Seeking Refuge? - Rights of Women

There are a number of different teams within the
Case Resolution Directorate dealing with legacy
cases. You can confirm that your case is being
dealt with by the Case Resolution Directorate and
find out which team is responsible for it by
contacting the Immigration Enquiry Bureau and
asking them. If your claim for asylum was made
before 5th March 2007, you can find the postal
address for the Case Resolution team that has
been allocated your case. To do this, you will need
your Home Office reference number, which you
will type into the Allocation Finder on the UK
Border Agency’s website. The Allocation Finder will
then give you details about who is dealing with
your case. If your claim for asylum was made after
5th March 2007, then you can ring the
Immigration Enquiry Bureau for information about
who is dealing with your case.
Immigration Enquiry Bureau
0870 606 7766
Textphone: 0800 389 8289
Opening times: Monday-Thursday
09.00-16.45 and Friday 09.00-16.30.
Allocation Finder
)
If your claim for asylum was made before
5th March 2007, you can find the postal
address for the Case Resolution team
that as been allocated your case by
visiting
www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/asylum/
oldercases/who-is-processing-my-case
and entering your Home Office reference
number into the Allocation Finder.
When will cases dealt with by
the Case Resolution Directorate
be decided?
The UK Border Agency aims to have dealt with all
legacy cases by 19th June 2011. 19 However,
because there are so many cases to deal with, you
will not be given a date for when a decision will
be made on your case.
Three types of cases are currently being given
priority:
• Cases where the speedy removal of the asylum
applicant is thought possible.
• Cases where a decision to grant some form of
protection in the UK is likely.
• Cases where the individual is receiving financial
support.
Another priority is where it is thought that the
person who has claimed asylum is a risk to the
public, for example, because they have committed
serious criminal offences. These cases may be
dealt with by the Case Resolution Directorate, or
by a team that deals with non-British prisoners;
the Criminal Casework Directorate.
Is there any way that my case
can be dealt with sooner?
The Case Resolution Directorate states that it will
consider prioritising “truly exceptional or
compassionate” cases where there are
“compelling” reasons to do so. 20 There is
guidance on what circumstances may be
considered exceptional and compassionate in a
document called Case Resolution Directorate –
Priorities and Exceptional Circumstances, which
can be downloaded from the UK Border Agency
website. Some examples given in the guidance
include where the person concerned requires
medical treatment abroad, or where a delay in
reaching a decision will lead to a risk of suicide or
self-harm.
Case Resolution Directorate – Priorities
and Exceptional Circumstances can be
downloaded from:
www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/
documents/policyandlaw/asylumpolicy
instructions/
If you think that there are exceptional or
compassionate reasons for your case being dealt
with sooner, you should talk to your legal
representative. They can then contact the Case
Resolution Directorate and explain why your case
should be dealt with as a priority.
18
It used to be called the Border and Immigration Agency (the BIA) and before that the Immigration and Nationality Directorate
(the IND).
19
Home Secretary announcement to Parliament on 19th July 2006.
20
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/asylum/ process/oldercases/140639/
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