Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 16 November 2021 to Question 72441 on Afghanistan: Refugees, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that no one is disadvantaged while their case is reviewed.

The Home Office has established a dedicated caseworking team, which is working jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Ministry of Defence. This team will contact all those who arrived to discuss their leave arrangements and ensure they get the right form of leave.

Communications have been issued advising individuals of next steps to progress permanent residence in the UK. The Home Office is contacting those here in the UK under the Afghan Relocation Assistance Policy, and also those moving onto the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, to assist them in obtaining indefinite leave to remain. Amongst the information provided, those communications confirm individuals’ rights to employment and to access services (e.g. medical treatment, school places). They also provide links to guidance and information on how prospective employers and landlords can contact the Home Office to confirm individuals’ right to take employment and rented accommodation, through the Employer Checking Service.

No one will be required to leave the United Kingdom, or be disadvantaged in any way, while we work through their cases.