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Constituency casework: Immigration, asylum and nationality

MPs’ offices handle a high volume of immigration, asylum and nationality enquiries from constituents. Many are straightforward and can be answered using information that is readily available, for example from trusted online sources or by contacting the Home Office’s MP Account Management service. Others are more complex and require specialist advice from a solicitor or professional adviser.

This briefing provides a short overview of the UK’s immigration and asylum system and eligibility for British citizenship. It also outlines the legal restrictions on giving immigration advice, gives some suggestions on handling casework enquiries, and signposts to some useful sources of information.

Details of free training courses for MPs’ staff on immigration law can be found on the House of Commons’ Act platform.

There are legal restrictions on giving immigration advice and providing immigration services. Aside from this, immigration law is complex. If in doubt, you should recommend that constituents seek advice from a specialist solicitor or adviser. Encouraging constituents to access appropriate professional advice is more helpful than trying to be a substitute for it.