Petition · past parliament · Home Office

Increase staffing to reduce waiting times for Asylum seeker claims

Closed 3,306 signatures

What the petition asks

We want the Government to increase staffing for processing asylum applications to shorten waiting times for refugees. Shortening waiting times should mean less is spent supporting asylum seekers for accommodation and subsistence.
According to the Immigration Statistics from the Home Office, while 48,540 asylum applications were lodged in 2021, only 14,572 cases had initial decisions made. As of 30 June 2022, 122,213 cases were pending initial decisions.

The inefficiency of the processing of asylum applications is contributing the ongoing costs of housing asylum seekers, with over £6.5 million a day spent on housing asylum seekers in hotels. Meanwhile, the time of asylum seekers has been wasted waiting for their decisions in often overcrowded temporary accommodation.

Timeline

10 Nov 2022 Petition opened for signatures
10 May 2023 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 3,306
Status Closed
Department Home Office
Opened 10 Nov 2022
Closed 10 May 2023

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.