Recently, Sarah Mahmood announced that the UK are to reopen resettlement routes in partnership with the United Nations Refugee Assistance Project and the International Refugee Assistance Project after their suspension in previous years.
The announcement also came with news that a quarter of the referrals will be Afghan women and girls and Palestinian refugees who are fleeing war and persecution.
Resettlement schemes are imperative to end dangerous small boat crossings and instead shift to safe and legal routes for those fleeing war and persecution.
What does the new resettlement scheme entail?
From October 2026, non-profit organisations and charities will be able to apply to become sponsors within a community to host refugees. A student sponsorship route will also open, allowing universities to host refugee students.
From the spring of 2027, there will also be an option for work sponsorship. Here, refugees will be able to apply for company sponsorship.
For all the sponsorship routes, sponsors must provide accommodation, integration support and they must provide support with finding work to help remove pressures from local authorities.
When people arrive in the UK under the resettlement scheme, they will be placed on a five-year path to permanent resettlement.
The aim of the scheme is to reduce the number of unsafe small boat crossings, in favour of encouraging safe, capped and legal routes instead.
How can a solicitor support refugee resettlement?
Once refugees have arrived in the UK, access to appropriate legal advice can be important in helping them understand their rights, obligations and the immigration system.
A solicitor can provide advice on individual circumstances and assist with matters relating to their protection status.
Additionally, a solicitor can help people prepare for Home Office interviews, advise on claims and assist in presenting their case. They can also provide support with their options as their immigration status develops over the five-year period.
Once people have reached the five-year mark, a solicitor can provide support with an Indefinite Leave to Remain application.
Obtaining legal advice at this point can ensure that identity documents, immigration records and supporting evidence are submitted on time and accurately.
Solicitors may also aid with family reunion and family migration applications, including applications concerning eligible partners and children.
The applicable route and eligibility requirements will depend on the refugee’s circumstances and the immigration rules in force at the time of the application.
Where an immigration or protection application, or certain forms of support, has been refused, a solicitor may be able to advise on the available remedies.
Depending on the decision and the applicable procedure, this may include appealing to the relevant tribunal, requesting an administrative review where available or seeking judicial review where there are grounds to argue that a public authority has acted unlawfully.
The appropriate remedy will depend on the nature of the decision and the specific circumstances of the case.
How can Squares Law help?
Our solicitors are here to provide a compassionate approach for people applying for refugee resettlement and Indefinite Leave to Remain applications once the five years are up.
We are prepared to support individuals’ unique circumstances and offer tailored advice depending on your needs.
Need support with refugee resettlement? Get in touch with our team for support.
