Not Just Advice – Legal Strategy That Works
Refusals aren’t the end. We understand how stressful a refusal can be. With our expert team by your side, your immigration appeal is prepared, submitted, and represented with precision for the best chance of success.
Contact us at 020 3384 4389 and let our expert team handle your immigration appeal.
- Featured In
- Excellent Reviews
- 5.0 rating
“UK Immigration Solicitors transformed my stressful visa refusal into a successful appeal. Their expert knowledge and attention to detail made all the difference. Highly recommend.”
John T.
- Excellent Reviews
4.7 (832 Reviews)
Worried About Your Visa Appeal? Get Expert Advice Now
You can appeal to the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) if you think there’s a legal mistake with a decision made by the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Court). The tribunal is independent of government and will listen to both sides of the argument before making a decision.
Quick Insights About Immigration Appeals
Benefits of Appeal
Appealing a UK visa refusal gives you the chance to legally challenge a Home Office decision. If successful, it can overturn a refusal, leading to the grant of your visa. This process allows you to correct casework errors and present a comprehensive case, potentially saving you the time and expense of a new application.
Types of Appeals
In the UK, there are two primary types of immigration appeals: the First-tier Tribunal Appeal and the Upper Tribunal Appeal. A First-tier Appeal is a direct challenge to the initial Home Office refusal, while an Upper Tribunal Appeal is made if you believe the First-tier Tribunal made a legal error in its decision.
Eligibility for a UK immigration appeal is strictly limited. You generally have a right to appeal only if the Home Office decision has denied a human rights claim, an asylum or humanitarian protection claim, or a claim made under the EU Settlement Scheme. The refusal letter will specify if you have the right to appeal.
Documents Required
For a UK immigration appeal, you need to provide all original application documents, the Home Office refusal letter, and new evidence that directly addresses each reason for refusal. This includes documents proving relationships, financial stability, or any other details the Home Office found unsatisfactory.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a fee paid by most visa and immigration applicants for over six months to access the National Health Service (NHS). It is not required for British citizenship applications, as permanent residents contribute via taxes like National Insurance.
The cost of an immigration appeal in the UK varies. The government tribunal fee is £80 for a paper-based decision or £140 for an oral hearing. This does not include legal fees, which can range widely depending on the complexity of your case and the solicitor’s experience.
When applying for a Spouse visa, you must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge to cover your healthcare costs while in the UK. Since February 2024, the surcharge has been £1,035 per year, following a 86% increase. For in-country application, it will be for 30 months and out-country application, it will be for 33 months.
An oral hearing for a UK immigration appeal is an in-person or remote court session where a judge hears your case. You, your legal representative, and a Home Office presenting officer will attend. You’ll present evidence and may be questioned by the judge or the presenting officer. It is a key opportunity to advocate for yourself.
British citizenship applications are typically processed within six months. However, some applications may take longer, especially if more information or checks are required by the Home Office.
A paper hearing is a type of immigration appeal where a judge makes a decision based only on the written evidence you and the Home Office have submitted. Neither you nor your legal representative will attend a physical or remote hearing. The judge reviews all documents in private and sends you a written decision.
This visa allows you to get married or register a civil partnership, but you cannot work, study, or live in the UK. You must use this visa solely to visit and get married.
You have 14 days to appeal from inside the UK and 28 days from outside. The average processing time is approximately 43 weeks, though this varies by case type. For urgent appeals, you must demonstrate compelling reasons, but these are granted only in exceptional circumstances like serious medical issues.
Take Control of Your Immigration Appeal
From reviewing your refusal to present your case in hearings, we ensure your appeal is handled expertly and confidently.
Benefits
Let our expertise be your strongest asset in challenging a refusal and securing your future. We will turn your appeal into a winning legal case.
97.37%
Success Rate
37,573
Applications Approved
93.7%
Immigration Appeal Win Rate
4.9/5
Average Rating
From Consultation to Visa Approval
Our immigration specialists streamline your application process by clearly identifying which evidence and strategies will strengthen your case.
By aligning your unique circumstances with Home Office requirements, we help you focus on high-impact preparations while addressing any potential weaknesses in your application.
From Consultation to Visa Approval
Our immigration specialists streamline your application process by clearly identifying which evidence and strategies will strengthen your case.
By aligning your unique circumstances with Home Office requirements, we help you focus on high-impact preparations while addressing any potential weaknesses in your application.
