According to data provided by the charity group Refugee Council, approximately 1% of the 27.1 million refugees who were forcibly displaced in 2021 went to the UK. That year, the UK became home for over 270,000 people, and to this day, the numbers keep growing with the numerous ongoing conflicts in different areas around the globe.
On paper, the UK has a pretty good track record of granting asylum to refugees. In 2022, 75% of initial decisions resulted in a grant of asylum or other forms of protection. In reality however, the asylum process is a harsh endeavor for refugees.
“The UK asylum system is one of the most painful processes anyone can go through” . These are the words of Courage, a Liberian mother who arrived in the UK seeking asylum. According to data compiled by the Oxford Migration Observatory, in 2022 on average, the waiting time for initial decisions for asylum applications was 20 months . Refugee Council notes that asylum seekers living on Home Office support tend to rely on 7 pounds per day. This all transfers into almost two years of uncertainty, being transferred around the country, not being able to work and living on the bare minimum.
Here are some of the stories of refugees and their hardships during the asylum process.
Courage’s story
Courage had to wait for almost two years before her refuge status was accepted. She came to the UK with her husband and three daughters. For her, the worst part of the asylum process was the impact on her family’s mental wellbeing.
“My daughters became sad and depressed. I became suicidal and currently live on antidepressants just to pull me through.”
Her experience was so bad that she regretted even coming for asylum in the first place.
“Had I known, I would have remained where I came from and faced whatever persecution I had to face.”
However, Courage believes that if asylum seekers have the ability to work, it would be beneficial not just to them, but to everyone.
“Asylum seekers could be of great benefit to the UK economically. Instead of spending taxpayers’ money to accommodate and feed us, they should allow us to work and pay taxes ourselves.”
Useful skills, but no way to use them
Currently, Asylum seekers cannot work while applying for refugee status in the UK. They rely on Home Office support and charities so they can survive until their applications are accepted. Thousands of capable and qualified professionals among the asylum seekers remain unemployed, even when they want to contribute and apply their skills to positive use in the UK.
Navid
Navid is a 25 year old youthful Iranian who fled to the UK from Iran. The Iranian government killed his parents 10 years ago. He has been undergoing the application process for over 18 months. He has the energy, motivation and skills to contribute, but is prohibited from working or competing in sports.
“I want to train to be a firefighter to help save lives, but I am not allowed to study for the professional qualifications I need.”
“I am an Olympic-standard badminton player and would love to become a member of the Olympic refugee team – but while I am waiting for the Home Office decision, I am not allowed to do that either.”
The activities he’s been closed off have taken a big toll on his well being, and being forced into idleness.
“I am 25. I have the energy to work. It’s important to me to be able to work. Instead, what are people in my situation meant to do? Stay at home just thinking and worrying? One of the things we worry about is the way all this is affecting our minds. I am alone here.”
Pablo
Another capable refugee is Pablo, a 38 year old man who fled from Western Europe. He used to be a seaman welder before fleeing and has been stuck for two years waiting for his application to be accepted and finally be able to work again.
“As an asylum seeker I am not allowed to work, not allowed to use my skills to live independently, to be in charge of my own existence.”
“I have travelled the world. I speak many languages. I have a lot to offer, but at the moment no opportunity to use my skills.”
Pablo sees the asylum system as the big obstacle impeding him from living a normal life.
“I feel like a hamster in a wheel – running and running and making no progress. All I can do is wait and hope, but I am running out of hope. What am I hoping for? The opportunity to again have a normal, simple life, free of this terrible void.”
Nowhere to call home
One of the many challenges asylum seekers face is relocation. Refugees can be constantly relocated at a moment’s notice and moved around the UK, making it impossible to settle in, make connections and start a life.
Neima
This has been one of the biggest hardships for Neima, a Eritrean single mother with a son who got separated from her husband. Neima and her son had to wait 10 months for their application to be approved, and in that time they have had to relocate countless times.
“When we arrived we were put in a hotel room in London, then York, then a house in Newcastle.”
“You are told where to move and you have no choice. They say you are moving tomorrow. It makes it difficult to deal with schools.”
The uncertainty of relocating has affected Neima and her son greatly. They also struggle with issues of mental health.
“Sometimes my son tells me he is sad. I am not happy, but I keep it inside. It is too much for some people. They lose their minds.”
Fighting for a change
With all the hardships and complications of undergoing the Asylum process. Some refugees are striving to achieve change. One of them is the artist and photographer Sadia Sikandar. Sadia had to flee Pakistan because she was in danger. For her, the asylum process was a big ordeal. It took 6 years before her application was finally approved. Now, Sadia uses her talent as an artist and photographer to empower refugees and raise awareness of the asylum system.
“Sometimes I work from 9:00 to 8:00 PM. Nobody pays me to do that. It is just my motivation and passion to bring about positive change in my community so that the kind of barriers I had to face, other asylum seekers should not have to face such things.”
Like other refugees, Sadia is also a firm believer in the right to work for asylum seekers.
“After six months, they [asylum seekers] should have the right to do work. Why? They have skills to contribute to the community. They will not burden the Home Office on the tax money they provide.”
She also believes the UK government needs to revamp their asylum system. As of December 2023, the UK asylum backlogs is the 5th largest in Europe. Over 128 thousand refugees are still waiting for their applications to be approved. Due to the slow nature of the asylum process, some asylum seekers opt to flee their countries via illegal routes to get into the UK.
“If the government would have successfully designed any safe passage route through application, they [asylum seekers] would love to choose this way. They don’t have any choice. That’s why they are coming by irregular routes. Nobody is illegal, they are just seeking safety.”
Sadia’s goal is to erase stereotypes and misconceptions about asylum seekers. She wants to bridge the gap between immigrants and locals, and create a thriving community, together.
“I think together we can make a meaningful difference. This is what I want. Stop hating us. Love us. If you have any kind of misconception, please talk to us, go to a charity organization. Tell them we want to talk to any asylum seeker. There are those who can communicate in English. Don’t build, hate walls between them and ours. Built a bridge of love.”
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