The experiences of temporary grants of leave to remain among former unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the UK: a qualitative study

This study explores the lived experiences of young adults in the UK who arrived as unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) and were subsequently granted successive short periods (≤30 months) of discretionary leave under the Ten-Year Pathway. We draw attention to the impact of temporary leave arrangements on young people’s development and functioning. Using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), eight in-depth, semi-structured interviews with former UASC who experienced protracted immigration insecurity were analysed. Three core group experiential statements (GETs) emerged: (1) ‘What I could have been’ – lost educational and career and relationship opportunities due to interrupted stability; (2) ‘The trauma every day you relive’ – how ongoing uncertainty impedes psychological recovery from pre-migration and journey trauma; and (3) ‘Why would I be lying to you’ – the emotional toll of being disbelieved within the asylum process. These findings underscore the need for asylum policies that prioritise developmental continuity and emotional security for unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people.