Regional Refugee Forum North East

19/07/2023

PLANNED RISE IN VISA FEES / HEALTH SURCHARGE: The Government has announced plans to increase visa fees and the immigration health surcharge. The surcharge will be raised from £624 to £1035 per year, with the discounted rate for students and under 18’s to be upped to £776 per year. Settlement, citizenship, leave to remain and citizenship applications are set to rise by ‘at least 20%’. The justification given was the need to fund public sector pay rises. No announcement was made on timing of the increases. Free Movement advises that if you can make an immigration application sooner rather than later then you should do so. They have a guide to making fee waiver applications for those who cannot afford the cost at

Who qualifies for a fee waiver for their UK permission to stay application and what does the official guidance say about fee waivers?

19/07/2023

HOME OFFICE ANNOUNCES AN INCREASE IN SECTION 95 AND SECTION 4(2) ASYLUM SUPPORT RATE: after carrying out an interim review of asylum support rates, the Home Office is increasing the amount for people on Section 95 and Section 4(2) support on an interim basis to £47.39 weekly (self-catered accommodation) and £9.58 weekly (catered accommodation). The new rate will be paid in full from Monday 24th July. Meanwhile there is a one-off payment on Tuesday 18th July to top up the current rate. Results of the full review are still to come.

18/07/2023

THE ILLEGAL MIGRATION ACT – what happens next? We will organise an information workshop for RRF members as soon as more details about the implementation timetable, exactly who will be affected and what it will mean for them become clear.

18/07/2023

THE ILLEGAL MIGRATION BILL HAS NOW PASSED. The Lords were defeated by the Government on all of their amendments to the Illegal Migration Bill last night. It has now passed and will receive Royal Assent soon. The RRF has joined over 290 other organisations across the UK in signing a joint civil society statement which is being sent to the Press today. You can read it here

As a coalition of 290 organisations representing the human rights, migrants’ rights, refugee and asylum, anti-trafficking, children’s, violence against women and girls, LGBTQI+, disability rights, health, housing, racial justice, criminal justice, arts, international development, environment, de...

10/07/2023

On 12th July from 10am to 4pm Right to Remain will be hosting their Toolkit Festival in central Newcastle. Groups and organisations supporting people seeking asylum can come together for a day of workshops, networking and power building. They invite you to join them. Please register using this link https://actionnetwork.org/ticketed_events/right-to-remain-toolkit-festival-newcastle-upon-tyne/ . Their Toolkit is a self-help resource that offers detailed information on the asylum and immigration system in the UK. To celebrate the Toolkit’s 10th Anniversary this year, they are running 'festivals' across the country such as this one in Newcastle. You can see the toolkit at https://righttoremain.org.uk/toolkit/ . You can also contact their Engagement Officer at [email protected]

A step-by-step guide to the UK asylum and immigration system The Right to Remain Toolkit is free to use, and it’s for people who want to learn more about the legal process, or a particular part of the legal process. You might be making an application or are thinking about it; you might be helping

10/07/2023

Update on the Government's Illegal Migration Bill: The House of Lords recommended some very important amendments to the Bill. Tomorrow it goes back to the House of Commons so a letter has been written to all MPs urging them to vote in favour of those amendments. The letter from highlights why MPs must stop the from becoming law. It’s time to restore Britain's reputation as a safe country and protect refugee rights. See letter at

29/06/2023

UPDATE ON GOVERMENT PLANS TO SEND ASYLUM SEEKERS TO RWANDA: Today the Court of Appeal ruled that the government's plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda are unlawful. During a short hearing this morning, judges overturned a previous High Court ruling which said the east African nation could be considered a safe country. A majority of the judges ruled, two-to-one, "deficiencies" in Rwanda's asylum system meant asylum seekers could be returned home and face persecution, even though they may have a good claim for asylum. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the government will seek permission to appeal the decision at the Supreme Court. To hear the Court of Appeal's decision in full go to

The UK government’s plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda has been ruled unlawful by the Court of Appeal.The five-year trial - announced in April 2022 -...

28/06/2023

We send our best wishes to all members celebrating Eid al adha

23/06/2023

RRF E-newsletter - our latest news includes updates on the Move on guide, our new partnership with the International Rescue Committee, national asylum policy and funding for refugee led initiatives from the UNHRC.

We wish all members success with events you are organising to mark Refugee Week. You are welcome to send us details of events you are organising and we'll post them on the RRF page.  

23/06/2023

NEW HOPE NORTH EAST are holding their AGM on Monday from 11am to 1pm in South Shields. More information from Rox and Elizabeth. [email protected] / [email protected] . We wish them a very successful day!

Our autism charity runs an organisation for vulnerable people. Contact us today, in West Boldon, Tyne and Wear, on 0191 511 8357 to learn more. New hope North East

23/05/2023