Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she will take to improve the processing times for ILR applications for Syrian nationals.

On 14 July 2025, we published updated country information which enabled decision making on Settlement Protection applications for refugees from Syria to resume. Protection claims can now be processed and safe return reviews conducted where required in line with published policy for any Syrian nationals applying for Settlement Protection.

The department is currently processing a large backlog of outstanding settlement applications. Cases are generally being considered in date order unless there is a specific reason to take them out of turn.

Each application is considered on its individual merits and due to the significant change in the country’s situation, there could be instances where further evidence may need to be gathered to assess these applications and determine if there is an ongoing need for protection.

If anyone has submitted a Settlement Protection application before their permission to stay expires, the conditions of their previous grant of permission to stay have been extended whilst awaiting a decision on their application, under section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971.

We will not remove anyone to their own or any other country where they would face persecution or serious harm.