asylum seekers ‘Leave to remain’ timetable extended

A government scheme granting asylum seeker families indefinite
leave to remain is set to overrun by more than eight months due to
a lack of responses, Community Care has learned.

The Home Office announced last October that up to 15,000 families
who sought asylum in the UK more than three years ago would be
considered for permission to live and work in the UK.

“We did initially say that we would hope to have an idea [of how
many families were eligible] within six months, but it is taking
longer as people aren’t responding to our invitations,” a Home
Office spokesperson said.

She added that the government still expected to grant indefinite
leave to remain to the same number of families and applications for
the scheme would now be accepted up to 31 December.

The government is inviting anyone who thinks they will qualify to
write to PO Box 154, Croydon, CR9 2YS.