- Asylum Seekers status:
- If someone wants to stay in the UK as a refugee, they must apply for asylum. To be eligible, they need to have left their country due to fear of persecution and be unable to return. Asylum seekers apply for protection once they are in the UK1.
- There is no legal way to apply for asylum from outside the UK, and there is no specific “asylum visa.”
- Refugee Resettlement status:
- The UNHCR selects refugees for resettlement and transfers them to the UK with the Home Office’s agreement. These individuals have already been recognized as refugees under the 1951 Refugee Convention and do not go through the asylum process in the UK2.
- Global Points-Based Immigration System:
- The UK has implemented a global points-based immigration system. It aims to attract students, scientists, academics, investors, and entrepreneurs to contribute to economic growth.
- The system includes new and reformed immigration routes, simplification of processes, and digital systems to enhance the customer experience.
- British and Irish citizens are exempt from the universal permission to travel requirement3.
The individuals arriving in the UK via small boats are considered irregular migrants. These migrants attempt to cross the English Channel without permission to enter the UK. They use various vessels, including rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs), dinghies, and kayaks. The data includes those detected on arrival in the UK or intercepted at sea by UK authorities and subsequently brought ashore. However, it does not cover larger vessels or clandestine arrivals. In 2023, approximately 29,437 people arrived in the UK via this route
In summary, the UK’s immigration system strives to balance security, economic growth, and humanitarian considerations.
This information is obtained from Co-Pilot Artificial Intelligence (AI), for more information please go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration?gad_source=1
