【移英港人】克尼華人社會服務中心：香港英國國民（海外）簽證（BNO）持有人的貧困援助

香港英國國民（海外）（BN(O)）簽證附帶一個條件，即持有BN(O)身份人士「不得領取公共援助」。這意味著你應該自力更生，而不依靠於某些公共資助的福利和服務。

自2021年4月起，英國內政部引入一項規則，允許正處於或面臨迫切貧困處境的BN(O)簽證持有人申請移除「不得領取公共援助」的條件。內政部已在申請指引中明確表示，如你成功申請，則不會影響你在英國居住5年後通過BN(O)途徑申請定居。

最自立的人都可能會經歷困難時期。如你正處於或面臨迫切貧困處境，你可以：

– 你可自己作出申請，或向被OISC監管的移民顧問查詢及協助你作出申請。用以下連結查找受OISC監管的移民顧問：

– 如你成功申請「更改條件」，你可獲得公共資助的福利、津貼和服務。

– 網上「更改條件」申請表格和指引(更新於2023年8月1日)如下：

– 地方政府會根據對你的情況之評估來決定可以提供哪些援助。

– 中央政府已撥出資金，幫助地方政府為已提出「更改條件」申請的BN(O)簽證持有人提供安全網。資金旨在支持或支付地方政府費用，直到「更改條件」申請獲得批准。

– 地方政府可向中央政府領回提供給每個BN(O)簽證持有人/家庭的貧困援助，高達至2,720英鎊。

根據 1989 年《兒童法》，如社會服務處評估兒童為有需要幫助，地方政府可能有責任向「不得領取公共援助」的家庭提供住宿和經濟支援。

查詢

請致電香港人貧困支援項目

上午10時至下午5時

星期一、二、三：07598 204468

星期四、五：07748 771896

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Destitution support for Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders

Change the ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ condition

The Hong Kong BN(O) visa comes attached with a condition that the holder has ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’. It means you are expected to be self-reliant and not resort to certain publicly funded benefits and services to support yourself.

Since April 2021, the Home Office has introduced a rule that allows BN(O) visa holders who are destitute or at imminent risk of destitution to apply to remove the ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ condition. The Home Office have made clear in the Guidance that if your application is successful, it will not prevent you from applying for settlement through the BN(O) route after 5 years of living in the UK.

The most self-reliant of people can experience difficult times in life. If you are destitute or at imminent risk of destitution, you can:

1) Make a ‘Change of Conditions’ (CoC) application to remove the ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ condition:

– You can make your own application, or you can get help and advice from an OISC-regulated immigration advisor to make an application. Find an OISC-regulated immigration advisor using this link:

– If your CoC application is successful, you can access publicly funded benefits, allowances, and services.

– The online CoC application form and guidance (updated 1 August 2023) are here:

– Your local authority will decide what assistance can be provided based on an assessment of your situation.

– The government has set aside funding to help local authorities provide a safety net to BN(O) visa holders who have made a CoC application. The funding supports or covers local authority costs until the CoC application has been approved.

– Local authorities may claim from the government up to £2,720 per BN(O) visa holder/household for destitution support provided.

3) Please note: If you have a child under 18 years old, contact your local social services for an assessment of your child’s needs. Under the Children Act 1989, a local authority may have a duty to provide accommodation and financial support to a family with ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ if a child is assessed as being in need by social services.

Enquiries

Please call Hongkongers Destitution Support Project

10 AM -5 PM

MON – WED: 07598 204468

THUR – FRI: 07748 771896