Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the UK-Pakistan Readmissions Agreement signed with the Government of Pakistan on 17 August 2022.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The Home Office does not routinely publish Memorandums of Understanding on returns. Publication of such agreements could prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and our international partners. On this occasion we will not be publishing the UK-Pakistan Readmissions Agreement.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department is taking steps to provide sufficient administrative resources to process renewal applications for limited leave to remain for people with temporary protection status.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Nationality and Borders Act 2022 contains the powers to differentiate entitlements between two groups of refugees. Those who came to the UK directly, claimed asylum without delay, and are able to show good cause for any illegal entry or presence in the UK are Group 1 refugees. Where an individual fails to meet one or more of these requirements, they are a Group 2 refugee.
Changes to Part 11 of the Immigration Rules, which came into force for asylum claims lodged on or after 28 June 2022, implemented the differentiated asylum system. Section 12 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 allows us to differentiate on the length of permission to stay, route to settlement, recourse to public funds and family reunion rights.
An individual who qualifies for refugee status as a result of an asylum claim made on or after 28 June 2022 will be recognised as a Group 1 or Group 2 refugee. Whilst, across the asylum system we work to a number of assumptions, we do not routinely comment on these as they can be affected by a number of external factors.
The Home Office have recruitment strategies in place to continually assess and maintain resources at the required levels to take prompt decisions at all points of the system, for example initial decisions, decisions on applications for further permission to stay for Group 2 refugees and decisions on applications for settlement for Group 1 refugees.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made projections for the number of refugees expected to be granted Temporary Protection Status under section 12 of the Nationality and Borders Act in the 12 months from 28 June 2022.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Nationality and Borders Act 2022 contains the powers to differentiate entitlements between two groups of refugees. Those who came to the UK directly, claimed asylum without delay, and are able to show good cause for any illegal entry or presence in the UK are Group 1 refugees. Where an individual fails to meet one or more of these requirements, they are a Group 2 refugee.
Changes to Part 11 of the Immigration Rules, which came into force for asylum claims lodged on or after 28 June 2022, implemented the differentiated asylum system. Section 12 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 allows us to differentiate on the length of permission to stay, route to settlement, recourse to public funds and family reunion rights.
An individual who qualifies for refugee status as a result of an asylum claim made on or after 28 June 2022 will be recognised as a Group 1 or Group 2 refugee. Whilst, across the asylum system we work to a number of assumptions, we do not routinely comment on these as they can be affected by a number of external factors.
The Home Office have recruitment strategies in place to continually assess and maintain resources at the required levels to take prompt decisions at all points of the system, for example initial decisions, decisions on applications for further permission to stay for Group 2 refugees and decisions on applications for settlement for Group 1 refugees.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department is applying the no recourse to public funds condition to refugees who are granted Temporary Protection Status under Section 12 of the Nationality and Borders Act.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Nationality and Borders Act 2022 contains the powers to differentiate entitlements between two groups of refugees. Those who came to the UK directly, claimed asylum without delay, and are able to show good cause for any illegal entry or presence in the UK are Group 1 refugees. Where an individual fails to meet one or more of these requirements, they are a Group 2 refugee.
Changes to Part 11 of the Immigration Rules, which came into force for asylum claims lodged on or after 28 June 2022, implemented the differentiated asylum system. Section 12 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 allows us to differentiate on the length of permission to stay, route to settlement, recourse to public funds and family reunion rights.
An individual who qualifies for refugee status as a result of an asylum claim made on or after 28 June 2022 will be recognised as a Group 1 or Group 2 refugee. Whilst, across the asylum system we work to a number of assumptions, we do not routinely comment on these as they can be affected by a number of external factors.
The Home Office have recruitment strategies in place to continually assess and maintain resources at the required levels to take prompt decisions at all points of the system, for example initial decisions, decisions on applications for further permission to stay for Group 2 refugees and decisions on applications for settlement for Group 1 refugees.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to help people who were placed on a ten year route to settlement in July 2012 and are reaching the end of this ten year period but cannot afford to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Settlement in the UK is a privilege, not an automatic entitlement. Anyone not qualifying for settlement, including being unable to pay the fee, is able to apply to extend their permission to stay in the UK.
