Q. What, exactly, are we doing?
A. Asylum Operations is exploring the possibility of using a third-party supplier to conduct substantive asylum interviews in order to increase the number of decision ready cases, given there are currently c.42,700 people awaiting a life changing decision. A six to eight-week proof of concept will allow us to test the viability of using a third-party to increase much needed interviewing capacity follow a temporary pause of interviews due to COVID-19. 
Q. Why are we doing this?
A. Since substantive asylum interviews were suspended in March due to COVID-19, all our casework resource has been deployed into making decisions on interviewed cases. Whilst intake has reduced early on during the pandemic and interviews have now recommenced, there are still a large number of cases awaiting interview. A third-party supplier could potentially increase interview throughput, speed up decision making and reduce the number of outstanding cases, whilst improving the service for our customers. The proof of concept will help inform findings and recommendations going forwards.
Q. Who have we consulted on this?
A. Asylum Operations have consulted internally with relevant parties and a submission has been sent to ministers. 
Q. How has COVID-19 and the suspension of interviews impacted UKVI more widely? 
A. Accommodation used to support asylum seekers is stretched. Our customers are waiting longer for decisions on their cases and the pausing of interviews at the start of COVID-19 has impacted our ability to progress cases quickly. We are working to implement our recovery plans and rebalance the system following the COVID-19 outbreak.  

Q. What are we doing to maximise our capacity, internally?
A. Substantive asylum interviews are taking place via video conference where possible and numbers increase weekly. To improve structure and reduce interview duration, experienced caseworkers are putting in place interview plans for use by all interviewing officers. We are working with Kent County Council on a pilot to conduct remote interviews with Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASCs) with a view to extending if successful. We are also exploring remote interviewing of customer in initial and hotel accommodation. To utilise available resources resulting from COVID-19, we are looking to loan staff from other areas of the Home Office with a view to boosting our current resource.
Q. How will it work?
A. Our existing Decision Makers will be a key part of the process, working collaboratively with the third-party for the pilot. Interviews will be conducted using our existing video conferencing technology, supported by Home Office interpreters, where needed. We continue working towards an ‘interview – decide’ model and in time expect that, where schedules and workflow allow, the Decision Maker who conducts the interview preparation will also make the decision on a case. 
Q. What is the third-party interviewing officer’s remit?
A. To conduct substantive asylum interviews; to gather evidence and information that enables a decision to be made by Home Office staff. The outcome of a case will be decided by the Home Office, who will consider the evidence gathered at each stage of the process.
Q. How will quality be assured and monitored?
A. Existing Decision Makers will play a key role by conducting high quality interview preparation work which will be quality assured. The third-party interviewing officers are skilled in conducting interviews and we have developed a bespoke training course to support them. Third-party interviewing officers will be expected to perform to the same high standard and will have access to technical support from existing Home Office staff. Interview quality will continue to be measured using the existing framework. Where interview quality falls below expected levels, the interview itself and the preparation work conducted will both be reviewed to see where support is required, and improvements can be made.  
Q. Where will the customer attend their interview? 
A. All those asked to attend their interview will be at a location we have approved as suitable. Interviews will then be completed remotely over video with the caseworker and interpreter in a separate location to help with social distancing. Consideration will be given in advance under the existing process on the suitability of those being invited to interview using video conferencing.  
Q: Are we interviewing people in IA or hotels?
A: We are currently working with accommodation service providers and Migrant Help to pilot the potential of remote interviewing in IA, this might be expanded further if the proof of concept is successful.  
Q. Will there be an opportunity for engagement on the use of video interview?
A. Yes. We are going to write out shortly about setting up a joint video interviewing working group with the aim of improving the experience of all involved.