We accept referrals of cases in which a child (under 18) has spent 7 years of their life living continuously in the UK, and for whom removal to their country of origin or nationality would be unreasonable (‘7 year applications’).

While the US Kids in Need of Defense project supports asylum-seeking children who are at a high risk of detention or removal, in the UK children in asylum proceedings still fortunately have access to legal aid.

Applications for leave to remain under paragraph 276ADE(1) of the Immigration rules, or ‘7 year applications,’ enable those under 18 who have been resident in the UK for 7 years to gain leave to remain on the basis of their close personal connections to the UK.

Where the child or family are unable to pay the Home Office application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge, the application will include an Appendix 1 (FLR(FP)) application for the fee and the health surcharge to be waived on human rights grounds.

Where appropriate, the application will include a request that any leave to remain is granted without a condition prohibiting access to public funds.

As in all of MiCLU’s work the project supports children first and foremost. This means that referrals into the project can only be made where an application directly benefits a child, so there must be a child who needs to regularise their status. Applications for other family members may be included where it is in the best interests of the child to do so.

Please see the above ‘Making a referral’ tab for information about how to make a referral for a 7-year-application.