Work
Asylum seekers are not usually entitled to work unless they got permission to work before July 23rd 2002. Permission to work can be requested, and the Home Office has discretion to grant it.
Some asylum seekers are involved in work shadowing schemes or voluntary work to help them retain skills until they get leave to remain. From 5th February 2005, if they have been waiting for an initial decision on their asylum application for a year or more, asylum seekers should be given 'access to the labour market' to comply with the European Council directives on reception arrangements for asylum seekers (Council Directive 2003/9/EC) Amendments have been made to the Asylum Support Regulations 2000 (SI 2000/704) and a new part 11B introduced in the Immigration Rules (HC395) to comply with the regulations.
Permission to work is not automatically granted if an application has been outstanding for one year and asylum seekers must apply for permission to work to the Home Office. Permission to work will only be granted until a final decision is issued on the asylum application.
Asylum seekers can continue to volunteer whilst their application is awaiting consideration. However, volunteering is not considered in assessing their application and will not lead to a right to remain in the UK.

