Settlement – Refugee

If you have been granted refugee leave or humanitarian protection in the UK, you may become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after five years of continuous qualifying residence.

Refugee leave is initially granted for five years. At the end of this period, the Home Office will carry out a review to assess whether the circumstances that led to your being recognised as a refugee still exist. If they do, and there are no other reasons to refuse, you should be granted ILR.

To qualify, you must not have voluntarily re-availed yourself of the protection of your country of origin, must not have reacquired a nationality you had previously lost, and must not have committed any serious criminal offences.

Settlement gives you the right to remain in the UK indefinitely and marks the start of the path to British citizenship if you choose to pursue it. It also removes many of the restrictions on employment, access to public funds, and travel that apply during the limited leave period.

The Home Office review process is not always straightforward, and applications can be refused if the caseworker determines that circumstances in your home country have changed sufficiently. Legal representation at this stage can make a significant difference.

At Terence Ray Solicitors, we provide expert guidance to refugees approaching the five-year ILR review. We will advise you on what to expect and help you compile a thorough and well-prepared application.

Get in touch on 020 3367 1430 or email info@trsolicitors.co.uk .