Immigration Appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (IAC) — 2026 Guide

The refusal letter runs to 30 pages. Half of it recites law you already know. The other half attacks your credibility in paragraphs drafted to a template. A First-tier Tribunal appeal is where this is tested properly — before an independent judge, on evidence.

What can be appealed

• Refusal of a protection claim (asylum, humanitarian protection)
• Refusal of a human rights claim (Article 3, Article 8)
• Refusal under the EU Settlement Scheme
• Revocation of protection status
• Deprivation of citizenship (in some cases)

Time limits

14 days in-country. 28 days out-of-country. Detained fast-track cases have shorter limits. Late appeals need permission and “good reason.”

Grounds of appeal — the core document

Do not list complaints. The judge is looking for error of law or error of fact in the decision. Structure your grounds:

Ground 1: Failure to properly consider the evidence

“The decision-maker failed to consider the medical evidence of [doctor], dated [date], which corroborates the account of [event]. The Respondent’s conclusion at paragraph [X] is unsustainable because [reason].”

Ground 2: Misapplication of the Immigration Rules or the 1951 Convention

For protection claims: cite the Convention reason, the well-founded fear test, and the HJ (Iran) v SSHD test where relevant. For human rights: cite Razgar v SSHD for the five-stage Article 8 test.

Ground 3: Credibility findings unsupported by reasoning

The Court of Appeal has repeatedly held that credibility findings must be properly reasoned. Paragraph-by-paragraph dissection of where the Respondent’s reasoning fails.

Ground 4: Article 8 proportionality

Public interest factors under s.117B Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 against the appellant’s private and family life. Each factor addressed, weighed, and balanced.

The skeleton argument

Required for the hearing. Concise, numbered paragraphs. Legal framework at the top. Each ground developed. Authorities cited with full citation. Skeleton argument drafted by Chris reads like counsel drafted it — because the Litigant Standard is counsel’s standard.

Witness statements

Yours. Your spouse’s. Your children’s if age-appropriate. Corroborative witnesses. Each with a statement of truth. Each addressing material facts.

Country evidence

For protection claims — Home Office Country Policy and Information Notes, UNHCR reports, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch. Cited and quoted.

Article 8 and children

Under s.55 Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009, the best interests of children are a primary consideration. Chris drafts the children’s best-interests analysis as a standalone section — evidence, schooling, language, medical, integration.

Can Chris draft your appeal bundle?

Yes. Upload the refusal decision, the original application, supporting documents, country material. Chris drafts the grounds of appeal, the skeleton argument, each witness statement, and the bundle index — to the Litigant Standard. Pro tier £88 handles a full appeal bundle. Hybrid £1,000 for complex multi-appellant or Upper Tribunal cases with qualified-reviewer sign-off.

Prepare to win. Plan not to fail.

Immigration judges read hundreds of appeals. The ones that succeed are organised, reasoned, and evidenced to counsel standard. Chris drafts to counsel standard.