Legal representatives, local authorities and responsible adults completing a child's asylum statement of evidence form now have instructions covering the SEF opt-out pilot for 16 and 17-year-olds; the source gives no separate in-force date.
Key facts
- Who: Legal representatives, local authorities and responsible adults acting for accompanied and unaccompanied children who have claimed asylum
- From: Not stated in the source; the completion instructions show "Updated 18 May 2026"
- Source: Accompanied and unaccompanied asylum seeking children: statement of evidence
The statement of evidence form (SEF) completion instructions, published by UK Visas and Immigration, now cover the "SEF Opt out pilot". The instructions ask whether an interview can be arranged without a SEF while the claimant is under 18. They say children aged 16 to 17 may be eligible to take part in the pilot, and refer readers to separate guidance, "Statement of evidence form pilot process", for details. The source states no in-force date for this change. The completion instructions carry the date "Updated 18 May 2026".
The instructions also set out how the SEF relates to streamlined asylum processing for children. That route lets nationals of Eritrea and Sudan who claimed asylum as children present their evidence in a way that mirrors the SEF. Legal representatives are told the Home Office has procedures in place for this cohort. Those who want to prioritise SEFs may prioritise those for nationals outside it.
The instructions point to the Immigration Advice Authority as the place to search for an immigration adviser. Advisers must be acting at the appropriate level.
Other points in the instructions:
- The form page says the completed SEF must reach UK Visas and Immigration within 60 working days of the date the asylum claim was made. The instructions say a SEF should be completed within 60 days of the welfare interview.
- Completed forms and letters of authority go to CSCPUEnquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk.
- A claimant who has started an earlier version of the SEF should finish and submit that version. There is no need to transfer the information.
- Once a child turns 18 there is no requirement to complete a SEF. If a SEF has not been started before the 60-day limit has passed, the former child will be invited to interview.
- In line with current practice, the Home Office says it will use SEF information to inform a decision only where the outcome would be a grant of refugee status or Humanitarian Protection. It will not use it to make a negative decision without exploring other avenues for further information. Separately, Paragraph 339NA of the Immigration Rules is cited for making asylum decisions without an interview where appropriate.
What this means for applicants
Legal representatives of 16 and 17-year-olds should read the pilot guidance, "Statement of evidence form pilot process", to see whether a child may be eligible to take part in the opt-out pilot. For Eritrean and Sudanese children, they should note that the Home Office has separate streamlined procedures. Children should complete the SEF with a legal representative and be supported by a responsible adult. If the SEF has not been started before the 60-day limit passes for a child who has turned 18, the instructions say the former child will be invited to interview.