An Evaluation of changes in support for asylum seekers who have been granted leave to remain
About the study
We would like to speak to people who have recently been granted refugee status in the UK and have received asylum support. We are trying to understand some changes introduced by the Home Office to support people moving into mainstream services.
This includes:
- The temporary extension to the time when asylum support ends from 28 days to 56 days.
- The support or guidance provided by Home Office staff about moving out of Home Office accommodation.
We are also trying to understand the changes that UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) have made using digital visas (eVisas) instead of physical paperwork.
The research project, running until August 2025, will look at these changes to support the move on process.
Who is carrying out this research?
This research is being carried out by The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) and RSM.
This research is funded by the Home Office, but NatCen is an independent organisation. This means we are not part of the Home Office or the government, and we do not affect decisions on whether people can stay in the UK or the support they receive.
NatCen is the largest social research organisation in Britain. We specialise in gathering people’s opinions to guide important policies and practices.
RSM is a global firm providing independent consultancy and evaluation services to UK public sector clients.
What will taking part involve?
We are inviting people who were in Home Office accommodation and have recently been granted refugee status to take part in a research interview to talk about their experiences.
- This interview will take place in July with a NatCen or RSM researcher.
- It will last up to 60 minutes.
- You can choose to do the interview in a language other than English if you would like to. We would use an interpreter to do this.
- You can choose to do the interview by telephone or by video call.
- If you agree, we will record the interview to ensure nothing you say is forgotten.
What will you ask me about?
During the research interview we would like to ask you about:
- Your experiences of the time directly after being granted asylum.
- Your experiences with accessing and using your eVisa.
- Your experiences with applying for benefits, opening a bank account and finding somewhere to live.
- The types of support that you received from your local authority and / or Home Office staff after being granted asylum.
As a thank you for taking part, you will receive a £25 shopping gift voucher.
Do I have to take part?
You do not have to take part in this research if you do not want to.
Choosing to take part or not will have no impact on your right to stay here now or in the future.
You can choose not to answer any question you do not want to and can ask for any information you provide to be removed from the research up to 2 weeks after the interview, without giving a reason.
Unfortunately, it may not be possible to speak to everyone who would like to take part.
What will happen to the information I give you?
Following data protection laws, all the information you give us will be kept strictly confidential and stored safely.
The information we collect will only be used for research. It will help create various outputs for the Home Office, including a possible published research report. This report will cover the main issues discussed by you and others in similar situations. We will not tell anyone, including the Home Office, who has taken part. The report will not include any names or specific details.
We will not tell anyone what you personally have said, unless you share something that makes us think you or someone else may be at risk of serious harm and is identifiable.
More information about how we use and store your information is provided at the privacy notice page.
Where can I go for support?
The organisations listed here provide advice and support on a range of issues. If this research has raised questions or concerns for you and you would like to speak to somebody, you can use them to access support.
How can I find out more?
If you want to take part in a research interview or have any questions about the research, please contact the NatCen research team, and someone from the team will get back to you.
Email: MoveOnEvaluation@natcen.ac.uk
Telephone: 0808 281 0308