The Immigration Minster, Damian Green, has announced that as of 23rd May 2010, Tribunals will no longer consider new evidence in appeals made in the UK under the points-based system. Essentially meaning that an appeal will be considered based on evidence provided with the initial application, therefore preventing appellants from lodging new evidence to support their appeal.
The aim of this is said to end the misuse of the system. The UK Border Agency has released statistics to show that two-thirds of appeals allowed by Immigration Judges are a result of late evidence being provided at appeal stage. Thus, the change of rule will end what the UK Border Agency call “unnecessary appeals” and ensure that applications are made correctly at first instance. This change applies to all applications made within the UK under the points-based system.
Despite the fact that the government have initiated an annual limit on economic migrants from outside the EU together with reforming the student visa system, it is stated that the above change is one of many changes and improvements expected in the future.
The UK Border Agency affirm that the measures are aimed at reducing net migration, tackling misuse of the system as well as attracting the brightest and the best.
The ministerial statement can be downloaded if you click here.