Wesley Gryk Solicitors
Wesley Gryk Solicitors is a law firm in London dealing exclusively with British immigration, asylum and nationality law. They are specialised in cases involving lesbians and gay men seeking asylum, as well as casework for those seeking to remain in the United Kingdom on the basis of long-term, committed relationships with British-based partners. They are also experienced in immigration and asylum casework for people affected by HIV/AIDS and women who are victims of domestic violence. Additionally, they also deal with all other categories of British immigration.

Wilson & Co Solicitors
Wilson & Co Solicitors is a specialist immigration solicitors' firm dealing with general immigration and asylum work. They do a lot of work for lesbians and gay men, both asylum work and settlement on the basis of long-term relationships. They also have substantial experience in advising HIV/AIDS sufferers on their immigration status. They offer publicly funded (Legal Aid) and privately funded advice. The main contact is Matthew Davies.

697 High Rd, Tottenham, London, N17 8AD, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 8808 7535
Fax: +44 (0)20 8880 3393
Email:immigration@wilsons-solicitors.org.uk
Website: http://www.wilsons-solicitors.org.uk

Asylum Aid
Provides free legal representation and advice to asylum seekers and refugees and is specialised in casework for vulnerable asylum seekers. They operate a telephone advice service on +44 (0)20 7377 5123 during the following times: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 2.00 - 4.30 PM / Thursday, Friday: 10.00 AM - 12.30 PM. You can also ask for free advice by e-mail or letter.

Immigration Advisory Service
IAS is the largest charity in the UK giving a free legal advice and representation in both immigration and asylum cases to persons eligible for public funding. They have offices all over the UK including in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Leicester, Glasgow and other places (see their website). They are not specialised in LGBT cases, women's cases or HIV/AIDS cases but are normally able to take these on.

OISC
The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) is an independent public body responsible for ensuring that all immigration advisers in the UK fulfil the requirements of good practice. If you want to make a complaint about your legal adviser or representative, you can contact the OISC.

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Human Rights Information on LGBT issues

Amnesty International - Thematic reports on sexual orientation
The online library of AI includes the theme ‘sexual orientation’, searching under this theme provides a list of country reports researched and produced by AI in chronological order.
Website: http://web.amnesty.org/library/engindex

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Amnesty International - LGBT Network
AI also has a specific LGBT Network. Their website includes: action alerts for specific countries, links to AI contact persons working on LGBT issues in several countries and useful links to other organisations. It is available in English, Spanish and French.
Website: http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=876

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Behind the Mask
This is a website magazine based in Southern Africa. The ‘Africa by Country’ section contains news articles, action alerts and reports on LGBT issues in African countries.
Website: http://www.mask.org.za

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Human Rights Watch (HRW)
HRW is an international human rights organisation based in the USA. Their website includes specific HRW reports on LGBT issues: click on the heading ‘Lesbian and Gay rights’ in the section ‘Global Issues’.
Website: http://www.hrw.org

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International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) - Asylum Documentation Programme
IGLHRC is a USA based international organisation campaigning on LGBT human rights issues worldwide. The Asylum Documentation Programme gathers documentation on human right abuses to sexual minorities and those with HIV/AIDS. The country information packs - consisting largely of materials obtained from the Internet – can be bought via their website. In addition, the IGLHRC website contains a section on ‘regional information’ with mostly IGLHR publications and ‘action alerts’ by country.
Website: http://www.iglhrc.org

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International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) - World Legal Survey
ILGA is an international organisation working on LGBT rights issues. Their website contains a World Legal Survey of LGBT rights by country. Depending on the country, the information can be limited and somewhat out of date.
Website: http://www.ilga.org

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Safra Project - Country Information Reports
These reports provide information on the treatment of LGBT people in Muslim countries and are specifically for the use in asylum cases. The reports are largely based on secondary sources. Their main purpose is to provide an overview of existing resources on human rights and country information dealing with LGBT issues, and to signpost asylum caseworkers and solicitors to these. Where possible and appropriate the reports include comparisons of sources and critiques on conclusions or assumptions made in existing resources.
Link: Country Information Report on Iran 2004 | Country Information Report on Lebanon 2004

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Other relevant organisations in the UK

Information Centre on Asylum and Refugees (ICAR)
An independent information centre promoting the understanding of asylum and refugees in the UK. The website includes information on research, articles and statistics. The section on resources, navigation guides, key issues, includes a navigation guide on LGBT refugees written by Anisa de Jong, the asylum co-ordinator of the Safra Project, and a navigation guide on refugee women by Hildegard Dumper.

Website: www.icar.org.uk

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Refugee Action
Refugee Action is an independent national charity that enables refugees to build new lives in the UK. They provide practical advice and assistance for newly arrived asylum seekers. They also have a refugee women program assisting statutory agencies to develop appropriate services for women.

Head Office: The Old Fire Station, 150 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8SB
(For offices in other places, please see their website)
Website: http://www.refugee-action.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 7654 7700
Fax: +44 (0)20 7401 3699

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Refugee Women’s Association (RWA)
RWA is an organisation based and working in London, aiming to empower refugee women through advice, guidance, information and lobbying.

Website: http://www.refugeewomen.org/rwa.htm

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Seeking asylum in countries other than the UK

Gay and Lesbian Immigration Rights Task Force (GLITF - Australia)
GLITF, the Gay and Lesbian Immigration Task Force was formed in 1983 and has worked since then to obtain equality for same sex couples in the Migration process.

Please note that contact with by phone or in person are only available on working Mondays between 6:30 pm to 8:30pm. Please check different types of session and note that all one on one advice and consultation with advisers are strictly by appointment only.

Post: PO Box 400 Darlinghurst, NSW 1300
Telephone: +61 2 9283 4031
Office: 414 Elizabeth Street Surry Hills, NSW 2010
Website: http://www.glitf.org.au/

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Asylum Research (USA)
National USA based organisation, monitoring and documenting issues relating to lesbian & gay refugees and the problems they face seeking political asylum in the USA. Aims to connect refugees with legal assistance, information, support, outreach and referrals. They are not a legal organisation but have experienced the process of seeking asylum themselves and offer pre-legal assistance. Their website includes information about finding lawyers in the USA.

Website: http://www.refugees.org/resources/for-lawyers/asylum-research/

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ARDHIS (France)
National France based organisation, undertaking social, cultural, educational and political activities with the aim to improve the human rights of LGBT people iin the area of immigration and residency.
ARDHIS, C/O Centre Gai et Lesbien, 3 Rue Keller, 75011, Paris, France

Email: ardhis@writeme.com
Website: http://www.ardhis.org

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Other European Countries
For a list of general refugee organisations (not specifically for LGBT people) in European countries, see the listing on the website of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles:

Weblink: http://www.ecre.org/

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National Asylum Partnership on Sexual Minorities (USA)
Heartland Alliance's National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) is dedicated to ensuring human rights protections and access to justice for all immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers.

NIJC provides direct legal services to and advocates for these populations through policy reform, impact litigation, and public education. Since its founding three decades ago, NIJC has been unique in blending individual client advocacy with broad-based systemic change.

Weblink: http://www.immigrantjustice.org/programs/national-asylum-partnership-sexual-minorities