Advice on immigration status

We strongly advise that you get specialist immigration advice before you make an application to the Home Office to change or confirm your status.

How to get immigration advice

Immigration rules and application processes are complicated. Accessing good immigration advice is the best first step for help with the Home Office. Some of the specialist organisations that you can contact for help include:

• Islington Law Centre: can give expert advice on any type of immigration matter for people on low incomes
• Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI): offers free advice, including if you qualify for support under the Windrush Scheme
• Unity Project: helps people fill in Change of Conditions applications when this route is available for people on settlement routes but with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) as a condition
• Ukraine Advice Project UK: can give free advice to Ukrainian citizens, and others fleeing Ukraine.

 Although your immigration status may limit access to services in the UK, you should always be: 

• given written reasons why you have been refused or denied housing, benefit, social care or health services assistance
• shown options that can help so you know what you should do next, such as being given the name of an organisation for support
• able to access any help without any communication barriers, for example if you do not speak or read English
• confident that you are able to ask for help and support if needed
• able to register with a GP or seek help about a medical condition or concern.

If you are being abused, have been trafficked or are being exploited

You can get help for any abuse, sex trafficking or exploitation. If you are in danger right now, phone the police on 999.

Settled in the UK without a document - The Windrush Scheme

The Windrush Scheme is for:

• Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK before 1 January 1973
• a child of the above who was born in the UK or arrived before turning 18.

It also applies to people of any nationality who settled in the UK before 31 December 1988.

• Find out more about the Windrush scheme
• More about how to apply.

You may also want to seek independent advice before applying.

If you have suffered financial loss because your rights to live and work in the UK have not been recognised and protected by the Government, you can claim compensation. 

Leave to remain with no recourse to public funds

You can apply for a 'change of conditions' to access public funds, like benefits and housing, if you have been granted leave to remain on a family, private life or Hong Kong BN(O) visa route and you are:

• very poor and do not have the money to look after yourself
• at risk of becoming very poor or unable to look after yourself
• getting an income that cannot meet your child’s or children's needs
• struggling to live for any other exceptional reason.

The Government has a welcome guide for Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders about rights and entitlements. You can also contact the Islington Chinese Association for more help.

No leave to remain

See the Home Office website for more information about different ways to apply to stay in the UK.

You will need to get immigration advice to find out more about your immigration options. If you make an application you may need to pay a fee, but you may also be able to apply to not pay the fee (a fee waiver).

The NRPF Network can give you information about immigration options and how to get immigration advice.

Register your child as a British citizen

If a child is born in the UK, they will not be a British citizen unless you or your partner either:

• are a British citizen
• have settled status, such as indefinite leave to remain or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

If you have neither of these, you can register your child with the Home Office as a British citizen. You will have to pay a fee for some of the options.

For more information, visit the Project for the Registration of Children as British Citizens.

Advice for EU citizens

Find out more about what you can do as an EU citizen or family member of an EU citizen.

Help to return to your home country

The Home Office arranges travel for people who want to return to their home country.

You may also be able to get financial help so you can find a place to stay or start a business when you get back.

You should always seek independent legal advice about your options first - your return may affect your ability to live in the UK in the future.

Financial difficulties because of conditions of your stay in the UK

If you are facing financial difficulties because of the rules around you staying in the UK:

• contact Housing Services if you are an Islington council tenant - we can help you stop getting behind on your rent
• contact the Housing Aid Team as soon as you can if you are worried about becoming homeless
• check our advice services page to find out where you can get help with benefits, money, housing and legal advice
• check your housing rights for advice and options in relation to immigration status.

If you have no access to any support, such as benefits or housing, because of your immigration status, then you may be able to get help with housing and financial support from social services. Read our no recourse to public funds (NRPF) pages for more information.

For more information on your rights and entitlements, visit the NRPF Network’s dedicated page.