During this research, UNHCR asked interviewees about how they learnt about the SDP and about the practicalities of making an application such as whether they were easily able to navigate the application form and whether they had any issues with submission of their application. Supporting evidence for the application was also discussed and the difficulties that they may have faced finding the appropriate evidence to submit. Interviewees were also asked whether they had legal representation and for their views on the administrative review process. Eleven out of 12 interviewees had made applications for statelessness leave. Four had been successful, six were awaiting a decision and one was refused and is now pursuing an asylum claim. GENERAL AWARENESS OF THE SDP Interviewees learnt about the SDP in different ways. A few were told about it through a lawyer or a caseworker helping them with their asylum claim or immigration status. Another was advised by the Home Office to submit an application after being in the UK for over 10 years and trying to regularise their stay. Two found out through their own research online. Three learnt about it through friends. For example, one who was in immigration detention for four years, was told through a friend in the centre about an expert legal provider who helps stateless persons. His friend gave him the provider’s contact details. ‘I kept looking for information about asylum and my situation…I found that information on the internet, on the Home Office website.’ - Eduardo THE APPLICATION FORM Amongst the 11 interviewees who had made applications for statelessness leave, six had completed the application form directly themselves (one later submitted a second application with a solicitor). Most raised no concerns over the application form and their ability to navigate the process. One interviewee, who speaks fluent English, stated: “It’s online and pretty much straightforward.” Conversely another observed that the form does not guide the user, which can make it harder for someone without legal representation to know what information to include or evidence to gather. The remainder had legal representation when making their application and so were not able to comment on the application form. One interviewee explained that after submission of the form, he was required to travel from Peterborough to Birmingham to submit fingerprints. He had to borrow money from a friend to get there and explained that he found it stressful that he was not provided with assistance to fulfil this requirement. LEGAL ADVICE AND LEGAL AID Six interviewees had legal advice when submitting their most recent application. Five were assisted through free legal clinics or charities which specialise in statelessness applications. The remaining one paid for his legal advice. Some of those who had free legal advice when submitting their most recent application had previously paid for advice and felt that, because few solicitors deal with these types of cases, their previous solicitors were not well equipped to advise them. One described British citizenship law as a “maze”. Some had previously been advised by solicitors who did not fully understand nationality laws, the issue of statelessness or how best to collect evidence. At times, this further compounded the delays in their case. One interviewee acknowledged that: “if we had the right people or the right help it could have been resolved quicker”. Five interviewees did not have legal advice when submitting their most recent application for statelessness leave and they explained that this was because they could not afford a solicitor. In one case, the interviewee chose not to have a solicitor for their second application for statelessness leave because they felt let down by many solicitors in the past. DIFFICULTIES OBTAINING EVIDENCE All those interviewed explained that obtaining evidence to support a statelessness leave application is hard. One described it as “mission impossible”. Almost all had to approach the embassy of the country in which they were born or previously lived. A few also approached other embassies of countries to which their parents were connected but they/the applicant had never lived in. For example, in one case, the interviewee went to the respective embassies of his parents’ countries of origin. However, he was unable to prove where his parents were born because: a) they were born in the 1920s/30s; and b) they had lost some documentation after the Second World War. 13