The latest tribunal statistics, published show that the average waiting time for appeals to be heard in the immigration tribunal is now 48 weeks. This is the time between the appeal being lodged and the appeal being heard.
The breakdown for different types of appeal reveals major disparities between different types of appeal, though, with waiting times for entry clearance appeals — for example for spouses or children applying to join family members in the UK — as high as 83 weeks. That is over a year and a half. With 51% of all entry clearance appeals being allowed in Q3 2016, that is a very considerable impact on a lot people wrongly kept apart by poor quality immigration decisions.
All
48 weeks
Asylum/Protection
34 weeks
Managed Migration
68 weeks
Entry Clearance Officer
83 weeks
Family Visit Visa
79 weeks
Human Rights
45 weeks
EEA Free Movement
33 weeks
Other (incl deportation and deprivation)
35 weeks
The trend is an upward one, with average waiting times in 2014/15 standing at 29 weeks and in 2015/16 standing at 34 weeks.
It seems that the immigration tribunal is being starved of funds which is causing a shortage of judges and support staff. I cannot help but think that the huge waiting time is another way to making appeals less attractive or useful and thus discourage refused immigration applicants from bringing legal challenges.
The firm has 40 staff that specialise in Immigration Law, Marriage Visas, Student Visas, Asylum, Business Visa, Tier 1 and 2, Entrepreneurs / Investors , Family Law, Divorce, Criminal Law, Civil Penalties, Civil Litigation, Housing, Welfare Benefits, Wills, Probate, Power of Attorneys, please call 01922 645 429 or email info@fountainsolicitors.com or visit our website www.fountainsolicitors.com
