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Asylum Seekers

Answer

The total number of asylum applications and the top 10 countries of nationality for asylum applications are shown in the table below. The top 10 countries from which the asylum applicants arrived are not available as they are not systematically recorded. Information on the visa status of those applying for asylum is not available, nor is whether the visa application had been rejected in the first instance. These figures can only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Data on the number of asylum applications in 2011 that were refused asylum, humanitarian protection or discretionary leave (i.e. on a cohort basis) are not currently available but are due to be published in Immigration Statistics on 30 August 2012. However, the table below provides the number of initial decisions to refuse asylum, humanitarian protection or discretionary leave during 2011, which do not necessarily reflect applications made in the same period. Data on asylum and visa applications are available in the Asylum and Before Entry excel tables of the quarterly Immigration Statistics. The latest release of Immigration Statistics October-December 2011 is available in the Library of the House and the Home Office science website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/

Top 10 asylum applicant nationalities and refusals, excluding dependants, 2011
			Number
		Asylum applications	Total refusals of asylum/HP/DL at initial decision
1	Iran	2,485	1,231
2	Pakistan	2,411	1,640
3	Sri Lanka	1,758	1,289
4	Afghanistan	1,271	993
5	Eritrea	810	243
6	China	777	579
7	Libya	721	483
8	Nigeria	714	546
9	Sudan	689	168
10	Bangladesh	612	395
	Other Nationalities	7,556	4,281
	Total	19,804	11,848

"Notes""Data for 2011 are provisional figures.""Total refusals information is based on initial decisions and do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period and exclude the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions." "Data for 2011 are provisional figures.""Total refusals information is based on initial decisions and do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period and exclude the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions." "Total refusals information is based on initial decisions and do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period and exclude the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions."

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

16743; 736 c294-5WA

Session

2010-12

Subjects

Asylum Visas

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk