Immigration Advisory Service
Encyclopedia
The Immigration Advisory Service is a UK
organisation registered as a charity
, providing direct legal assistance to refugee
s, asylum seekers and others needing advice and guidance around British
immigration law
. Founded in 1993, it was formed out of the former United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service. It is a national-wide charity with many offices throughout the UK. It derives its funding through donations as well as case funding from Legal Aid
which is means tested. If a person does not qualify for Legal Aid as their means are too high, they offer a costs-only payment package depending on the level of advice needed. Cases which go on to the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal
are also assessed on merit (whether the chance of success is at least 50%).
The charity's acting Chief Executive is Margaret McKinlay who recently replaced Keith Best following his move to the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture. The Chair of the Trustees is John Scampion.
The Immigration Advisory Service is a member organisation of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE)
.
2008 was a particularly good year for the IAS. IAS lawyers succeeded in winning a number of high profile and far-reaching cases before the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal
and higher courts including RN (Returnees) Zimbabwe CG [2008] UKAIT 00083, EB (Kosovo) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2008] UKHL 41, and HH (Criminal record; deportation: "war zone") Iraq [2008] UKAIT 00051. Kalvir Kaur of the IAS won the 2008 Immigration Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Award for her work with unaccompanied minors
and victims of trafficking.
As of 11th July 2011 IAS went into unannounced administration, blaming government changes to Legal Aid
. The Legal Services Commission
said "During recent stewardship activities the LSC raised concerns around financial management and claims irregularities, which prompted IAS trustees to conclude that the organisation was no longer financially viable". Major changes in legal aid for refugees and asylum seekers were made in 2007 and 2010.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
organisation registered as a charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
, providing direct legal assistance to refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s, asylum seekers and others needing advice and guidance around British
Immigration to the United Kingdom
Immigration to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland since 1922 has been substantial, in particular from Ireland and the former colonies and other territories of the British Empire - such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Caribbean, South Africa, Kenya and Hong Kong - under...
immigration law
Immigration law
Immigration law refers to national government policies which control the phenomenon of immigration to their country.Immigraton law, regarding foreign citizens, is related to nationality law, which governs the legal status of people, in matters such as citizenship...
. Founded in 1993, it was formed out of the former United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service. It is a national-wide charity with many offices throughout the UK. It derives its funding through donations as well as case funding from Legal Aid
Legal aid
Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people otherwise unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. Legal aid is regarded as central in providing access to justice by ensuring equality before the law, the right to counsel and the right to a fair trial.A number of...
which is means tested. If a person does not qualify for Legal Aid as their means are too high, they offer a costs-only payment package depending on the level of advice needed. Cases which go on to the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal
Asylum and Immigration Tribunal
The Asylum and Immigration Tribunal was a tribunal constituted in the United Kingdom with jurisdiction to hear appeals from many immigration and asylum decisions...
are also assessed on merit (whether the chance of success is at least 50%).
The charity's acting Chief Executive is Margaret McKinlay who recently replaced Keith Best following his move to the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture. The Chair of the Trustees is John Scampion.
The Immigration Advisory Service is a member organisation of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE)
European Council on Refugees and Exiles
The European Council on Refugees and Exiles is a pan-European network of refugee-assisting non-governmental organisations that promotes a humane and generous European asylum policy...
.
2008 was a particularly good year for the IAS. IAS lawyers succeeded in winning a number of high profile and far-reaching cases before the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal
Asylum and Immigration Tribunal
The Asylum and Immigration Tribunal was a tribunal constituted in the United Kingdom with jurisdiction to hear appeals from many immigration and asylum decisions...
and higher courts including RN (Returnees) Zimbabwe CG [2008] UKAIT 00083, EB (Kosovo) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2008] UKHL 41, and HH (Criminal record; deportation: "war zone") Iraq [2008] UKAIT 00051. Kalvir Kaur of the IAS won the 2008 Immigration Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Award for her work with unaccompanied minors
Unaccompanied minor
An unaccompanied minor is a child without the presence of a legal guardian. This term is used in immigration law and in airline policies. The specific definition varies from country to country and from airline to airline.-Immigration Law:...
and victims of trafficking.
As of 11th July 2011 IAS went into unannounced administration, blaming government changes to Legal Aid
Legal aid
Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people otherwise unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. Legal aid is regarded as central in providing access to justice by ensuring equality before the law, the right to counsel and the right to a fair trial.A number of...
. The Legal Services Commission
Legal Services Commission
The Legal Services Commission is an executive non-departmental public body of the Ministry of Justice that is responsible for the operational administration of legal aid in England and Wales.-Overview:...
said "During recent stewardship activities the LSC raised concerns around financial management and claims irregularities, which prompted IAS trustees to conclude that the organisation was no longer financially viable". Major changes in legal aid for refugees and asylum seekers were made in 2007 and 2010.