Maximising Your Approval Chances
Our goal is to maximise the chances of your visa being approved the first time. By carefully reviewing your circumstances, identifying potential weaknesses, and preparing strong supporting evidence, we significantly reduce the risk of refusals. Every application is checked by senior immigration solicitors who apply their expertise to make your case as clear, accurate, and persuasive as possible. This attention to detail is what improves success rates and helps our clients move forward with confidence.
Success Rate Optimisation
We carefully analyse every detail of your application to maximise the chances of approval. By addressing weaknesses, strengthening supporting evidence, and ensuring full compliance with Home Office rules, we optimise your case for success. This thorough approach significantly improves approval rates and gives you confidence throughout the process.
Risk Mitigation Strategies
We identify potential risks in your application early and put safeguards in place to address them. By preparing strong evidence, clarifying complex points, and anticipating Home Office concerns, we minimise the chance of delays or refusals.
-
Evidence-based case preparation
-
Home Office compliance checks
-
Success rate optimisation
-
Risk mitigation strategies
From Consultation to Visa Approval
Our immigration specialists streamline your application process by clearly identifying which evidence and strategies will strengthen your case.
By aligning your unique circumstances with Home Office requirements, we help you focus on high-impact preparations while addressing any potential weaknesses in your application.
Maximising Your Approval Chances
Our goal is to maximise the chances of your visa being approved the first time. By carefully reviewing your circumstances, identifying potential weaknesses, and preparing strong supporting evidence, we significantly reduce the risk of refusals. Every application is checked by senior immigration solicitors who apply their expertise to make your case as clear, accurate, and persuasive as possible. This attention to detail is what improves success rates and helps our clients move forward with confidence.
Success Rate Optimisation
We carefully analyse every detail of your application to maximise the chances of approval. By addressing weaknesses, strengthening supporting evidence, and ensuring full compliance with Home Office rules, we optimise your case for success. This thorough approach significantly improves approval rates and gives you confidence throughout the process.
Risk Mitigation Strategies
We identify potential risks in your application early and put safeguards in place to address them. By preparing strong evidence, clarifying complex points, and anticipating Home Office concerns, we minimise the chance of delays or refusals.
Work With Trusted, SRA-Regulated UK Immigration Experts
Your immigration journey is too important to risk on unqualified or unregulated help. Every case we handle is prepared by SRA-regulated solicitors who apply structured legal reasoning, precise documentation checks and full compliance with Home Office and UKVI rules.
Our accreditations are your assurance that you are working with a reputable, experienced and highly trained legal team. We combine decades of immigration expertise with strict professional standards to give you clarity, confidence and complete peace of mind — no matter which visa or application route you are pursuing.
What is Immigration Appeals?
An immigration appeal is the legal process of challenging an unfavourable UK visa, settlement, or asylum decision. It allows individuals to contest the outcome by presenting arguments and evidence through specific procedural steps to overturn or change the decision.
Due to the intricacies of immigration law, seeking legal guidance is crucial in determining the appropriate course of action, whether it involves reconsideration, an appeal, or another type of review.
When Can You Appeal an Immigration Decision?
The visa decision letter will state your appeal rights. You have the right to appeal a visa decision in the following cases:
- Your request for humanitarian protection or asylum may be denied or revoked.
- Your protection status might be cancelled.
- Reject your human rights
- Cancel your British citizenship.
- Deny, revoke, modify, or restrict your status, stay, or conditions under the EU Settlement Scheme.
- Refuse or cancel a travel or family permit under the EU Settlement Scheme, or restrict entrance or exit rights.
- Decide to deport you or refuse to issue a residence document in accordance with the EEA Regulations.
- Deny or revoke your frontier worker permit, or deport you.
- If you are travelling under the S2 healthcare system, you may face deportation, visa revocation, or refusal.
Even if your application meets all of the requirements mentioned above, the UK Home Office may nonetheless tell you that you are not eligible to appeal. Our appeal application may explain why a right of appeal should have been granted, and the case should go to a hearing.
Pro tip
Start online via MyHMCTS. The quickest, standard route is to lodge the appeal using MyHMCTS and follow the platform’s step-by-step guidance.
