Step 8 · If things go wrong
Refusal or detention: what to do today
If you're reading this with a refusal letter in your hands or from a detention centre — go through the sections from top to bottom: the first 24 hours, 14 days, section 4, detention. Deadlines count from the date of the decision, not from the day you read it.
The first 24 hours after a refusal
Find the date on the letter
You must lodge an appeal within 14 days of the date the decision was sent. Work out day 14 and write it down. The clock runs whether or not you have a lawyer.
Read the reasons for refusal
They're written in the letter itself — that's exactly what a lawyer works with. Make a copy of the letter and put it in the cloud.
Call a lawyer today
If you already have a lawyer — call them. If not — work through the list at find-legal-advice.justice.gov.uk (category Immigration or asylum) and call the Refugee Council 0808 196 7272. Don't leave the country.
On the phone to a lawyer
“Hello. My asylum claim was refused on [date]. I have 14 days to appeal. I receive asylum support, so I believe I qualify for legal aid. Are you taking new legal aid clients for an asylum appeal? If not, could you put me on a waiting list?”
In plain words: your asylum claim was refused on [date], you have 14 days to appeal, you're on asylum support so you believe you qualify for legal aid, and you're asking whether they take new legal aid clients for an asylum appeal — and if not, whether they can put you on a waiting list.
What to have in front of you
- The refusal letter: date, case reference (Home Office reference).
- ARC.
- The name and phone number of your previous representative, if you had one.
- All the letters from organisations, doctors and therapists you've collected while waiting.
Days 1–14. The appeal
You've found a lawyer
Give them the refusal letter and everything you've collected. An expert report on the effects of what you've been through is commissioned by your lawyer, not by you. Ask which day they'll lodge the appeal by, and write it down.
No lawyer and the deadline is closing in
Lodge the appeal yourself and keep ringing firm after firm. A missed deadline is harder to recover than an appeal that's been lodged and needs improving. How to lodge it is on the “Free lawyer” page.
What you can attach
At the hearing you can present new evidence: letters from organisations, proof of taking part in the community, medical and psychological reports, up-to-date country information. Gather everything into one folder now. Your case is heard by the First-tier Tribunal — a court, not the same Home Office caseworker.
Money and housing after a refusal. Section 4
You can scroll the table sideways.
| What | How it works |
|---|---|
| Section 95 support | You're usually given about 21 days' notice that it's ending |
| If you have a child under 18 with you | Support usually continues |
| Section 4 | Support after a refusal: housing and a card for cashless spending. Given to people in need who meet at least one condition — for example, a judicial review application has been lodged, there are medical obstacles to leaving, there's no viable route of return, or support is needed to avoid a breach of your Convention rights. You apply on form ASF1; Migrant Help can help |
| Medicines on section 4 | Free prescriptions, dental care and glasses — via form HC1 (on section 4 the HC2 certificate doesn't come automatically) |
| Study on section 4 | Access to free courses opens up without the six-month wait |
| Appeal rights exhausted | Means all avenues of appeal have been exhausted. But while a request for permission to appeal has been lodged or is being considered, your case isn't finally decided |
Migrant Help: 0808 801 0503, 24/7
“Hello. My asylum claim was refused and I’ve received a notice that my section 95 support is ending. I’d like to apply for section 4 support — form ASF1. Could you help me with the application? I need an interpreter, Russian please.”
In plain words: your asylum claim was refused and you've had notice that your section 95 support is ending, you want to apply for section 4 using form ASF1, you're asking for help with the application, and you need an interpreter — Russian. Instead of Russian, say Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Tajik or Turkmen.
Don't wait for day 21
- Call Migrant Help on the day you receive the notice that your support is ending.
- Prepare your doctor's letters if the grounds are treatment or medical obstacles to leaving.
- If your lawyer is applying for judicial review — ask them for confirmation it's been lodged, for the ASF1.
If you've been detained
Immigration detention isn't a criminal arrest; you can be released from it on immigration bail. In the first hours, your job is to get through to the people who deal with this.
On the very first day — the welfare team
Every centre must give you 30 minutes with a legal aid lawyer, free and with no means test (DDAS). The centre itself books it. Say: “I’d like to book the free legal advice appointment, please.”
Call BID
Bail for Immigration Detainees 020 7456 9750, Mon–Thu 10:00–12:00. Say: “Hello. I’m in immigration detention at [name of centre]. I need help applying for bail.”
Call Detention Action
0800 587 2096, freephone. Interpreters, contact with a solicitor, help with housing on release. They don't give legal advice. Say: “I’m detained at [centre] and I need an interpreter.”
You can scroll the table sideways.
| Who | Phone | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| Bail for Immigration Detainees | 020 7456 9750 Mon–Thu 10:00–12:00 | Free legal help with release on bail |
| Detention Action | 0800 587 2096 freephone number | Support and practical help, interpreters, contact with a solicitor, help with housing on release. They don't give legal advice |
| Lawyer inside the centre | via the welfare team | 30 minutes with a legal aid lawyer, free and with no means test. The centre itself books it — ask on your very first day |
Do this in advance, before anything happens
Write the numbers on paper and keep them in your wallet
Your case reference, your lawyer's phone number, BID 020 7456 9750, Detention Action 0800 587 2096, Refugee Council 0808 196 7272, Migrant Help 0808 801 0503. If you're detained, your phone may be taken away.
Tell one person where the copies of your documents are
And how to reach your representative. Keep your lawyer's contact details in two places: on your phone and on paper.
Don't miss reporting appointments
Always take your ARC. Failing to report is recorded as a breach and can lead to detention and your support being suspended. If you're ill — let them know in advance and keep the medical note.
Don't leave the UK before the decision
Any trip out — for a day or a month — and your claim is treated as withdrawn.
Questions people ask on the first day
My lawyer isn't answering and there are three days left of the 14. What do I do?
I'm being evicted from my accommodation but my appeal has been lodged. Where do I go?
My friend has been detained and they took his phone. What can I do?
I'm overwhelmed and can't pull myself together. Who do I call?
Official sources
Asylum support section 4
GOV.UK: eligibility and how to apply
Open →Bail for Immigration Detainees
Help with release on bail
Open →Detention Action
Support for people in detention
Open →Right to Remain: detention
What's happening and what to do
Open →Find a legal aid lawyer
Ministry of Justice: category Immigration or asylum
Open →Qadam London
How Qadam London can help
- We'll work out your day 14 with you and tell you who to call today.
- We'll check the IAA / SRA register to confirm the lawyer you've found is allowed to represent you.
- If you or a friend have been detained — we'll explain who to call first and give you the numbers.
Where to get help
Useful phone numbers at this stage
You've been detained
020 7456 9750Bail for Immigration Detainees. Help with release on bail.
Mon–Thu 10:00–12:00
You've been detained: support
0800 587 2096Detention Action. Interpreters, contact with a solicitor, help on release.
Freephone number
Help for refugees
0808 196 7272Refugee Council. Referral to a lawyer, helpline in several languages.
Free
Section 4, housing, ASPEN card
0808 801 0503Migrant Help. They help you apply for support and complain about housing.
24 hours, interpreter available
Struggling and no one to talk to
116 123Samaritans. You can call in any state.
24 hours, free
Danger right now
999Police, ambulance, fire. If you can't speak — press 55.
24 hours
Personal plan · free · 24 hours
Refused? Call first, then the plan
Refugee Council today. And within 24 hours we'll send: legal aid firms nearby, a script for the call, what to gather for the appeal.