TACMEP Provides Advocacy, Assistance &  Information on:

• Getting permission to stay in the UK longer than you originally intended.

• Getting permission to do something which you are not at present allowed to do, for example, being allowed to work.

• Bringing relatives into the country, for example, a spouse, fiancé(e), children.

• Being threatened with deportation from the UK.

• Being held by the immigration authorities in a detention centre.

• Wanting a passport and not knowing whether you are entitled to a British passport or some other passport.

• Wanting to apply to become a British Citizen.

• If you are already living in the UK but wanting to travel (for example, for a holiday), whether you will be allowed back into the UK.

• Whether you are entitled to use state services or claim benefits, for example, education, health services, council housing, social security benefits, housing benefits, council tax benefit.

• The right to vote.

• Relative or friend being refused entry to the UK when arriving at an airport or port.
   

National Organisations Which Can Help

Immigration enquiries to the Home Office

For Immigration telephone enquiries please contact the Immigration and Nationality Enquiry Bureau (INEB) on: 0870 606 7766.

Callers who are hard of hearing and have access to a Mincom can contact them on: 0800 389 8289.

Opening hours are: Monday - Thursday 9.00 - 4.45 and on Friday from 9.00 - 4.30.

It is often easier to get through later in the day.

Website: www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/contactus/immigrationenquries

UKvisas

UKvisas is a joint Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office Directorate which runs the UK’s visa service through British diplomatic Missions overseas.

Their website will tell you whether you need a visa to enter the UK and, if so, how to apply for one.

Website: www.ukvisas.gov.uk

Immigration Advisory Service (IAS)

The IAS provides immigration advice and representation as free to people who are entitled to Legal Aid and for appeals against some Home Office decisions about staying in the UK.

You can get details of regional IAS offices from the Contact Us page of the IAS website, link below.

Address: County House, 190 Great, Dover Street, London. SE1 4YB

Tel: 020 7967 1200 (telephone advice Weds 9.30am - 1.00pm)

Tel: 020 7378 9191 (Emergency line - a message may be left outside working hours.)

Website: www.iasuk.org

Refugee Legal Centre

The Refugee Legal Centre can give advice and assistance to asylum seekers and refugees. This includes helping with applications, advising on temporary admissions/release, refusal of asylum, family reunion, and representing appeals in court.

They refer people to other agencies for education, welfare and housing services. The Centre offers an appointment advice service. It holds advice sessions from 9.30 weekday mornings (except Tuesdays and Thursdays).

Appointments can be made by phoning the main advice line. The Centre can only see a limited number of people without appointments. Enquiries will be assessed on arrival. People with the highest priority need will be seen first.

Address: 153-157 Commercial Road, London. E1 2EB

Advice Line: 020 7780 3220 (Mon, Wed and Fri 10.30am-1.00pm; 2.00pm-4.30pm)

Detention Advice Line: 0800 592 398 (Mon, Wed and Fri 10.30am-1.00pm; 2.00pm-4.30pm)

Out of Hours Emergency Number: 07831 598 057

Fax: 020 7780 3201

Website: www.refugee-legal-centre.org.uk

Refugee Council

The East of England One Stop Service, based in Ipswich, helps asylum seekers and refugees in Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Cambridge, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire.
The East of England One Stop Service provides:

• Advice on asylum issues and the NASS support system

• Support for clients at the end of the asylum process (‘Section 4’ or ‘hard case support.’)

• Information on voluntary returns

• Information on ‘move on’ assistance for individuals who have been granted leave to remain in the UK

• Access to services such as legal advice, education, training and health care.

For clients with little or no English, advice is available in many refugee languages.

East of England Advice Line: 01473 297 900

Open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays: 10am – 1pm and 2 – 4pm (closed Wednesdays)

Website: www.refugeecouncil.org.uk

Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI)

JCWI is an independent voluntary organisation financed by trusts and charity. It campaigns for changes in immigration law, both on its own and together with other organisations. It also provides advice and training to other advice agencies. It does not do casework.

Address: 115 Old Street, London. EC1V 9RT

Tel: 020 7251 8708

Free legal advice: 020 7251 8706 (Tue and Thu 2.00pm-5.00pm)

E-mail: info@jcwi.org.uk

Website: www.jcwi.org.uk

Community Legal Service (CLS)

In England and Wales, the Community Legal Service (CLS) has a website containing a directory with contact details of solicitors, advice agencies and sources of specialist advice locally. Information is available in English, Welsh, Urdu, Bengali, Cantonese, Punjabi and Gujarati.

You can consult a copy of the CLS Directory for English and Welsh regions in your local library. You can also telephone the CLS Directory line for this information on:

Tel: 0845 345 4 345

Website: www.CLSdirect.org.uk

Law Centres

Law centres nearly always have a worker who specialises in immigration. Law centres generally have fairly strict catchments areas, so it is important to check whether a law centre in the area will be able to take on a case. Sometimes, the catchment area will include people who either live or work in the area.

If the law centre can offer advice and representation in immigration cases, it will be free.

Address: Law Centres’ Federation, Duchess House, 18-19 Warren Street, London. W1P 5DB

Tel: 020 7387 8570

Fax: 020 7387 8368