APPEAL of REFUSED UK VISA APPLICATIONS - Where to file appeal

_ Appeals for denied UK visas or entry clearance are filed either with the post that issued the decision (British Embassy – Philippines) or with the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal (IAT).

According to ECO-Friendly, the best approach, of course, is to avoid filing an appeal by submitting an accurately filled-up application form together with a complete set of supporting documents, in order to obtain a favorable decision from the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO).

ECO-Friendly adds that if an accurate UK Visa application form is filed, coupled with a comprehensive compilation of evidence and documents that will prove that applicant is eligible for the UK Visa applied for, then the ECO will definitely be satisfied which will certainly result in a favorable decision.

It is understandable, however, that applicants often make lapses in the filing of their UK Visa application which sometimes prove fatal to the application and causes its eventual refusal.

Under the old UKBA rule, if the appellant for the UK Visa opts to file the appeal with the post that issued the refusal, it is the Entry Clearance Manager (ECM) or the supervisor of the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) which denied the initial application, who will receive the appeal. The ECM will then evaluate and review the refusal decision of the ECO.

If, upon appraisal of the additional documents submitted by the appellant together with the IAFT-2, the ECM determines that the appellant is eligible for the UK spouse visa or UK fiancée visa being applied for, the ECO’s decision to refuse the application shall be overturned.

If, however, the ECO’s decision is maintained, the APPEAL BUNDLE will be sent to the UK for further evaluation by the Immigration Asylum Tribunal (IAT). 


NEW RULES FOR THE APPEAL OF REFUSED UK VISA 
In a recent, development, however, the rules for the filing of appeals have been amended. 

Thus, effective January 19, 2012, all appeals from decisions refusing an application for a UK Visa issued on or after this date shall be sent by mail directly either to the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) FTTIAC or, if the appellant decides to make the appeal online, should be sent to the UK Ministry of Justice website. 

Likewise, an appeal fee of £80 for paper consideration and £140 for oral hearings are now being collected by the UKBA.

According to the UK government, users of the appeal system who are capable of paying should now contribute to the appeal system’s cost. 


For a detailed information on how to appeal your denied applications, do not hesitate to contact ECO-Friendly.