Overview
Claiming asylum is one of the most consequential decisions a person can make. If you have fled persecution, torture, serious harm, or conflict in your home country and are now in the UK, you have the right to seek protection under the 1951 Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights.
The process is demanding: interviews under pressure, tight deadlines, and the ever-present fear of what happens if things go wrong. Marsl Sharifi works directly and personally with every asylum client — not through a paralegal or a case handler — because the detail in your account, and the trust between you, matters enormously at every stage.
Many clients who contact Marsl have already been through difficult experiences, sometimes including a refusal. Whether you are making a fresh claim, awaiting an initial decision, or facing a First-tier Tribunal appeal, Marsl will give you honest advice, thorough preparation, and steady support.
Who this service is for
- You are outside your home country and cannot return because you face a real risk of persecution on grounds of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership of a particular social group (the five Refugee Convention grounds).
- You face a real risk of serious harm — including torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, or unlawful killing — even where this does not meet the full Refugee Convention definition (Humanitarian Protection).
- Removing you from the UK would breach your human rights under Article 3 (torture/inhuman treatment) or Article 8 (family and private life) of the European Convention on Human Rights.
- You are stateless, or your nationality or citizenship is disputed.
What you'll need
- Your personal witness statement — a detailed, chronological account of why you left, what you fear, and why you cannot return.
- Country of origin information — published reports from sources such as the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the UNHCR, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch that corroborate your account.
- Medical or psychological evidence — if you have suffered torture, violence, or trauma, a medico-legal report (such as those produced under the Istanbul Protocol) can carry significant weight.
- Police reports, court documents, threatening letters, photographs, or news articles that support your account.
- Evidence relating to your identity — passport, national identity card, birth certificate (or an explanation of why these cannot be obtained).
- Statements from family members or witnesses who can corroborate events.
- For LGBT+ claims: evidence of your identity or relationships, bearing in mind the Home Office's own guidance on the sensitivity of such evidence.
Fees
Asylum fees are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Legal aid is available to those who qualify financially. Marsl is authorised to carry out legal aid work in asylum matters and will assess your eligibility at the outset. Where legal aid is not available or is not appropriate, private fee arrangements are agreed in advance. In accordance with the SRA Transparency Rules, full fee information is provided at the point of engagement.
The process, step by step
- Step 1
Screening and registration
You must tell the Home Office you wish to claim asylum as soon as possible after arriving in the UK. You will attend a screening interview, which is used to collect biographical details, not to decide your claim. Marsl will advise you on what to expect and how to prepare.
- Step 2
Substantive asylum interview
This is the core of your claim. A Home Office caseworker will ask detailed questions about your background, your experiences, why you left, and why you cannot return. The interview is long — often several hours — and the quality of your answers and your legal preparation is critical. Marsl will prepare you thoroughly for this interview. The Home Office aims to decide most straightforward claims within six months of the substantive interview, though in practice timelines vary considerably.
- Step 3
Decision
You will receive a written decision. If your claim is granted, you will receive Refugee Status or Humanitarian Protection, typically for five years initially with a route to settlement. If refused, you will receive detailed reasons and information about your right to appeal.
- Step 4
Appeal (if refused)
A refusal is not the end. If you have received a refusal and have a right of appeal, you can challenge the decision at the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). Marsl handles asylum appeals and will advise you on the prospects and the process. The appeal must generally be lodged within 14 days of receiving the refusal (28 days if you are not detained). Acting quickly is essential.
- Step 5
Fresh claim (if no appeal right remains)
If your appeal rights are exhausted but you have significant new evidence not previously considered, you may be able to submit a "fresh claim" (paragraph 353 of the Immigration Rules). Marsl will advise on whether the evidence meets the legal threshold.