Older cases
This page explains how we are handling older asylum applications, which include most of those made before 5 March 2007. These are sometimes known as legacy cases.
We have established about 60 teams to deal specifically with the older, unresolved paper and electronic case records. We call these the case resolution teams. These teams do not take on new applications, or new evidence for existing applications dealt with by asylum teams in your region (see Process overview).
We aim to conclude all of these incomplete cases by the summer of 2011 and are on track to do so.
This is not an amnesty for individuals whose cases are unresolved. We will consider the older cases in same way as new applications, using the same rules to decide whether applicants qualify for permission to stay in the United Kingdom or should be refused asylum and removed from the country. Human rights factors will be part of this assessment.
Each older case has been allocated to a case owner who will process it through to conclusion. Initially case owners will check computer records against paper files, correcting data errors and deleting duplicate records.
Then they will check criminal records and any individual who has committed a serious offence will be considered for deportation. The remaining cases will then be considered.
Where appropriate, we will contact individuals and ask for any further information we require to conslude their case. Occasionally, this will be in the form of a questionnaire. For more information about this, see What is the questionnaire?
For information on which applications are being dealt with in this way, see What are the older cases?
For information on the cases to which we are giving priority, see Which cases will be considered first?
