3rd Pathway of Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme for British Council and GardaWorld contractors, Chevening Alumni

The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) allows some of Afghanistan’s most vulnerable and at-risk citizens to come to the UK and rebuild their lives safely and legally. The government has pledged to accept up to 20,000 persons at risk under the ACRS.

There are three pathways announced so far by the government of UK for different categories of Afghanistan:

Pathway 1 is for personnel who have been evacuated or summoned forward as part of Operation PITTING, the UK military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Eligible people who were notified by the UK government that they had been called forward or specifically authorized for evacuation, but were not able to board flights, will also be offered a place under the scheme if they subsequently come to the UK.

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Pathway 2 is for refugees who have left Afghanistan and referred by UNHCR (The United Nations Refugee Agency)

Pathway 3: is designed to offer a route to resettlement for those at risk who supported the United Kingdom and international community effort in Afghanistan, as well as those who are particularly vulnerable, such as women and girls at risk and members of minority groups. In the first year of this pathway, the government will consider eligible, at-risk British Council and GardaWorld contractors and Chevening alumni for resettlement. There are 1,500 places available in the first year under Pathway 3 for British Council and GardaWorld Contractors, Chevening Alumni

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Information About UK immigration rules

In compliance with its commitments under the UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights, the United Kingdom has a proud tradition of protecting those in need. Their Immigration Rules, however, do not allow someone to apply to come to the UK to seek asylum, temporary refuge, or humanitarian protection. While they recognize that the situation in Afghanistan is complex, the UK is not compelled to examine asylum or protection requests from the significant number of persons from other countries who may choose to resettle in the UK. People needing international protection should seek asylum in the first safe country they arrive in — this is the quickest way to safety. There are extra secure and legal ways for individuals to travel to the UK, for example, to join family members, work, or study. These individuals would have to fulfill the applicable Immigration Rule standards for which they were applying. This would allow them to qualify for a visa, meet the biometrics requirements, and pay a reasonable cost (or obtain the necessary waiver).

Benefits:

Those who are given the opportunity to resettle through the third pathway of Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), will have the following benefits and rights:

  • You can apply for citizenship after five years.
  • You can apply for the right to work, access to education and health care, and public funding.
  • You will also get assistance as you begin your new life in the UK, including housing, when you arrive. This assistance will assist you in adapting, learning English, finding a job, becoming self-sufficient, and integrating into your local communities.

Eligibility

To be considered for the first year of Pathway 3 of the ACRS, you must fulfill one of the following definitions:

  • British Council contractors
    Note: A British Council contractor does not include those hired to provide professional services such as accounting, marketing, and office equipment maintenance, either directly or through a third party, nor does it include those hired to represent the British Council as a commercial agent, such as in the recruitment of examination candidates.
  • GardaWorld contractors
    A GardaWorld contractor is someone engaged by GardaWorld on host country terms and conditions for three months or longer after 1 July 2020, only to support the British Embassy Kabul contract. A GardaWorld contractor is someone whose agreement was terminated during or after March 2021 due to a reduction in the requirement for guarding the British Embassy in Kabul and someone who provided dedicated and material support to the British Embassy Kabul contract while working as part of the GardaWorld Regional Management Team.
  • Chevening Alumni: An Afghanistan Chevening Alumnus is someone who was given an Afghanistan Chevening Scholarship to study in the United Kingdom and completed their course of study under the conditions of their Scholarship for Pathway 3 of the ACRS.


Note: If you are not a British Council contractor, GardaWorld contractor or Chevening alumnus, you will not be eligible for Pathway 3 in year one. You can read the general guidance on support for people in Afghanistan.

How to apply?

Interested eligible candidates can submit their expression of interest before the deadline.

If you meet the eligibility and live in Afghanistan or the area, you may fill out an Expression of Interest (EOI) form.

Important dates:

  • The Expression of Interest form will open: at 8:30 am on Monday, 20 June.
  • Available: 8 weeks.
  • Deadline: Sunday 11:59 pm 15 August 2022.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will review Expressions of Interest in the order in which they are received. We will prioritize expressions of interest based on the following criteria:

  • When reviewing your expression of interest, we will look at the information you give in your completed form. We will also consider any relevant information about jobs and roles supplied by the British Council or GardaWorld (s).
  • The Expression of Interest form asks you questions that will help the government.
  • Before you complete the form, you will need an Email Address, information about your contract(s) with the British Council or GardaWorld, or your stay as a Chevening Scholar in the United Kingdom
  • your passport information, if you have one, and the names and dates of birth of one partner/spouse and any dependent children under 18.
  • Any data you supply will be processed by the FCDO Privacy Notice for this program. To validate your data, we may need to share it with third parties such as the British Council, GardaWorld, the Home Office, and appropriate academic institutions.
  • You should not submit multiple expressions of interest unless the FCDO invites you to do this.
  • The FCDO may contact you after filing an Expression of Interest form to give more information.
  • If you are referred to the Home Office for resettlement, the FCDO will contact you to confirm.
  • A referral does not guarantee a spot on the ACRS until the relevant security checks have been performed.

Apply Now

Scholarships:

If you are willing to apply to Chevening Scholarships: Here is the full details.

For further information, Kindly visit GOV.UK

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