What Happens When You Claim Asylum

This guide by Right to Remain (last updated September 2024) walks through the entire UK asylum process in plain language, covering how and where to register a claim (including contact details for the Asylum Intake Unit and the Belfast office), the screening and substantive interviews, ARC cards, Home Office decisions, and appeal rights. It also explains Section 120 'one stop' notices — what they are, who receives them, how to respond within the usual 20-working-day deadline, and the consequences of not responding. Additional sections address finding legal aid representation, asylum support and accommodation, reporting requirements, and the risk of indefinite immigration detention at various stages of a claim. The guide is written for people seeking asylum in the UK and signposts to companion toolkit pages for deeper detail on each topic.