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UK sets 24-week target to speed up asylum appeals

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • The UK government has set a new 24-week target for asylum and immigration appeal decisions to reduce waiting times.
  • The measure aims to speed up the removal of individuals with no right to remain in the UK and reduce costs.
  • A new Independent Immigration Appeals Authority is also planned to further streamline the process.

The UK government has introduced a new 24-week target for asylum and immigration appeal decisions, aiming to significantly reduce the lengthy waiting times that have plagued the system. This new target, effective from August 12, applies to new appeals submitted to the First-tier Tribunal for non-detained foreign national offenders and individuals receiving asylum support.

For too long, asylum and immigration appeals have been plagued by delays, leaving taxpayers to foot the bill while cases drag on for months and sometimes years.

— Anna TurleyMinister for Border Security and Asylum, explaining the rationale behind the new target.

Currently, the average wait for an appeal decision stands at 67 weeks. The Home Office stated that the new target will enable cases to be resolved faster, decrease reliance on taxpayer-funded accommodation, and expedite the removal of those found to have no right to remain in the UK. Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Anna Turley, highlighted that the existing delays have been a burden on taxpayers.

This new 24-week target will see cases resolved faster, reduce reliance on taxpayer-funded accommodation and speed up the removal of those with no right to be in the UK.

— Anna TurleyMinister for Border Security and Asylum, detailing the expected benefits of the new policy.

More than 150,000 appeals are currently awaiting a hearing. To address this backlog and prevent future delays, the government plans to establish an Independent Immigration Appeals Authority (IIAA). This new body will operate alongside the First-tier Tribunal and gradually take over new cases, with independent adjudicators prioritizing urgent and public interest cases, including "high-harm FNOs and dubious human rights claims."

Wider reform is therefore needed to ensure that the system can deal with cases more quickly and prevent it from becoming a barrier to removal.

— UK Home OfficeStatement on the need for broader reforms to the asylum and immigration system.

These reforms are part of a broader strategy to reduce the cost of supporting asylum seekers and increase removals. The government reported a £1 billion decrease in asylum costs since the 2024 general election and reiterated its commitment to ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers.

a simpler, faster route for deciding appeals.

— UK GovernmentDescription of the intended function of the new Independent Immigration Appeals Authority.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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