Appeal a decision by the immigration and asylum tribunal
If you have a hearing
You or your representative will be told when and where your hearing will take place. You can check the daily courts lists on the day of your hearing to find out if anything has changed.
You may need to attend a pre-hearing first, where the tribunal will check that you’re ready for the full hearing to take place.
Bring copies of all the documents that you gave to the tribunal.
You can bring a friend to represent you - ask the judge at the beginning of the hearing if this is the case.
If you or your witness or representative is outside the UK and wants to give live video or audio evidence, contact the tribunal to request it. Tell the tribunal what country you, the witness or representative is in and what type of evidence is being given. You must do this as soon as possible.
Special requirements
Write to the Customer Enquiry Unit at least 2 weeks before your hearing if you need any special help, for example wheelchair access.
Customer Enquiry Unit
IA Field House
15-25 Breams Buildings
London
EC4A 1DZ
Private hearings or hearings by video
Hearings are usually carried out in public. If you have an important need (for example you think you’ll be put in danger if you go to the hearing), you can ask:
- for your name not to appear on any tribunal documents or court lists
- for the tribunal to be private and not open to the public
- to attend the hearing by video link
Asking for a male or female judge
You can ask for a male or female judge if you think there are issues in your appeal that make it appropriate. The tribunal will decide if it can do this.
Make your request as soon as possible when your apply, and no later than 7 days before the hearing.
If you cannot attend the hearing
You must attend the hearing yourself if you’re in the UK. You can also bring a solicitor or regulated immigration adviser with you.
If you’re not in the UK, you can ask a solicitor, regulated immigration adviser or the person who supported your application (your ‘sponsor’) to attend the hearing in your place.
You can only be represented at the hearing by a solicitor or regulated immigration adviser, your sponsor can not act on your behalf.
Your sponsor can not represent you at the hearing, they can only be:
- told the tribunal’s decision
- given information over the phone
You must write to the tribunal to tell them if your sponsor will be attending the hearing in your place. Include the case reference number of your appeal.
Children at the hearing
You can not take children into the hearing room with you. If you need to bring them to the tribunal, you’ll need to bring someone to look after them.
If your appeal can not be resolved at the hearing
If your appeal is not held on its scheduled day for any reason (for example there is not a judge available) it’ll be ‘adjourned’ and rescheduled for another day.
Your hearing may also be adjourned as ‘part heard’ if there is not enough time to finish it, or it can not be resolved on the day, for example because more evidence is needed.
The tribunal will arrange another hearing with the same people present.