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Choices - advice about voluntary return

Introduction

In Leicester, we provide independent, high quality and impartial advice to asylum seekers, refused asylum seekers and new refugees living in the counties of Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire. This is delivered through our One Stop Shop advice service, which has been awarded the Legal Services Commission Quality Mark.

Choices

We also provide a confidential service offering information, advice and support to asylum seekers and refugees who are considering voluntary return through our Choices project. Please call our Choices team on 0116 261 6200 to make an appointment or for more information.

Training

Our team also provides training, support and resources to advice providers. This includes training in basic and advanced advice skills for refugee organisations and voluntary organisations, training refugees as advice givers and providing refugee awareness training.

What our One Stop Shop casework team can help with:

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

advise you how to make a claim for asylum
help you by arranging Initial Accommodation if you are entitled

assist you to apply for support provided by NASS
help you with ASA appeals
refer you to GPs and education providers
refer you to solicitors for legal advice.

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

help you with any problems you have with NASS support
assist you to make any complaints about your NASS accommodation
help with ASA appeals if your NASS support stops
advise you on your entitlements and signpost if you are granted refugee status
advise you about Section 4 support if your asylum has been refused
We will also give you information on other local support agencies in Leicester such as refugee/asylum seeker community organisations and support projects.

If your asylum has been refused we can:

investigate the details of your circumstances to assess if you are entitled to Section 4 NASS support
assist you in making applications for support and liasing with health professionals and legal advisors to obtain additional information to assist with your application
assist you in complaining to NASS about any problems with your Section 4 support
help with appeals to ASA if your support is refused or terminated
refer you to voluntary groups who provide assistance to destitute people
help you to contact members of your community who may be able to provide you with additional support.

What we can't help with:

Travel applications
Immigration advice
Clients who are supported by Social Services
Weekly support enquires – please pick up an information sheet

Forms and information sheets

We have a number of forms and information sheets that can be picked up from our office. Please note that all forms and information sheets are in English.

Forms
Initial request for HC2 and renewals
Lost or stolen Application Registration Card (ARC) – Informing NASS
Claim for reimbursement of travel
Information on travel applications
Travel application Forms
Change of address – only for people staying with friends or family
Request for Work permission
Notification to change reporting restrictions

Information sheets
NASS support enquiry line
Solicitors in Leicester
Sodexho enquiries

Opening times

Monday (drop in) - 10am to 1.00pm and 2pm to 4pm
Tuesday (appointments and advice line) - 10am to 1.00pm and 2pm to 4pm
Wednesday - closed to direct access all day
Thursday (appointments only) - 10am to 1.00pm and 2pm to 4pm
Friday - advice line only

The drop-in service lets you access our service without an appointment. We may still need to make an appointment for you if your issue is a complicated one.

The appointment system is where we ask you to come in at a certain date and time. You can make an appointment via the Advice Line. If you come to the office without an appointment you will be advised of the Drop In and Advice Line arrangements or given information as to where else you maybe be able to access assistance. We can arrange for an independent interpreter if you need one

We are closed to direct callers on a Wednesday and Friday but we are always available for certain emergency situations.

Telephone advice line

The Advice line on (0116) 261 6223 is available on Tuesday and Friday from 10am to 4pm (Closed for lunch 1 – 2pm). It offers advice and casework assistance over the phone and is quick and easy to use. The line can get busy, but please keep trying.

A telephone interpreter will be provided if necessary.