Substantive Asylum Interview

Updated: 13 April 2026

In short

This is your main asylum interview. You tell your full story. A Home Office caseworker asks the questions (not a judge). It takes about 2 hours. Everything is audio recorded. You get a free interpreter.

~2 hrs

Duration

per session

Audio

Recorded

you get a copy

Free

Interpreter

request gender

45%

Grant rate

average

What is it

Screening is the first short interview (30 minutes). They ask basic information: who you are, where you are from, how you got here.

The substantive interview is completely different. Here you tell your full story. Why you left. What happened. Why you cannot go back. It takes hours.

A Home Office caseworker asks the questions. They are not a judge. This is not a court. It is a conversation. But your decision depends on it.

Where it happens

At Home Office centres or by video call. Centres with childcare: Cardiff, Glasgow, Croydon, Leeds, Solihull, Hounslow.

How to prepare

Review of screening answers. Standard practice — refresh dates and facts; contradictions are commonly cited as the main problem in refusal decisions.

Timeline with dates. Charity-sector lawyers commonly recommend writing down what happened and when — even approximate dates help.

Practising the account. Common practice — telling the account aloud to a trusted person or charity volunteer; helps avoid getting flustered at interview.

Evidence. Anything that may support the account (details below); translations — by a certified translator.

Interview day. General guidance — arrive early, eat breakfast, bring water; a clear head matters for a long interview (~2 hours).

What happens during the interview

You arrive at the centre

Go through security. Show your documents. They take you to a room.

Interpreter check

They ask: do you understand the interpreter? If not, say so right away. They will get another one.

Recording starts

The whole interview is audio recorded. You will get a copy afterwards.

Main questions

You tell your story. The caseworker asks questions. This is the main part (~2 hours).

Breaks

You can ask for a break at any time. This is your right.

Recording stops

They tell you what happens next. You have 5 working days to send more documents.

What questions they ask

First simple questions, then the main ones:

Simple: your name, date of birth, family, journey to the UK

Main questions (CORE):

-- Why did you leave your country?
-- Who threatened you?
-- What happened to you?
-- Why can you not go back?
-- Why can you not move to another part of your country?

Answer in detail. Details matter. Do not rush.

Your rights at the interview

Free interpreter. You can request a specific gender.

Your lawyer can be there. They observe and take notes. Free through Legal Aid.

Take breaks any time. Just say you need a pause.

You can say "I don't remember". This is better than guessing.

Ask for clarification. If you don't understand a question, don't guess.

Get a copy of the audio recording + transcript. This is your right.

Evidence to bring

-- Passport or other identity documents

-- Medical reports and assessments

-- Country information (news, reports)

-- Photos (injuries, damage, threats)

-- Letters from organisations or witnesses

-- Arrest warrants, court documents

-- Screenshots of threats

Everything must be translated to English

By a certified translator. Order translation

Common mistakes

Contradicting your screening. If you say something different from screening, this is a serious problem.

Guessing dates. If you don't remember, say "approximately". Do not make up dates.

Not explaining cultural context. Explain things that are obvious to you but not to a British person.

Rushing. Do not rush. This is not a timed test.

Sounding rehearsed. Speak in your own words. Do not memorise a script.

Missing the interview = refused. If you cannot attend, tell your lawyer immediately.

After the interview

The decision comes in weeks or months. Often the wait is 12+ months.

If refused, you have 14 days to appeal. Do not miss this deadline!

Appeal waiting time: about 63 weeks.

Important

Always request a copy of the audio recording and transcript. Check every page for errors. The Home Office uses AI to process cases — in 9% of cases the AI makes serious mistakes.

Children at the interview

-- A responsible adult must be present

-- A lawyer for the child is funded by the government

-- Interviews are shorter than for adults

-- Questions are simpler and age-appropriate

Vulnerable people

If you survived torture, sexual or gender-based violence (SGBV), or have mental health problems, you have extra rights.

-- You can request a caseworker of a specific gender

-- The interview may be shorter or waived

-- Extra breaks are available

-- Specially trained interviewers

Key statistics

45%

grant rate

110K

claims (record)

48K

backlog

63 wks

appeal wait

Grant rate by nationality:

Sudan — 96% | Eritrea — 88% | Afghanistan — 36%

Who can help you prepare

🏠

Refugee Council

Support and interview preparation

💜

Freedom from Torture

Help for torture survivors

📖

Right to Remain

Asylum process guides

💡

Citizens Advice

Free advice on your rights

🤝

Asylum Aid

Legal help for refugees

🌈

Rainbow Migration

LGBTQ+ refugee support

Frequently asked questions

How long is the substantive interview?

Usually about 2 hours per session. Sometimes it is split over several days. Everything is audio recorded. You will get a copy of the recording.

Can I have a lawyer at my interview?

Yes. Your Legal Aid lawyer can attend for free. They cannot answer questions for you. But they observe, take notes, and can step in if something goes wrong.

What if I don't understand the interpreter?

Applicants have the right to raise this immediately — a different interpreter is usually provided. A specific gender can also be requested in advance.

What happens if I miss my interview?

A serious situation: the case may be closed and refused without being heard. With a good reason (illness, accident), common practice is to contact a solicitor as soon as possible — strategy for your specific case is for the lawyer to advise.

Can I do the interview by video call?

Yes. The Home Office does video interviews (Microsoft Teams). You will receive a link and instructions. Make sure you have good internet and a quiet place.

When will I get a decision?

From a few weeks to 12+ months. The backlog is huge. If refused, you have 14 days to appeal. Appeal waiting time is about 63 weeks.

Sources: gov.uk · Asylum interview policy gov.uk · Claim asylum UNHCR · Refworld UNHCR · 1951 Refugee Convention Updated 24 Apr 2026

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