Visa Refusals, Immigration Appeals and Judicial Review

Which remedy applies to your refusal?

Your refusal letter states whether you have a right of appeal, a right to administrative review, or neither. Getting this right matters, because using the wrong one wastes the time limit.

Administrative review

Available for most points-based refusals (Skilled Worker, Student, Global Talent, Innovator Founder, settlement on those routes). A different caseworker checks for caseworking errors. You cannot submit new evidence, so it only works where the Home Office misread what you sent or misapplied the rules. Decisions usually take up to 6 months in the UK and 28 days for entry clearance.

Appeal to the First-tier Tribunal

Available where a human rights or protection claim is refused, including most partner and family refusals, private life applications, EU Settlement Scheme refusals and deportation decisions. An independent judge hears evidence, and new evidence can be submitted. Hearings currently take many months to list, though some are decided on the papers.

Judicial review

Where there is no appeal or review, or where a review has failed, the Upper Tribunal or Administrative Court can examine whether the decision was lawful. It is not a rehearing on the merits, but decisions that are irrational, procedurally unfair or based on a misreading of the rules can be quashed. A pre-action protocol letter is required first, and it often produces a reconsideration.

A fresh application

Often overlooked, and often the fastest and cheapest route. A new application that fixes the problem identified in the refusal can be granted in weeks. We always compare this option with the formal remedies.

How we handle your case

1. Refusal review within 24 hours

   Send us the refusal letter and your application. We identify the remedy, the deadline and the prospects, and give you a fixed-fee quote.

2. Grounds and evidence

   We draft the grounds of appeal or review, or the pre-action letter, and gather the evidence and witness statements needed.

3. Lodging and case management

   We lodge within the deadline, deal with the Tribunal's directions, prepare the bundle and skeleton argument and instruct counsel where a hearing needs specialist advocacy.

4. Hearing and outcome

   We represent you at the hearing, then deal with implementation: the Home Office must act on a successful appeal, and we make sure it does.

Sponsor licence refusals and revocations

There is no appeal against sponsor licence decisions. The remedy is judicial review, and speed matters because sponsored workers' permission is curtailed once a licence is revoked. See our dedicated page on sponsor licence suspension and revocation.

Fees and costs

Court and Tribunal fees are set by HM Courts and Tribunals Service and checked September 2026. We do not offer legal aid.

The refusal rules you need to know

Watch

The refusal rules you need to know

Why applications are refused and how to protect yours before you submit.

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Frequently asked questions