Types of Immigration Appeals We Handle
At UK Immigration Solicitors, we handle a wide range of immigration appeals in the UK. From family visa refusals to asylum and deportation cases, our immigration experts provide skilled representation across the following appeal types:
Appeal Type | Common Scenarios | Key Legal Grounds | Success Factors |
First-tier Tribunal Appeals | Challenging Home Office refusals of visas or leave to remain | Immigration Rules, Human Rights Act, proportionality | Strong documentation, legal representation, and clear evidence |
Entry-Clearance Appeals | Spouse, partner, family, or dependent visa refusals | Article 8 ECHR (family/private life), Appendix FM | Proof of relationship, financial stability, consistency of evidence |
Human Rights Appeals | Private and family life claims under Article 8 | Article 8 ECHR, best interests of children | Family ties, integration, proportionality arguments |
Asylum & Protection Appeals | Asylum refusals, humanitarian protection, Article 3 claims | Refugee Convention, Article 3 ECHR | Credible testimony, country evidence, expert/medical reports |
Deportation & Removal Appeals | Deportation after conviction, removal decisions | Article 8 ECHR, proportionality, exception criteria | Rehabilitation evidence, family impact, public interest balance |
Administrative & Judicial Reviews | When no direct right of appeal exists | Legality, fairness, and irrationality of the Home Office decision | Procedural errors, legal misapplication, and fairness breaches |
Appealing a Visa or Immigration Decision in the UK
File an appeal with the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum) if you think a mistake was made in processing your visa or immigration application.
In the UK, those who believe their visa or immigration application has been wrongfully rejected can appeal the decision.
While the right to appeal is an important part of immigration law, it is only available under the existing system in restricted circumstances.
The Immigration Act of 2014 eliminated the majority of immigration appeal rights in the UK, so most immigration refusals are not appealable. Human rights, asylum, and the EU Settlement Scheme are currently the only areas where an appeal can be filed.
Your decision letter will specify whether or not you are entitled to an appeal.
If you do not have the right to appeal, you may consider requesting an Administrative Review of your case, as explained below.
How to File an Immigration Appeal in the UK?
If eligible, your appeal must be filed with the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). The usual timeframe for this is 14 days for those in the UK and 28 days for those outside the country.
Process:
- Submit an online written appeal outlining your grounds.
- Option to request an appeal hearing.
- Representation may vary (self, legal adviser, UK-based, or overseas).
Grounds for Appeal:
- Incorrect application of the law
- Mishandling of evidence
- Procedural errors
Evidence Required:
- Documents proving errors in the decision.
- New supporting evidence.
- Legal arguments showing flaws in the Home Office decision.
Fees:
- £80 (without a hearing)
- £140 (with a hearing)
Fee support may be available depending on circumstances. You may be able to request that your appeal be considered on an urgent basis if you can demonstrate adequate grounds.
The verdict will be made by the First-tier Tribunal after they have reviewed the evidence and heard arguments from both parties. If the tribunal rules in your favour, the Home Office UK may be required to change its decision or reassess your application.
Pro tip
Maintain meticulous records. Always include Home Office reference numbers, case IDs, and copies of all previous correspondence in your appeal bundle.
Appealing to the Upper Tribunal
If you are dissatisfied with an outcome made by the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) during your appeal, you may have the opportunity to raise further objections to the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), depending upon the specifics of your case.
This step involves serious legal problems and usually requires legal advice.
Tribunal Process Overview
The first step is to seek permission from the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) to appeal to the Upper Tribunal. This is only possible if you can demonstrate that the First-tier Tribunal made a legal error.
Applications must be filed within 14 days of the First-tier Tribunal’s decision (or 28 days if applying from outside the UK).
The application must clearly set out the alleged legal errors.
If permission is granted, the Upper Tribunal will review the case. Reviews may be decided on written legal arguments alone, without a fresh hearing.
Possible Outcomes
The Upper Tribunal may:
- Uphold the original decision,
- Overturn the decision, or
- Return the case to the First-tier Tribunal with specific directions.
If the First-tier Tribunal refuses permission, you may apply directly to the Upper Tribunal for permission to appeal.
Administrative Review of Visa Decisions
An Administrative Review can be requested for decisions for which the right to appeal is not automatically granted.
Visa applicants who are unwilling to go through the tribunal appeals process might have their cases re-examined through an Administrative Review. The Administrative Review can investigate points-based system choices that were miscalculated, overlooked essential documents or information, and law-application errors.
A second opinion on your application is possible through an Administrative Review, which is conducted by various personnel within the Home Office.
Process of Administrative Review
An Administrative Review is available only where the Home Office decision letter confirms eligibility. This is commonly linked to refusals under the points-based system and certain non-settlement visa categories.
Strict deadlines apply:
- 14 days to submit a request if you are in the UK.
- 28 days if you are outside the UK.
Applications must be submitted using the official Home Office form, typically completed online, and a fee is payable.
The request must:
Identify specific errors in law or fact within the decision.
Avoid introducing new evidence or arguments, as the process is confined to the original application.
Following submission, the Home Office will re-examine the case. Possible outcomes include:
- Upholding the refusal.
- Withdrawing the decision.
