Asylum FAQs

We have put together some frequently asked questions and answers, as well as a list of websites where people can find out more about asylum and immigration matters in the UK and across the world.

The Council also provides information for people who are newly arrived in Solihull, including people who are refugees, asylum seekers and economic migrants to the area.

Recommended websites

GOV.UK: Refugees, asylum and human rights provides a range of information about services, statistics and policy, as well as government statements
The Migration Observatory provides impartial, independent, evidence-based analysis of data on migration and migrants in the UK
The Migration Observatory: Asylum and refugee resettlement in the UK
West Midlands Asylum and Resettlement Dashboard – West Midlands Strategic Migration Partnership maintains a publicly accessible data dashboard covering supported asylum seekers and resettled refugees in the West Midlands. This includes information for individual areas in the West Midlands, such as Solihull
UNHCR: Asylum-seekers – The UNHCR is the United Nations’ Refugee Agency which protects people forced to flee their homes as well as stateless persons. They provide a range of global information and data about asylum seekers and refugees, which can help understand trends and how the UK compares to other countries
UNHCR: Refugees
UNHCR: Refugee Data Finder

Frequently asked questions

Who is a person seeking asylum, and how are they different to people who are refugees or economic migrants?

An asylum seeker is a person who has left their country and is seeking protection from persecution and serious human rights violations in another country, but who hasn't yet been legally recognised as a refugee and is waiting to receive a decision on their asylum claim. Persecution might be the result of people’s race and ethnicity, religion, nationality, political views, as well as a range of other social and cultural issues.

A refugee is a person who has been officially granted this protection, legally recognised as needing safety from persecution, violence, or war, and is unable to return to their home country. In the UK, people may be granted refugee status through their claim for asylum in the UK or through one of the UK government’s refugee resettlement schemes.

An economic migrant is a person who has left their country to move to another country primarily for employment and/or to find better economic opportunities.

Why are hotels being used to accommodate people seeking asylum?

People who are claiming asylum can also apply for support if they are homeless or do not have enough money to buy food, i.e. are considered destitute. This same support is also available for people awaiting a voluntary return to their country of origin.

If people are granted support, they will be placed in UK government provided accommodation, delivered through one of its contractors (such as Serco) until they have been granted asylum or returned to their country of origin. Normally this accommodation consists of Initial Accommodation, where people may be placed for a short period before being placed in private rented sector housing.

Since 2020, a combination of increased demand for accommodation and support, large backlogs in decisions about asylum applications and the availability of accommodation that can be used to support asylum seekers, has led to the growing use and reliance on hotels to provide enough capacity to accommodate everyone.

Will people seeking asylum be free to leave their hotel accommodation?

Yes, but they are required to report regularly to the Home Office as part of the conditions of their asylum application.

What is being done to ensure appropriate behaviour inside and outside the hotel?

The Home Office, via its contractor Serco, is responsible for the management of hotels and behaviour of people residing in them. Solihull Council and West Midlands Police work with Serco and the Home Office to monitor and respond to concerns about behaviour outside the hotel and in the community.

How do I report concerns about the activities and behaviour of people being accommodated in hotels and other forms of accommodation?

Concerns about community safety, crime and anti-social behaviour should be reported to West Midlands Police.

What essentials will be provided to asylum seekers at the hotel?

The Home Office provides accommodation, cash, healthcare and education (for children of school age). More details can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Can asylum seekers claim welfare benefits, and will people seeking asylum be able to work?

People who are claiming asylum in the UK have “No Recourse to Public Funds” (NRPF) which means they are unable to apply for and access welfare benefits.

People who are claiming asylum in the UK are also not normally allowed to work, but in some limited circumstances can apply to be able to. This might apply where someone is able to work in an area where the UK has a recognised skills or labour shortage.

More information can be found at:

What proportion of people claiming asylum in the UK are singles adults, and families?

Generally, more men apply for asylum in the UK than women, but the latest information about arrivals can be found on the GOV.UK website.

How do I report concerns about people working illegally?

You should report anyone who is working in the UK illegally, or employing people who aren’t allowed to work in the UK to the Home Office.

Details of how to do this can be found on the GOV.UK website.

How do people claim asylum in the UK, and what countries do people come from to seek asylum in the UK?

People are advised by the Home Office to apply for asylum as soon as they arrive in the UK or as soon as they think it would be unsafe to return to their own country. More details can be found on the GOV.UK website.

In the last year the top nationalities represented in asylum applications in the UK are Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Eritrea, Bangladesh and Albania. More details can be found on the GOV.UK website.

How are decisions made about individual asylum applications?

To be granted asylum in the UK you must qualify for humanitarian protection. Refugees are considered to be people in extremely vulnerable circumstances, lacking the protection of their own countries and facing immense challenges to their safety and well-being. More details can be found at:

What happens to people who are refused asylum in the UK, and how many people does that apply to?

People who are refused asylum can appeal their decision, return to their country of origin or apply for assistance for a voluntary return to their country of origin. Although the figures change regularly, approximately half of asylum applications are initially granted, with approximately half of subsequent appeals also granted asylum in the UK. You can find more details at:

Once a decision has been made about an asylum claim, whether it has been granted or refused, they are no longer eligible for the accommodation and support provided by the Home Office, unless they waiting to return to their country of origin.

What happens when people are granted asylum in the UK, and how many people does that apply to?

People who have been granted asylum in the UK are granted refugee status/humanitarian protection and have permission to stay in the UK for a minimum of 5 years. At that point they are entitled to apply for welfare benefits and work. More details can be found on the GOV.UK website.

How can I help?

Contact refugees@solihull.gov.uk if you are interested in volunteering or represent a group or organisation that would like to offer help to people who are seeking asylum in the UK.

Essential maintenance

Recommended websites

Frequently asked questions

Who is a person seeking asylum, and how are they different to people who are refugees or economic migrants? Who is a person seeking asylum, and how are they different to people who are refugees or economic migrants?

Why are hotels being used to accommodate people seeking asylum? Why are hotels being used to accommodate people seeking asylum?

Will people seeking asylum be free to leave their hotel accommodation? Will people seeking asylum be free to leave their hotel accommodation?

What is being done to ensure appropriate behaviour inside and outside the hotel? What is being done to ensure appropriate behaviour inside and outside the hotel?

How do I report concerns about the activities and behaviour of people being accommodated in hotels and other forms of accommodation? How do I report concerns about the activities and behaviour of people being accommodated in hotels and other forms of accommodation?

What essentials will be provided to asylum seekers at the hotel? What essentials will be provided to asylum seekers at the hotel?

Can asylum seekers claim welfare benefits, and will people seeking asylum be able to work? Can asylum seekers claim welfare benefits, and will people seeking asylum be able to work?

What proportion of people claiming asylum in the UK are singles adults, and families? What proportion of people claiming asylum in the UK are singles adults, and families?

How do I report concerns about people working illegally? How do I report concerns about people working illegally?

How do people claim asylum in the UK, and what countries do people come from to seek asylum in the UK? How do people claim asylum in the UK, and what countries do people come from to seek asylum in the UK?

How are decisions made about individual asylum applications? How are decisions made about individual asylum applications?

What happens to people who are refused asylum in the UK, and how many people does that apply to? What happens to people who are refused asylum in the UK, and how many people does that apply to?

What happens when people are granted asylum in the UK, and how many people does that apply to? What happens when people are granted asylum in the UK, and how many people does that apply to?

How can I help? How can I help?

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