Immigration Solicitors

On 8 February 2010, the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman, Ann Abraham, published a report into the immigration system entitled Fast and Fair?; She found that the UK Border Agency (UKBA) have shown “numerous examples of very poor customer service”. The majority of complaints made to the UKBA are from people who are facing “long delays awaiting a decision on their application”. She also found “consistent failures in responding to correspondence and complaints, mislaid files and poor record keeping, failure to manage customers’ expectations (or unreasonably raising them) and poor standards of advice and information…”

Whilst the UKBA have made significant progress towards clearing their legacy backlog in asylum applications, the report makes clear that the UKBA have allowed backlogs to build up in other areas such as with applications for leave to remain from illegal entrants and overstayers and applications to remain under European law. Read the full report.

But do not despair; delay by the UKBA may actually HELP YOUR CASE. The UKBA’s recently updated Enforcement Instructions (January 2010) make clear that any delay of 4 years or more will weigh in your favour when making a decision on your application.

If your application has been outstanding for 4 years or more and you require legal advice please contact us on

020 7923 4020

.