provides a brief overview of the UK’s immigration and asylum system and basic British nationality law.

It also outlines the legal restrictions on giving immigration advice, gives some suggestions on handling constituents’ enquiries, refers to some sources of information that may be helpful for straightforward questions, and highlights training courses available to Members’ staff.

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn03186/

Coronavirus (COVID-19): right to work checks

Advice for employers carrying out ‘right to work’ checks during the coronavirus pandemic.

It is still necessary for employers to check that their employees have the right to work in the UK and it remains an offence to knowingly employ anyone who does not have the right to work in the UK.

Right to work checks have been temporarily adjusted due to coronavirus (COVID-19). This is to make it easier for employers to carry them out.

Please see here for full details: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-right-to-work-checks

Hotline numbers for Members of the UK, Scottish and Welsh Parliaments, the Northern Ireland Assembly and their staff

The Hotlines List contains contacts for government departments, government bodies and many other useful organisation. Only those who have an account on their relevant parliamentary network will be able to access the list. We can not share this list with anyone not on a parliamentary network.

These hotline numbers are for the use of MPs, MSPs, Members of the Senedd and their staff ONLY. DO NOT disclose these numbers to members of the public or to staff in other agencies or the facility may be withdrawn.

Quick links:

Hotlines List on the UK Parliament intranet

Hotlines list for the Scottish Parliament

Hotlines list for the Senedd Cymru – it is password protected and authorised staff should call the Customer Relations Team on 0300 200 6481 for access.

Here’s something which is available to the public: CEO email addresses: http://www.ceoemail.com/

IMPORTANT: Are you using the correct hotlines list?

Please don’t download or print out the whole list and keep it on your desk, as you risk using out-of-date information – as well as using up an enormous amount of paper – it’s over 200 pages long! The list is updated frequently, sometimes several times a day, so please make sure you are using the most recent version If you bookmark it, you’ll always be using the correct one.

Whilst MPs have certain Parliamentary privileges in relation to the authority to act for their constituents, this is not always extended to Members of the Scottish Parliament, or Members of the Senedd, so they must obtain written consent from their constituents. In any case, it is good practice for all representatives, including Members of the UK Parliament, to obtain written consent whenever possible, in order to prevent any potential delays.

The list is updated when there are changes and represents the latest information we have. If you are an organisation which would like to be added to the list please let us know, using the website’s Feedback Form.

We have been asked by one or two agencies to encourage MPs, MSs and their staff to be sure to use these hotline numbers and NOT the numbers available for the general public. Here’s what they say: “Some Members and their staff continue to use the public enquiry line which means we are not always able to give the prompt reply that both they and we would like to happen.”