If your visa or other entry clearance for the United Kingdom (UK) has been refused, you may wish to make an appeal to the Immigration and Asylum  Tribunal (IAT) First Tier Tribunal. Formerly known as the  Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT).

The Immigration and Asylum Chambers were established on 15 February 2010 in both tiers of the Unified Tribunals framework created by the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. The new chambers replace the former Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.

The First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) is an independent Tribunal dealing with appeals against decisions made by the Home Secretary and his officials in immigration, asylum and nationality matters.

The main types of appeals are made against decisions to:

• Refuse a person asylum in the UK.
• Refuse a person entry to, or leave to remain in, the UK.
• Deport someone already in the UK.

Appeals are heard by one or more Immigration Judges who are sometimes accompanied by non legal members of the Tribunal. Immigration Judges and non legal members are appointed by the Lord Chancellor and together form an independent judicial body. Appeals take place in a number of hearing centres all over the United Kingdom.

This website is for the First-tier Tribunal. For information about the Upper Tribunal please visit Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). If you have an appeal already in the system and would like to know what these changes mean for you, the transitional arrangements link on the right hand side provides more information.

The First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber (FTTIAC) forms part of the Tribunals Service, an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice. The implementation of FTTIAC in February 2010 superseded the former Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT).

The purpose of the hearing is to hear and decide appeals against decisions made by the Home Office in matters of immigration and asylum.

The person making the appeal (the appellant), their representative and a representative from the Home Office can attend the hearing. The Immigration Judge (or panel) will decide whether the appeal against the decision of the Home Office should be allowed or dismissed. This will be provided in writing and is called a "determination".

In certain circumstances, either the "appellant" or ´respondent´ may apply for permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal.

You may have questions about appealing against a visa refusal or an in country Home Office decision for Further Leave to Remain, for instance:

• Who can appeal?
• How do I make an appeal and where will it be heard?
• Is there a time limit and can I appeal beyond the deadline?
• How much does it cost and do I need an Immigration Adviser?
• Who decides the outcome of an appeal and can the decision be challenged?
• What happens when the Entry Clearance Manager receives my appeal?

On 19 December 2011 the UK government’s Ministry of Justice brought in new charges for some asylum, immigration and visa appeal and introduced new procedures for submitting appeals against refusals. The UK Border Agency announced new fees of £80 for a ‘paper consideration’, a decision made by an Immigration Judge on papers without a hearing, and £140 for a full oral hearing at a tribunal will be applied to appeals against decisions taken on or after 19 December 2011.

For information on attending an Immigration Surgery to discuss your appeal, and to receive regular Free updates in the Immigration Matters Newsletter, enter your name and email address in the boxes below and click 'Submit'.