Updates, commentary, training and advice on immigration and asylum law

Latest quarterly immigration statistics: some highlights

THANKS FOR READING

Older content is locked

A great deal of time and effort goes into producing the information on Free Movement, become a member of Free Movement to get unlimited access to all articles, and much, much more

TAKE FREE MOVEMENT FURTHER

By becoming a member of Free Movement, you not only support the hard-work that goes into maintaining the website, but get access to premium features;

  • Single login for personal use
  • FREE downloads of Free Movement ebooks
  • Access to all Free Movement blog content
  • Access to all our online training materials
  • Access to our busy forums
  • Downloadable CPD certificates

Just a few bits and bobs from the details of the latest quarterly statistics:

  • Outstanding EU law residence document applications stands at 95,146 (source). That is a LOT. It is hard to see how the Home Office can meet the 6 months deadline for deciding these applications.
  • Outstanding citizenship applications stand at 24,297 (source).
  • Permanent residence applications increased over fivefold between Q4 2015 and Q4 2016, from 7,637 to 44,103 (source).
  • British citizenship applications by EEA nationals actually fell between 2015 and 2016, from 17,158 to 14,901. This was presumably due to the additional hurdles erected in November 2015 (source)
  • The number of asylum applications decreased by 7% to 30,603 (source).
  • The initial grant rate for asylum applications  was 34%, a slight fall compared to previous years (source) and the success rate for asylum appeals was 41% (source).
  • Enforced returns of failed asylum seekers decreased 37% compared to the previous year to 2,274 and voluntary returns of failed asylum seekers fell 35% to 1,172 (source).
  • Enforced removals of all migrants fell again by 11% to 12,193 and voluntary removals also fell (source).
  • The number of people entering immigration detention fell 11% to 28,908 (source). However, the number of EU nationals being detained increased by 24% to 4,519 leaving detention in 2016 (source).
  • Only 47% of those detained were removed from the UK, with 42% being released into the community (source). This suggests very poor decision making about who is detained in the first place.

If you spot anything else interesting, leave a comment.

Relevant articles chosen for you
Colin Yeo

Colin Yeo

Immigration and asylum barrister, blogger, writer and consultant at Garden Court Chambers in London and founder of the Free Movement immigration law website.

Comments