If you have fled your home country because of a well-founded fear of persecution, Kreston Solicitors is here to help. Our London asylum solicitors and immigration lawyers provide clear, compassionate legal advice to people across North London including Edmonton, Palmers Green, Southgate, Tottenham, Wood Green and the wider Haringey and Barnet areas and to clients from across Greater London and beyond.
Claiming asylum in the United Kingdom is one of the most important and stressful legal steps a person can take. The process is governed by the Refugee Convention 1951, the European Convention on Human Rights, the Immigration Rules and UK case law. Getting the application right the first time is critical, because refusals are common and onward appeals can be complex and time-consuming.
If you are searching for an asylum solicitor near you in London, our Enfield-based team will take the time to understand your circumstances, explain the law in plain English (or through an interpreter), and build the strongest possible claim on your behalf.
Who Can Claim Asylum in the UK?
To be recognised as a refugee in the UK, you must show that you cannot return to your home country because of a well-founded fear of persecution based on one of the following five grounds:
Political opinion
If you do not qualify as a refugee but returning home would breach your human rights for example, if you face a real risk of torture, inhuman treatment, or the death penalty you may still be granted Humanitarian Protection or Discretionary Leave. Our immigration lawyers in London assess every possible route at the outset.
How Our Asylum Lawyers Can Help
Our North London asylum solicitors provide end-to-end representation, including:
- Initial assessment of your asylum claim and prospects of success
- Preparing a detailed witness statement in your own words
- Gathering and presenting country-of-origin evidence
- Obtaining expert medical and psychiatric reports, including Medico-Legal Reports in line with the Istanbul Protocol
- Attending the Home Office screening interview and preparing you thoroughly for the substantive asylum interview
- Making detailed legal representations to the Home Office
- Challenging refusal decisions through appeals to the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) and Upper Tribunal
- Making fresh claims and further submissions where appropriate
- Advising family members on family reunion visas once refugee status is granted
Asylum Interviews and Home Office Decisions
After registering your claim, the Home Office will invite you to a substantive asylum interview. This interview is often the single most important moment in your case, the interviewer will test your credibility and explore every aspect of your claim. Our asylum lawyers prepare you thoroughly beforehand and, where possible, attend the interview with you. We also make written submissions afterwards to address any issues raised.
If your claim is granted, you will usually be given five years’ Refugee Leave, after which you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. If your claim is refused, you normally have a right of appeal, and this is an area where specialist legal representation makes a significant difference.
Looking for an immigration solicitor near you? Call Kreston Solicitors in Enfield on 0203 7930862 or visit our office at 44 London Road, Enfield, London. We serve clients across North London, Greater London and throughout the UK.
Support for Vulnerable Asylum Seekers
We understand that many people seeking asylum in London have experienced trauma, torture, trafficking, domestic violence or persecution because of their sexuality, gender identity or religion. Our immigration solicitors are trained to handle these matters sensitively and confidentially. Interpreters can be arranged in Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic, Farsi, Pashto, Tigrinya and many other languages.
Why Choose Kreston Solicitors for Asylum Cases?
- Experienced London-based immigration solicitors regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
- Convenient Enfield office at 44 London Road, ideal for clients across North London and Greater London
- Bilingual team with cultural understanding of the communities we serve
- Fixed-fee arrangements wherever possible - no hidden surprises
- Honest advice: if your case is weak, we will tell you and explore alternatives
- Full representation at the Home Office, First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal
Contact Our Asylum Solicitors Today
If you or a family member needs help with an asylum claim, contact Kreston Solicitors to arrange a confidential consultation at our Enfield office. We regularly assist clients from across North London (including Edmonton, Tottenham, Wood Green, Southgate, Palmers Green, Barnet, Enfield Town and Waltham Forest) as well as Central London and other parts of Greater London.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Timescales vary. The Home Office aims to decide straightforward claims within six months, but complex cases and backlogs often mean it takes considerably longer. Our asylum solicitors will keep you updated throughout and chase the Home Office where appropriate.
In most cases you cannot work while your claim is being decided. However, if you have been waiting for more than 12 months for an initial decision, you may be able to apply for permission to work in a restricted set of jobs on the Immigration Salary List. Our immigration lawyers can advise whether you qualify.
If you have no means to support yourself, the Home Office can provide accommodation and financial support. You may be dispersed outside London. Where possible, our solicitors make representations so that you can remain near family members and support networks in the Enfield, Haringey or Barnet area.
In most cases you will have the right to appeal the refusal to the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). Strict time limits apply (usually 14 days from the date of the refusal letter if you are in the UK) so you should contact an asylum solicitor immediately. We provide full representation at the Tribunal.
Yes. Once you have been granted refugee status or humanitarian protection, your pre-existing spouse or partner and children under 18 can usually apply for family reunion to join you in the UK, without having to meet the usual financial requirements. We regularly help families across North London reunite in this way.
Yes. Kreston Solicitors is based at 44 London Road, Enfield, easily accessible from Edmonton, Palmers Green, Southgate, Tottenham, Wood Green and surrounding areas of North London and Greater London. Contact us on 0203 7930862.
Our fees depend on the complexity of the case. Wherever possible we offer fixed fees so you know exactly what you are paying. We provide an initial assessment to discuss your options. Please note Kreston Solicitors is a private firm and does not undertake Legal Aid work; if your case is suitable for Legal Aid we will tell you and may signpost you to an alternative provider.