A Guide On The Refugee Resettlement Scheme

Overview

There is no application for resettlement; therefore, there are no ‘traditional’ eligibility criteria. UNHCR operations in the country of asylum will instead be actively seeking to address the protection concerns of the refugees in that specific country.

This means that UNHCR is in charge of finding solutions regarding the relocation of refugees. In some cases where an individual’s concerns regarding protections cannot be addressed in their location, UNHCR may then seek to find resettlement opportunities for the refugee.

The country of the refugee’s location will have a UNHCR office, and this office will review their case for relocation and resettlement. If they are considered for resettlement by UNHCR, UNHCR then a UNHCR official will inform them where they will be located.

Refugees who are abroad should contact the UNHCR office closest to them should they wish to report concerns regarding their protection or if they want to obtain information regarding resettlement.

It is worth noting that resettlement is not offered to all refugees, and it is typically only offered to a small number based on protection needs. UNHCR states that less than 1% of the world’s refugees are submitted for resettlement each year.

This is only because there are few resettlement places available each year compared to the need for resettlement on a global scale.

This means that resettlement places are prioritised for those who are most in need of them. The refugees who are facing the most dire protection risks in their asylum country and have no prospect of a safe return to their origin country are prioritised.

Family connections in resettlement countries (i.e., the UK) may be considered; however, this is not a typical determining factor for whether an individual will be referred to for resettlement.

Resettlement Offered Only To Recognised Refugees

All of the individuals in UNHCR resettlement submissions need to be recognised as refugees by a host state or by UNHCR.

Refugees who are recognised by a host state will usually be subject to national legislation that incorporates the definitions of a refugee in the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 protocol. Alternatively, the definitions in the 1984 Cartagena Declaration on Refugees or even the 1969 Organisation of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa may also be applicable. Through this family, unity could also be a basis for recognition.

Refugees who are recognised by UNHCR under its mandate will be based upon the definition of a refugee in the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. Alternatively, the definition may also be defined per the UNHCR’s broader refugee definition. In this definition, family unity may also be considered as a basis for recognition through the UNHCR mandate.

There may be some exceptions to the general ruling that an individual needs to be a refugee to be resettled. These exceptions include the following:

• In the case of dependent children or partners of a refugee who is being submitted for resettlement and who are nationals of the country of asylum,
• Non-refugee stateless persons.

Refugee Recognition By State

States are primarily responsible for the protection of refugees in their territories. To fulfil this, states need to establish systems to determine who requires international protection. UNHCR supports the states in the development of quality asylum systems to operate with efficiency, fairness, integrity, and adaptability.

In some contexts, those who are given refugee status by a state could be recognised for resettlement. When refugee recognition is made by a state, UNHCR will look to gain as much information about the state recognition as possible, including supporting documents and the decision. During the process of resettlement, UNHCR needs to verify that the eligibility criteria are met under the relevant refugee definition, alongside references to claims and all available information.

The full scope of the certificate varies depending on the operational context; this includes the nature of the state’s asylum procedures and the legal basis it uses for recognition. In cases where recognition is made under broader refugee definitions, UNHCR will typically identify and articulate the nexus to the convention as per Article 1A(2) in the RRF (Resettlement Registration Form).

When verifying refugee status, resettlement colleagues need to be alert to any exclusion triggers; this is especially important when the status is granted on a prima facie basis.

Prima Facie is an approach to recognising refugee statuses based on objective, apparent circumstances in the origin country. This is implemented through the minimization of individual components of refugee claims that are recorded at the time of registration.

The verification of refugee status is not the same as the mandated RSD (Refugee Status Determination), as certification does not include the recognition or rejection of status.

UNHCR aims to avoid engaging in mandated RSD where asylum systems are in place. The only situations in which UNHCR needs to conduct RSD under mandate before submitting for resettlement include:

• Individuals are denied access to the asylum procedures of the host country.
• The individual is an asylum seeker, but their case has been pending for a disproportionate period, and it is not possible for the authorities of the national asylum system to track it.
• The individual has been rejected by the asylum authority, and UNHCR believes this was decided wrongly.

Refugee Recognition By UNHCR

States are primarily responsible for the determination of refugee status, but UNHCR may conduct RSD in some territories and countries not party to the 1951 Convention or those that have not yet established legal frameworks and provided adequate RSD processes.

In some cases, UNHCR will conduct RSD in line with its mandate in cooperation with the government. UNHCR offices are encouraged to explore alternative protection interventions that do not require individual RSD.

That being said, UNHCR does recognise there may be some instances in which mandated RSD is the most effective means of protection intervention. This can be undertaken via diverse case processing modalities that safeguard the efficiency, integrity, quality, and fairness of this process.

Overview

UKRS allocates refugees per the UK resettlement scheme and works in close partnership with local authorities. UKRS receives offers of accommodation from local authorities or on a regional basis. Refugees will be matched with a local authority that can provide support and accommodation as appropriate.

Then, through community sponsorship, the refugee will be allocated to a suitable community group that has been approved as a sponsor formally. Local authorities do need to consent to community sponsorship applications and agree to the group being accepted as the proposed refugee ‘family’.

Alternatively, refugees who are resettled via the Mandate Resettlement Scheme will be accommodated and supported by a family member who lives in the UK.

Travel & Arrival In The UK

Upon arrival in the UK, the IOM (International Organisation for Migration) plays a key role in the resettlement of refugees. They work with the region to provide a thorough health assessment and handle travel assistance and document handling before the refugee can be resettled.

Health assessments, or MHA (migration health assessments), are conducted by IOM and provided to the applicable local authority so that appropriate care can be arranged for the refugees upon their arrival. IOM will also likely inform where an individual will be resettled, especially in cases of mobility issues or health conditions that require treatment by a specialist. Refugees with TB will not receive resettlement until their condition is ‘latent’.

Additionally, IOM will provide refugees with the assistance required to travel to the UK based upon agreed resettlement dates. This includes visa applications and accompanying refugees to UKVI (UK Visa and Immigration) centres for biometric enrollment, flight booking, exit permits, permits and so on.

Those over the age of 14 resettled through UKRS and community sponsorship will get a 3-day pre-department cultural orientation by IOM to help them acquire information needed upon arrival in the UK.

Those resettled in the UK (adults and children) will be issued a BRP (Biometric Residence Permit), which is used to confirm identity, status of immigration, right to work, and access to public funding. The BRP card will include a NI (National Insurance) number for those over 16 years of age.

Families resettled through UKRS will have their travel and accommodation arranged by IOM, who will also send an escort to accompany the family to the UK. The family will be greeted by a representative from the local authority receiving them. Those on the Mandate Resettlement Scheme will have flight costs covered by the Home Office where they cannot afford to do so, and IOM will provide an escort for the particularly vulnerable.

Those who are resettled will receive 6 months’ leave outside of the rules visas before they depart the region. These are handed to IOM for the purpose of obtaining exit permits from a host country and arranging departures. Refugees being resettled then obtain ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) and refugee status upon their UK arrival.