Receiving an immigration refusal can be particularly serious where the decision affects your family life, protection, residence or ability to remain in the United Kingdom.
Some Home Office decisions carry a legal right of appeal to the Immigration and Asylum Chamber. Others do not. Understanding which position applies, and acting within the relevant deadline, is an important first step.
Knightsbridge Immigration provides initial case triage and can refer matters requiring appeal advice and representation to an appropriately authorised solicitor.
About Immigration Appeals
An immigration appeal asks an independent tribunal to consider a decision made by the Home Office.
A right of appeal does not arise from every immigration refusal. Rights of appeal exist in particular categories of decision, including certain human rights and protection decisions and other decisions where legislation provides an appeal right.
Your Home Office decision should normally explain whether you have a right of appeal.
Understanding Your Position
Before anything is submitted, the decision needs to be considered alongside the circumstances that led to it.
This may involve establishing:
- what the Home Office decided;
- whether a right of appeal exists;
- the deadline for appealing;
- your immigration history;
- the evidence previously provided;
- whether circumstances have changed; and
- whether another legal or immigration route also requires consideration.
An appeal is not simply another visa application. The issues raised by the decision and the evidence supporting the case need to be properly understood.
How Knightsbridge Helps
Knightsbridge can undertake the initial triage of your enquiry.
We can obtain the decision, gather the initial background information and organise relevant documents before determining whether specialist representation is required.
Where the matter falls outside our authorised level, we can introduce you to an appropriately authorised solicitor.
The solicitor will independently consider whether they can act and advise you on the merits, grounds and strategy of the appeal. They will issue their own client care letter, confirm their fees and take responsibility for the substantive legal work.
Where agreed, Knightsbridge may continue to assist with administrative matters such as obtaining and organising documents.
Appeal Deadlines
Appeal deadlines are important.
The current general deadline is 14 days after receiving the decision where the person is in the UK and 28 days where the person is outside the UK, although different circumstances can affect the position.
If the deadline has already passed, specialist advice may still be required rather than assuming nothing further can be done.
Situations Requiring Closer Analysis
Cases may require particular attention where they involve:
- human rights or family life;
- protection claims;
- deportation or removal;
- EU Settlement Scheme decisions;
- previous appeals;
- extensive immigration histories;
- allegations affecting credibility;
- new evidence; or
- missed or imminent deadlines.
Your Journey at a Glance
Decision received → Initial triage → Confirm appeal position → Specialist solicitor instructed → Appeal prepared → Tribunal process → Decision and next steps
Unsure What to Do After a Refusal?
Send us the decision and an outline of your immigration history. We can identify the appropriate level of assistance and, where necessary, connect you with specialist representation.
