Asylum seekers

Yes, as others have said, in order to claim asylum in the UK the person needs to be in the UK. In order to be in the UK, the asylum seekers come across the water from France in dinghies. They are taken to be processed initially at a processing centres, after which they are moved into hotels all over the country where they wait for their asylum claim to be processed. The hotel provides all their food and accommodation. In addition they are given an allowance of about £40 per week for personal items because they are not allowed to work. Some asylum seekers come to the UK on a visa because they have a reason to come ie education. They overstay their visas and apply for asylum because they’re already here. Some people from both groups disappear into the black economy. Hope the explains for you nanna8.

This situation evokes strong feelings in people, some for the asylum seekers, others against. Certainly it is an emotive subject, and I cannot see how it is finally going to be sorted out.

The Home Office is clearly failing badly and has become unfit for purpose. Braverman's rhetoric is inflammatory and calculated to appeal to right wing racists. Sunak should sack her and break up the Home Office.

Calendargirl

I must sound very ignorant, but if they have a passport, why don’t they come here on a normal flight, stay in a cheap B&B, and apply for asylum?

If they pay traffickers large amounts, why not pay for a flight?

( I realise I must have missed something, are they not allowed to leave their country in the first place?)

Some people who come to the UK to seek asylum will use their own passport. For some people, however, this is not possible, the country they are leaving eg the Taliban are unlikely to issue them with one.

growstuff

nanna8

So anyone could just arrive in a boat without being checked? How do they eat if they can’t work ? I suppose there must be a lot of under the counter employment happening. Why do they bother checking at airports if you can just come without a passport anyway ?

Many of them do have passports. The issue is that they can't stay in the UK.

I think this is perhaps an example of how this is misunderstood. Asylum seekers in general do not arrive here then melt into the background. The fact that we know how many arrive by boat means that we know about them. They go into the system and are "processed". Undoubtedly there are people arriving by stealth who do disappear, and there always has been.

But we are getting all excited about the people who are trying to do the right thing and forgetting all about the real "illegal" immigrants.

I must sound very ignorant, but if they have a passport, why don’t they come here on a normal flight, stay in a cheap B&B, and apply for asylum?

If they pay traffickers large amounts, why not pay for a flight?

( I realise I must have missed something, are they not allowed to leave their country in the first place?)

nanna8

So anyone could just arrive in a boat without being checked? How do they eat if they can’t work ? I suppose there must be a lot of under the counter employment happening. Why do they bother checking at airports if you can just come without a passport anyway ?

Many of them do have passports. The issue is that they can't stay in the UK.

One of the biggest myths around asyulim seeking is around the number who WISH to come to UK. I hear so many people (probably reading it in DM, etc), saying that they ALL want to come to UK because we are too soft!!!

Like the Brexit bus this is just downright lies. The chart shows that GB takes very few of these poor people, most of whom are fleeing from wars in their home countries.

Asylum seekers per 10,00 of population

Cyprus..............................152.6%
Austria...............................43.4%
Malta..................................29.4%
Greece................................25.6%
Slovenia..............................25.1%
Lichenstein.........................24.3%
Iceland................................23.6%
Germany............................22.9%
Luxembourg.....................22.2%
Belgium..............................21.6%
France..................................17.8%
Switzerland........................17/2%
Bulgaria...........................,,,.15.9%
Netherlands........................15.2%
Lithuania.............................14.1%
Spain.....................................13.8%
Sweden.................................13.5%
Italy.........................................9.0%

UK...........................................8.4%

There are no facilities for applying for asylum outside the UK. These people have no choice if they want to come here.

So anyone could just arrive in a boat without being checked? How do they eat if they can’t work ? I suppose there must be a lot of under the counter employment happening. Why do they bother checking at airports if you can just come without a passport anyway ?

I wish it was generally understood that this is the case. Reference to illegal asylum seekers is inaccurate as they can only apply once they are actually here, and a decision is made (which seemingly takes years).

Now a group of about 40 have been left stranded at Victoria Station. Most of them managed to contact relatives and have gone to them but 11 had to be rescued first by station staff then a homeless charity.

Another mighty cock-up.

Summerlove

It’s almost like the system is set up to fail, or promote trafficking

Exactly

It’s almost like the system is set up to fail, or promote trafficking

Yes, it’s correct. An individual wanting to claim asylum in the UK has to be in the country.

The other total nonsense is these people aren’t allowed to work, yet the benefits the receive are paltry

It's what I understand Quokka The government has shown no inclination to set up a system for them to apply outside the UK.

It's correct.

www.gov.uk/claim-asylum#:~:text=You%20must%20apply%20for%20asylum,study%20or%20remain%20with%20family).