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Bristol > advice & services

Introduction

The Bristol office has an advice team providing direct, phone and consultancy advice services to asylum seekers & their advisers in Bristol, Bath and NE Somerset, North Somerset, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

Our drop-in service for asylum seekers is available in Bristol, whilst phone and consultancy advice is available across the region. We provide advice on housing & financial support, & entitlement to services, to people seeking asylum.

What we can help with

If you are an asylum seeker who has just arrived in the UK, you are eligible for NASS support and have the necessary paperwork we can:

Advise you how to claim asylum
Arrange emergency accommodation for you if you are entitled to it
Help you apply for support provided by NASS
Help you with ASA appeals
Refer you to a GP

If you are an asylum seeker who is already receiving NASS support we can:

Assist with problems that may arise with your NASS support
Help with complaints about your accommodation
Signpost you to local refugee/asylum seeker community organisations and support projects, or to other organisations who can advise you
Refer you to a GP
Help you to appeal if your support is stopped by NASS
Advise you about Section 4 support if you have been refused asylum but cannot return home

What we can't help with

We can't provide immigration advice, beyond advising on how to claim asylum. It is important that you find a solicitor to give you qualified advice about your asylum claim.

Interpreters

We do not employ interpreters, but use self-employed interpreters for our clients on a sessional basis. We cannot therefore provide interpreters for other agencies.

Organisations in the region who would like information and advice about finding and using interpreters should contact us about the Interpreter Users' Forum. This network of service providers is facilitated by Refugee Action and works together to develop provision, information and best practice.

Information sheets

We have written information about how to contact NASS, local solicitors and services, and aspects of the law affecting asylum seekers. You can collect these from our office. Some of the information is in English, and some in refugee languages.

Opening times

drop in advice:
Monday 10 - 12
Thursday 10 - 12

We will provide an interpreter if you need one.

Please note that occasionally we have to close earlier than the given times if we are short of staff, or have a lot of clients waiting. If you are coming a long way to see us, it's best to telephone us first.

Telephone advice line

Telephone advice
Monday 2-4.30
Tuesday 10-12.30
Thursday 2-4.30
Friday 10-12.30

Tel: 0117 941 5962

We're sorry but you cannot leave a message on this number. Please only ring during the above hours.