Refugees

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit exists to ensure access to justice for people living in the local community who are  survivors of torture, trafficking, abuse and conflict as well as divided families and others who are in need and affected by immigration controls.

What We Do

We provide free, confidential and independent specialist legal immigration and asylum advice and representation to people seeking entry or leave to remain in the UK.

We have a contract with the Legal Services Commission (LSC) to provide the service free to people who qualify for assistance under the Legal Help scheme. We also raise funds to represent people who are not eligible for legal aid for a number of reasons but who are very vulnerable. This includes young people, people who are destitute or women who are claiming asylum and who have been subject to violence.

Following on from the unprecedented and devastating cuts to legal aid that came into force in April of this year the government is planning a further attack on free legal advice.

The Ministry of Justice is running a consultation on proposals to cut a further £220 million per year from the legal aid budget. The consultation, titled: 'Transforming legal aid: delivering a more credible and efficient system,' is running from 9th April 2013 to 4 June 2013.

Due to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, since 1st April 2013 there have been unprecedented cuts to the legal aid system in England and Wales. These cuts have left many people without any recourse to legal representation including in immigration matters.

The Low Commission on the Future of Advice and Legal Support launched on 4 December 2012. The Commission, chaired by Lord Colin Low, will develop a strategy for access to advice and support on Social Welfare Law in England and Wales.

We've had great success in a recent durable partner case. See link for further details http://www.airecentre.org/news.php/73/judgment-first-tier-tribunal-immigration-and-asylum-chamber-success

Ursula Sharma, one of GMIAU's Trustees, is putting together an exhibition for Refugee Week in June 2013. We want to show the ways in which individual refugees and immigrants have settled and made lives for themselves in Manchester.

If you have received support and advice from GMIAU in the last few years, and you are willing to tell us about your life after getting leave to remain, we would love to hear from you. The aim of the exhibition is to celebrate and demonstrate the contribution that migrants make to the diversity and prosperity of Manchester.

We accept written referrals, from individuals and from agencies. Please use the attached referral form. Referrals can be accepted from the North West of England. We cannot respond to referrals from anywhere else.

Written referrals are considered once a week unless the matter is urgent.

Please send the completed form, together with copies of all Home Office and Tribunal decisions to:

Thank you

Thank you to everyone who has donated money to our fund raising appeal. We have raised over £5000 in the last six months.

GMIAU relies on the support and donations of people who are committed to challenging racism and immigration controls, and supporting people who are most affected by the harshness of the immigration and asylum system in the UK.

Money raised through regular donations allows us the flexibility to do the work that is needed to make the most impact.