§ Mr. FraserTo ask the Attorney-General what is the period which currently elapses between the lodging of an appeal against a refusal of leave to enter the United Kingdom which is lodged at an overseas diplomatic post and the time when the immigration appeals organisation at Thanet house notifies the appellant or its representative that the appeal has been lodged giving them a choice for an oral or written appeal; and if he will provide this information in respect of each country from which such appeals are lodged.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe information requested is not available in respect of individual countries. However, it is estimated that the period which currently elapses336W between the lodging of an appeal against refusal of entry clearance to the United Kingdom at a diplomatic post overseas and its arrival at the Immigration Appellate Authorities, IAA, at Thanet house is on average one month for visit visa appeals and three months for settlement appeals.
Once the IAA has received an appeal, it is on average able to dispatch the case papers to the appellant or his representative in this country within one week for cases to be heard at Thanet house, and two to three weeks for cases to be heard at other hearing centres. At this stage, the IAA notifies the appellant or his representative that the appeal has been lodged and gives him a choice for an oral or written appeal.