Thousands of Syrian asylum seekers remain trapped in legal uncertainty due to the Syrian asylum claims delay, as pressure mounts on the UK government to resume processing claims. Since December, decisions have been frozen following the fall of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad.
New data reveals over 7,000 Syrians are still awaiting an initial decision on their asylum applications. Many of these individuals arrived in the UK years ago and have built lives while waiting for legal status.
The freeze was imposed after the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) ousted Assad’s regime. The UK government stated it needed time to reassess the situation before continuing with asylum decisions.
However, charities warn that this Syrian asylum claims delay has left people stuck without clear futures. The Refugee Council and other organisations argue that case-by-case processing should resume immediately. They say blanket freezes harm individuals who fled persecution from various groups, not just Assad.
The government insists the pause remains necessary due to a lack of stable, objective information. But critics point out that this has resulted in major backlogs and increased taxpayer costs.
By March, over 5,500 Syrians were living in government-funded housing. More than 2,000 were still in hotels despite promises to end hotel use for asylum seekers.
Refugee Council analyst Jon Featonby highlighted how this Syrian asylum claims delay blocks progress across the entire asylum system. He explained that many people want to work and support themselves but are legally barred while waiting.
One 25-year-old Syrian Kurd, Azadi, said his life is on hold. He cannot study or find work and spends most days waiting at home. He also fears returning to Syria, where Kurds still face systemic discrimination despite a new power structure.
Some individuals who already have temporary refugee status now face delays in securing permanent settlement. This uncertainty affects their ability to access jobs, education, and housing.
Leen Albrmawi, a 28-year-old who has lived in the UK since 2019, was recently accepted to university. However, she was denied a student loan because her permanent residency application is pending. Her job is also at risk, even though she is legally allowed to work for now.
Leen said her family home in Syria was destroyed and she has no one left there. She fears a policy shift could force her out of the UK. “I’ve built my whole life here,” she said.
The Refugee Council acknowledged that Syria’s political situation has changed but believes clarity on long-term safety will take years. They argue that claims not related to Assad’s regime should be prioritised to ease the bottleneck.
Meanwhile, the freeze continues to impact not only asylum seekers but also the broader immigration system and public resources.
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