Top tips
Helping the process to go well
- Give your solicitor/adviser the complete story.
- Give your solicitor/adviser as much detail as possible about your past experiences.
- Keep in touch with your solicitor/adviser - this way you should avoid things going wrong
with your case, for example, missing deadlines or important interviews.
- Let the Home Office and your solicitor/adviser know if you change your address or
telephone number.
- Keep your original immigration documents with you somewhere safe.
- Make sure you go to hearings, appointments and interviews, and arrive there on time.
How to tell if your solicitor/adviser is doing a good job for you
- Did they take a detailed statement from you with the help of an interpreter?
- Did they check dates, exact locations, place names, sequence of events, the names of and your relationship to the other people involved in the events that led to you seeking asylum?
- Did your solicitor's interpreter read the record of your interviews with immigration officials back to you in your own language?
- Did they advise you on your chances of success?
- Did they clearly explain the process and what they were going to do next?
- Did they give you copies of important documents including letters sent to the Home Office or anyone else about your case?
- Did they clearly explain to you what you can expect from them, and what they expect from you?
- Did they give you information about how to complain about their services?
If the answer to all these questions is 'yes' you can be reasonably confident that your solicitor/adviser is doing a good job for you.
Interpreters
- Interpreters should not give you legal advice - this is against the law.
- Although it is reassuring to talk to someone who speaks your language, remember that interpreters are not legal experts and are sometimes used by dishonest solicitors/advisers to recruit new clients, do interviews and provide advice.
- If you suspect an interpreter is explaining what you say wrongly you should let the solicitor/adviser or the Home Office official know straight away even if this means stopping an interview. Even if you can't speak to them in their language try and make it clear that you are not happy with what the interpreter is saying.