- Substituting a new decision.
Apply for Immigration Reconsideration
If you are a British citizen and feel that your immigration or visa application was wrongly processed, you may be able to ask for a review.
A reconsideration is not a formal appeal or review; it’s a request for the Home Office to look at your application again because of fresh evidence or corrections to flaws in the facts.
There are several cases when this procedure is more appropriate than administrative reviews or formal appeals.
Not all decisions are eligible for reconsideration, so it is critical to understand the conditions under which this option is feasible.
How to Request a Reconsideration
Reconsideration requests aren’t available for all visa and immigration decisions. Eligibility depends on specific Home Office guidelines, and it’s typically offered when there’s a clear processing error.
If your decision letter mentions that reconsideration is an option, you can request one by writing to the office that sent the decision.
You must act fast! Requests should generally be submitted within 14 days of receiving your decision letter.
What to include
- In your request, you must clearly explain the error you believe was made.
- Include relevant reference numbers and copies of previous documents.
- You cannot submit new evidence.
The Home Office decides whether to grant a reconsideration. If they agree, they will review the original decision and may change it if an error is found.
What is the Difference Between Visa Reconsideration and Appeals?
Aspect | Reconsideration | Appeal |
Purpose | Corrects clear errors or oversights in the application process | Formal legal review of the entire case, often with new evidence |
Formality | Less formal, handled internally by the Home Office | Formal process through the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal |
Scope | Limited to the original evidence and documentation | Can address broader legal and procedural issues; new evidence allowed |
Outcome | Quick correction of simple errors | Full re-evaluation of the decision; may set legal precedent |
Evidence | No new evidence introduced | New evidence and arguments can be submitted |
Do you know?
Charities and online toolkits are available to assist with immigration appeals. Specialist resources, such as those from Right to Remain and various legal aid clinics, provide free toolkits and checklists to help unrepresented appellants prepare their cases effectively.
How to Check Immigration & Asylum Tribunal Decisions
The Home Office provides an online system for decisions made by the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). The Appeal immigration decisions from the First-tier Tribunal are not publicly available.
You can find Upper Tribunal appeal results using various criteria, including:
- Case number
- Appellant’s name
- Judge’s name
- Appellant’s country of origin
- Specific keywords
The system allows users to access past decisions to understand the Upper Tribunal’s legal reasoning and outcomes in similar cases. These decisions typically address complex legal issues and are appeals against rulings from the First-tier Tribunal.
How to Win an Immigration Appeal
You can greatly increase your chances of a positive outcome with the assistance of an experienced immigration lawyer by presenting a compelling case that demonstrates your eligibility under UK immigration requirements.
To increase your chances of success, you should make sure that:
- Legal grounds and facts are presented for refusals.
- There is no typo or grammatical error, and each paper answers the questions stated in the rejection.
- If applicable to your visa type, financial, family, or professional ties to your native country are clearly demonstrated.
- Any issues made during the process are addressed in your Appellant’s Bundle and supported by strong evidence.
- All filings are done on time and in accordance with the court’s procedural guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A person can ask a higher authority to reconsider a negative immigration decision, like a rejection of a visa or asylum, by following the immigration appeals process.
An immigration appeal may take several months to over a year, depending on the location and complexity of the case.
While the overall success rate for visa appeals is around 45%, it is significantly higher for certain case types, such as Human Rights Appeals (51%).
The fees for a First-tier Tribunal immigration appeal are:
- £80 for an appeal decided on the information and evidence you submit (without a hearing).
- £140 for an appeal decided at a hearing that you can attend.
Our lawyer fees depend on your case, not a flat rate. We agree on a clear, transparent cost upfront, so you always know what you’re paying for.
If your UK immigration application is denied, you typically have three main options:
- Reapply
- Administrative review
- Appeal
If your application for a UK visitor visa was denied, you will not be able to file an appeal unless the denial was due to a violation of your human rights or the rights of a family member or national from an EEA country.
Blog
Read Our Latest Blogs
Anyone wishing to travel, study, work, or settle in the United Kingdom must comprehend the procedure for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), …
If you want to marry someone in the UK, you may get a UK fiancé visa to do so. There are, however, …
Introduction The path that the UK took to legalise gay marriage shows how the country’s views on LGBTQ+ rights are changing. There …
Services
Services You Might be Interested In
Request a Free Case Review Appointment
Start your free case review by booking a quick assessment so our team can understand your situation and guide you to the right next steps.
Speak directly with an immigration specialist at a time that works for you.
Call Us Now
020 3384 4389 Our lines are open 24/7, 365 days a year.