Insights
You have been refused: what now?
How to read a refusal letter, what options may exist, and when you need an adviser authorised for review or appeal work.
Published by WLIS Admin
A refusal letter is a legal document, not just bad news. Almost everything you need in order to decide what to do next is in it, so read it properly the day it arrives.
A note about who can help
West London Immigration Services is authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority at Level 1, for straightforward applications within the Immigration Rules. We do not provide administrative review, appeal or tribunal representation. If you have been refused, we can explain the decision and whether any further work is within our authorisation, and signpost you to an adviser authorised at the appropriate level. You can also search the regulator's register using the Find an immigration adviser service on GOV.UK.
Read the decision first
The letter tells you what the decision is, whether any remedy is available against it, and any date by which you must act. Two people refused on the same route can have different options depending on where they applied from and what kind of application it was.
The options that may exist
- An appeal to the tribunal — available only for certain decisions, such as the refusal of a human-rights or protection claim.
- Administrative review — available for some other decisions, as a check for caseworking errors on the evidence already submitted.
- A new application — sometimes the right answer, particularly where the refusal turned on a document that can be supplied properly the second time.
Appeals and administrative reviews need an adviser authorised at IAA Level 2 or 3, or a solicitor. A new straightforward application may be something we can help with, once the refusal has been understood.
Deadlines depend on the decision
Any time limit for a review or an appeal depends on the type of decision and on where you are, and it is stated in the letter. Time runs from the date of the decision, not the date you read it. Check the letter the day it arrives and contact an appropriately authorised adviser promptly.
What to look for in the letter
- The part of the Immigration Rules the caseworker relied on.
- Whether any allegation of deception or false representations has been made, because that has consequences well beyond this application.
- Whether the refusal is about evidence that was missing, or about a conclusion drawn from evidence that was supplied.
- The date on the decision and any date given for responding.
What to do this week
- Note the decision date and any date in the letter somewhere you will see it.
- Keep the full letter, including any annexes.
- Do not make a new application until you know whether doing so affects any remedy you already have.
How WLIS can help
- 1 We check that the route suits your plans and that the matter is a straightforward one within our IAA Level 1 authorisation.
- 2 We review your eligibility and your documents, and explain plainly anything that needs attention.
- 3 We give you a document checklist written for your circumstances rather than a generic one.
- 4 We prepare the application form and supporting documents, and you check and approve the final information before anything is submitted.
- 5 We help with submission, biometrics or identity steps, and your eVisa and UKVI account after the decision.
Questions clients often ask
Does a refusal stop me applying again in future?
An ordinary refusal usually does not, though it must be declared on later applications. A refusal that includes a finding of deception is different: it can lead to a re-entry ban and affect applications for years, which is why that wording in a letter matters so much.
Can WLIS take on my appeal?
No. Appeal and tribunal work, and administrative review, are outside our IAA Level 1 authorisation. We can explain the decision and signpost you to an adviser authorised at the appropriate level. Any time limit depends on the decision and on where you are, so check the letter and act promptly.
Have a question about your own case?
General guides cannot cover every situation. Tell us what has happened and we will confirm whether we can help.
The enquiry form is on this site and reaches us directly. Please do not send identity documents until we ask for them.