There is already a fee waiver in place for those making applications to extend their permission to stay in the UK who cannot afford the fee, are destitute, at risk of imminent destitution or where the welfare of a child would be put at risk by payment of the fee.
It is right for users of the immigration system, who benefit directly, to be charged a fee. Although a fee waiver is not available for settlement, it is available for an application for permission to stay in the UK and this arrangement allows an individual to continue with their life in the UK, and even to apply for access to public funds if necessary. They can then apply for settlement once they have saved the necessary funds to pay the application fee.
Income from fees charged plays a vital role in the Home Office’s ability to run a sustainable Migration and Borders system and it is the government’s policy those who use and benefit most from the immigration system should contribute towards the cost of operating the system, reducing reliance on the UK taxpayer. Fees levels and access to fee waivers are reviewed regularly.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has plans to introduce a fee waiver for applications for indefinite leave to remain.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Settlement in the UK is a privilege, not an automatic entitlement. Anyone not qualifying for settlement, including being unable to pay the fee, is able to apply to extend their permission to stay in the UK.
There is already a fee waiver in place for those making applications to extend their permission to stay in the UK who cannot afford the fee, are destitute, at risk of imminent destitution or where the welfare of a child would be put at risk by payment of the fee.
It is right for users of the immigration system, who benefit directly, to be charged a fee. Although a fee waiver is not available for settlement, it is available for an application for permission to stay in the UK and this arrangement allows an individual to continue with their life in the UK, and even to apply for access to public funds if necessary. They can then apply for settlement once they have saved the necessary funds to pay the application fee.
Income from fees charged plays a vital role in the Home Office’s ability to run a sustainable Migration and Borders system and it is the government’s policy those who use and benefit most from the immigration system should contribute towards the cost of operating the system, reducing reliance on the UK taxpayer. Fees levels and access to fee waivers are reviewed regularly.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will introduce universal visa fee waivers for Afghan national spouses and dependents of British nationals.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance grants by nationality in the 'Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release'. Data on the number of visas granted to Afghan nationals is published in table Vis_D02 of the 'entry clearance visa applications and outcomes detailed datasets'. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the 'Notes' page of the workbook. The latest data relates to the year ending March 2022. Additionally, the Home Office publishes a high-level overview of the data in the 'summary tables'. The 'contents' sheet contains an overview of all available data on entry clearance visas.
Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the 'Research and statistics calendar'
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will make a scheme similar to the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) available to Afghan refugees.
Answered by Kevin Foster
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided to question 9052 on 9 June 2022.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with her counterparts in foreign governments on allowing UK visa applications for Afghan nationals to be completed in neighbouring countries.
Answered by Kevin Foster
This government is committed to providing protection for vulnerable and at-risk people fleeing Afghanistan and is taking a leading role in the international response. Since the end of Op PITTING, we have brought c.4,000 Afghans to the UK from a neighbouring country.
The UK is working with international partners, including non-governmental organisations and other countries, to secure safe routes out of Afghanistan as soon as they become available, starting with those in most need. We also intend to establish a diplomatic presence in Kabul as soon as the security and political situation in Afghanistan allows. We are coordinating this effort with allies.
Biometrics must be provided before entry clearance is granted, to confirm identity and complete performance of national security checks.
There is currently no option to enrol biometrics in Afghanistan. Yet Afghans who have already reached a third country and are able to get to a Visa Application Centre to enrol their biometrics can make an application to resettle in the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, or to come to the UK through our wider economic and family routes, in the usual way.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visa fee waiver applications for Afghan national spouses and dependents of British nationals have been made since 1 July 2021.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance grants by nationality in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of visas granted to Afghan nationals is published in table Vis_D02 of the ‘entry clearance visa applications and outcomes detailed datasets’. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to the year ending March 2022. Additionally, the Home Office publishes a high-level overview of the data in the ‘summary tables’. The ‘contents’ sheet contains an overview of all available data on entry clearance visas.
Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.