The Law Society of England and Wales has urged ministers to scrap plans to abolish the specialist First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) and replace it with a lay-adjudicator body. In a 22 April statement the professional body said the proposal—currently out for consultation—risks repeating past policy failures and undermines the independence of the appeals system. Government papers envisage a streamlined process staffed by non-legally qualified adjudicators, aimed at cutting the 42-week average wait for asylum appeals. The Law Society counters that similar lay panels were abandoned in the early 2000s as “not fit for purpose,” and argues that delays stem from poor-quality initial Home Office decisions, not tribunal procedure. Corporate immigration advisers note that the specialist tribunal currently handles work-visa revocations and sponsor-licence refusals as well as asylum cases. Replacing it with a new, less legally-skilled body could lengthen uncertainty for employers contesting sponsorship suspensions or civil penalty notices.
![Law Society Warns Tribunal Shake-Up Threatens Fairness of Immigration Appeals]()
For organisations and individuals seeking practical help to avoid such uncertainties, VisaHQ provides end-to-end assistance with UK visa applications, sponsor-licence compliance and related documentation—minimising the likelihood of refusals and subsequent appeals. More information is available at https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/
The consultation deadline has been extended to 6 May following criticism that the original Easter-period window was too short. Stakeholders—including in-house mobility teams—may wish to submit evidence on how predictable, expert appellate review underpins hiring confidence for international staff. Any structural change will require primary legislation, so the earliest realistic start date is late 2027. Until then, existing tribunal processes—including the Upper Tribunal route—remain unchanged.
For organisations and individuals seeking practical help to avoid such uncertainties, VisaHQ provides end-to-end assistance with UK visa applications, sponsor-licence compliance and related documentation—minimising the likelihood of refusals and subsequent appeals. More information is available at https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/
The consultation deadline has been extended to 6 May following criticism that the original Easter-period window was too short. Stakeholders—including in-house mobility teams—may wish to submit evidence on how predictable, expert appellate review underpins hiring confidence for international staff. Any structural change will require primary legislation, so the earliest realistic start date is late 2027. Until then, existing tribunal processes—including the Upper Tribunal route—remain unchanged.
