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Choices - advice about voluntary return

Introduction

In Leicester, we provide independent, high quality and impartial advice to asylum seekers, refused asylum seekers and new refugees living in the counties of Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire. This is delivered through our One Stop advice service, which has been awarded the Legal Services Commission Quality Mark.

Choices

We also provide a confidential service offering information, advice and support to asylum seekers and refugees who are considering voluntary return through our Choices project. Please call our Choices team on 0116 261 6200 to make an appointment or for more information.

Training

Our team also provides training, support and resources to advice providers. This includes training in basic and advanced advice skills for refugee community organisations and voluntary organisations. We also provide training and general awareness raising information about issues relevant to asylum seekers and refugees.

What our One Stop Shop casework team can help with:

If you are an asylum seeker who has recently arrived in the UK, you are eligible for asylum support and have the necessary paperwork we can:

provide basic advice on how to claim asylum
if you have claimed asylum, assist you into Initial Accommodation if eligible
help you to apply for Asylum Support
refer you to GPs, education and other relevant services
refer you to solicitors for legal advice

If you are an asylum seeker who is already receiving Asylum Support we can:

help you with any problems you have with your Asylum Support
help you if you need to make a complaint about the accommodation provided by UKBA
help with appeals to the Asylum Support Tribunal if your Asylum Support stops
advise you on your entitlements and help you find appropriate services if you are given permission to stay in the UK
we will also give you information on other local support agencies in Leicester and Northampton such as refugee/asylum seeker community organisations and support project

If your asylum claim has been refused we can:

advise you whether you qualify for Section 4 or any other support and help you to apply for support if you do
help you to contact health professionals and legal advisors to try to obtain additional information which might help with your application
help you to complain to UKBA about any problems with your Section 4 support
help you to appeal to the AST if your support is refused or stopped
refer you to voluntary groups who provide assistance to destitute people
help you to contact members of your community who may be able to provide you with additional support

What we can't help with:

Travel applications
Immigration advice
Clients who are supported by Social Services
Weekly support enquires – please pick up an information sheet

Forms and information sheets

We have a number of forms and information sheets that can be picked up from our office. Please note that the forms are in English, but much of the information has been translated into refugee languages.

Forms
Initial request for HC2 and renewals
Informing UKBA of a lost or stolen Application Registration Card (ARC)
Claim for reimbursement of travel
Information on travel applications
Travel application Forms
Change of address – only for people staying with friends or family
Request for Work permission
Notification to change reporting restrictions

Information sheets
Asylum support enquiry line
Local solicitors
Sodexho enquiries

Opening times

Monday (drop in) - 9.30am to 1.00pm and 2pm to 4pm
Tuesday (appointments and advice line) - 10am to 1.00pm and 2pm to 4pm
Wednesday - emergencies only
Thursday (appointments only) - 10am to 1.00pm and 2pm to 4pm
Friday - (advice line only) 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm

If you come to the drop-in service you can be seen without an appointment. However, you will have to queue to be seen and we cannot guarantee that we will see everyone. This will depend on how many people drop in and how much time we need to spend on each case. We may still need to make an appointment for you on another day if your issue is a complicated one.

The appointment system is where we ask you to come in at a certain date and time. You can make an appointment via the Advice Line. If you come to the office without an appointment you will be advised of the Drop In and Advice Line arrangements or given information as to where else you maybe be able to access assistance. We can arrange for an independent interpreter if you need one

We are closed to direct callers on a Wednesday but we are always available for certain emergencies.

Telephone advice line

The Advice line on (0116) 261 6223 is available on Tuesday and Friday from 10am to 4pm (Closed for lunch 1 – 2pm). It offers advice and casework assistance over the phone and is quick and easy to use. The line can get busy, but please keep trying.

A telephone interpreter will be provided if necessary.