Fast track procedures for asylum applications in the UK

The British government wants to speed up the processing of applications from people from certain countries of origin due to a large backlog of asylum claims. The new practice, which is based on a ten-page questionnaire and does not require a personal visit, affects around 12,000 people, the BBC reported today.

They are citizens of Afghanistan, Yemen, Eritrea, Libya and Syria who submitted their application before July last year. 95 percent of applications from these countries are approved.

A total of 160,000 people are awaiting an asylum decision

The government in London is eyeing a move to free up overcrowded refugee accommodation. The backlog of applications already submitted is huge, and accommodations are not keeping up with demands.

Many asylum seekers have to be accommodated in hotels. According to the Home Office, the number of people waiting for a decision on their asylum claim rose to a temporary record high of more than 160,000 in December.

Hard tightening is planned

However, this practice is unlikely to benefit many applicants in the long run. In future, the British government wants to exclude those who come into the country without a valid entry permit – for example on small boats across the English Channel – from the right to asylum.

However, so far, it has failed at the European Court of Human Rights. So London is considering withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights. Organizations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have criticized British plans as a breach of international obligations.