UK Home Office allows asylum seekers to live with friends and family

The United Kingdom Home Office has announced that asylum seekers can now stay with their friends or family instead of living in Home Office accommodation.

This new policy was shared in a four-page leaflet on its website on Wednesday.

The Home Office explained that asylum seekers can choose to live with friends or family who can support them.

It also stated that this change will not affect the outcome of any asylum application. Eligible asylum seekers will keep receiving weekly financial support for food and other basic needs.

"You can stay with friends or family instead of in Home Office accommodation," the document said.

The Home Office emphasized that this new rule will not change how asylum applications are decided.

Those who qualify will "still get weekly money for food and other essential items," but they must follow a specific process before leaving Home Office accommodation.

First, they should talk to their friends or family to make sure they are willing to take them in, and then call Migrant Help to let them know.

"Once you and your friend or family member have provided Migrant Help with all the information required, you must wait for the Home Office to confirm the outcome of your request before moving to new accommodation," the document added.

"If you move without telling Migrant Help, you could lose your financial support, so it is important you contact them first," the guidance warned.

These new regulations come just one week after the UK government said it wants to speed up the asylum process.

Last week, the Home Office introduced a new target of 24 weeks for deciding certain asylum and immigration appeals. They said this move aims to quicken removals and lower the costs of housing people whose claims have been turned down.

This target started on 12 August and applies to new appeals before the First-tier Tribunal for non-detained foreign national offenders and people receiving asylum support and accommodation.

The UK Home Office mentioned that this measure is meant to cut down the waiting time for cases to be heard by more than a third.

Currently, the average waiting time for a judge to decide a case is 67 weeks.

With the new target, cases involving people who lose at appeal and have no legal right to stay in the UK can be settled faster. This will allow immigration authorities to start removal processes sooner.