UK sets 24-week target to speed up asylum appeal

The UK government has implemented a new 24-week target for asylum and immigration appeal decisions in an effort to reduce lengthy waiting times and expedite the removal of individuals who do not have the right to remain in the country. This new target came into effect on August 12 and applies to new asylum and immigration appeals filed with the First-tier Tribunal, specifically for non-detained foreign national offenders (FNOs) and those receiving asylum support and accommodation.

The government reported that the average wait time for a case to be decided by a judge is currently 67 weeks.

According to a statement from the UK Home Office, the First-tier Tribunal is expected to hear these cases within 24 weeks of receiving them. This measure aims to ensure that people who are unsuccessful on appeal and have no right to remain in the UK can be removed more quickly, while also freeing up asylum accommodation and reducing costs.

Anna Turley, the Minister for Border Security and Asylum, stated that the existing system has been hindered by delays that have left taxpayers footing the bill for cases that drag on for months, sometimes even years.

The Home Office indicated that the target applies to "in-scope cases submitted to the First-tier Tribunal from August 12." Despite the efforts of the judiciary, over 150,000 appeals are still awaiting decision. The government emphasized the need for wider reform to improve the system's ability to handle cases promptly and prevent it from becoming an obstacle to removal.

The Immigration and Asylum Bill, which passed its second reading earlier this month, is expected to introduce the Independent Immigration Appeals Authority (IIAA), a body that will provide a faster route for resolving appeals. The IIAA would operate alongside the First-tier Tribunal for several years, gradually taking on new cases, allowing the tribunal to address its existing backlog.

Independent adjudicators working for the IAA would have the power to prioritize cases based on urgency and public interest, including high-harm FNOs and dubious human rights claims.

The government announced that asylum costs have already fallen by £1 billion since the 2024 general election and reiterated its commitment to ending the use of asylum hotels, with plans to close all such facilities by the end of the current parliamentary term. As of the latest announcement, 44 asylum hotels have been closed since April, June, and August, bringing the total to 44, with fewer than 160 asylum hotels remaining in use.

The government reported that nearly 10,000 FNOs have been removed from the UK, marking a 36% increase compared to the 21 months prior to the election.

The new timeframe for appeals involving non-detained FNOs ensures that these cases are also expedited. The government stated that this change will ensure that appeals from FNOs not held in detention are treated with the same urgency. Additionally, the government is increasing capacity in the appeals system, with sitting days in the First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber set to rise by 19% this year compared to the previous year.

These changes are intended to expedite case resolutions and contribute to taxpayer savings estimated at £6.9 billion, attributed to faster removals, reduced reliance on asylum accommodation, and lower associated costs.