The UKBA is responsible for considering asylum applications. In order to do so effectively they must fully take into account relevant information from the applicant's application and evidence, and then review it in conjunction with available country of origin information, as well as other relevant factors.

The UKBA’s department called the Country of Origin Information Service (COIS) collates and summarises information on countries giving rise to asylum claims in the UK. It was the use of those reports that the Independent Chief Inspector investigated between October 2010 and May 2010. The ICI concluded:

• The UKBA needs to adopt a consistent approach to the use of COIS reports;
• 17% of decisions demonstrated a selective use of COI reports or contained assertions which the full range of country information did not support;
• the information in the COI reports was sometimes used selectively or otherwise inappropriately in decision making;
• COI was also included selectively in statements of policy with the risk that case owners could make decisions without taking into account all available evidence;
• there was no consistent coordination of the various COI documents produced by the Agency; and
• in the absence of a COI report, case owners operated very different approaches to researching COI and there was no mechanism to pool obtained knowledge.

The ICI said that the reports play a vital part in ensuring that decision makers are equipped with the most up-to-date and accurate information about conditions in other countries, but improvements needed to be made, and we wholeheartedly agree.

The full report can be found here.

Tags: Asylum, Country Changes, Policy

The UKBA published guidance for Libyans who wish to extend their leave outside of the normal Immigration Rules. They say that:

‘Where an individual is unable to meet some requirements of the Rules or provide some of the required evidence they should state why this is not possible, explaining any exceptional circumstances. We will consider applications on a case-by-case basis and we may use our discretion when reviewing cases.

Any Libyan national, with continuing lawful leave or previous lawful leave that has expired since 22 February 2011, who does not meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules but are unable to return to Libya may now be allowed to temporarily extend their stay in the UK.’

Applications can be made on the FLR(O) form. Where you cannot meet the fee you will need to complete an additional questionnaire which can be found here. Discretion may be applied in exceptional circumstances to grant a further period of leave for up to 6 months outside the Rules.

It is currently unclear how these applications will be considered given recent events in Libya, however, until this guidance is revised it may still be worth making the applications.

The UKBA accepts that Libyans in the UK may be unable to return due to the current situation in Libya. The UKBA asks that you keep proof of original travel plans as evidence of your intention to comply with your original visa requirements. They ask that you monitor the situation, and make arrangements to return as soon as it is safe to do so.

The UKBA does not, however, confirm how any future immigration applications will be considered if you are forced to overstay your leave. It is likely ... Read More...

Tags: Libya, Asylum, Advice, Country Changes

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Tags: Deportation, Asylum, Iraq, Mistreatment, ECHR

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More than a quarter of a million people have fled ethnic fighting in southern Kyrgyzstan, the UN refugee agency says.
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Tags: Somalia