Who are refugees?
Refugees are people who have demonstrated to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate that they have a well grounded fear of being persecuted in their home country for reasons of:
Or membership of a particular:
- Social group
- Political opinion
These conditions are laid down in the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the status of refugees to which the United Kingdom is a signatory.
Sometimes people cannot meet the criteria laid down in the 1951 United Nations Convention but may be allowed to stay in the United Kingdom on humanitarian grounds for a limited period of time.
Refugees have the same rights and responsibilities as any other citizen, including rights associated with;
- family reunion
- travel
- welfare benefits
- work
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