Tribunals Service | Glossary | Feedback | Search | Contact us

Committed to clearer communication

Monday 18 January 2010

About us Case law Forms & Guidance Rules & Legislation Appeals Hearings FAQ

You are here > Home > About us

In this section About us

About us The Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) forms part of the Tribunals Service, an executive
agency of the Ministry of Justice. The implementation of AIT in 2005, superseded the former
Statistics
Immigration Appellant Authority (IAA).

Our purpose is to hear and decide appeals against decisions made by the Home Office in matters
of asylum, immigration and nationality.

Appeals are heard by one or more immigration judges and are sometimes accompanied by non
legal members of the tribunal. Immigration judges and non legal members are appointed by the
Lord Chancellor and together they form an independent judicial body.

We hear appeals in a number of hearing centres across the United Kingdom.

The person making the appeal (the applicant), their representative and a representative from the
Home Office will normally attend the hearing. The immigration judge (or panel) will decide whether
the appeal against the original decision of the Home Office should be allowed or dismissed. This
will be provided in writing and is called a 'determination'.

In certain circumstances, either the 'applicant' or 'respondent' may apply for a reconsideration of
the determination. The way in which the appeal is heard i.e. panel or single immigration judge, will
determine where an application for reconsideration should be lodged.

Following the implementation of the AIT in April 2005, a review of our services was carried out.
View the full AIT Review Report (April 2006) (558kb)

Top of Page

Download Adobe Reader | Accessibility | © Crown Copyright | Freedom of Information Sitemap