Expert Advice for Administrative Review of Visa Refusals
What is Administrative Review?
- It checks whether the caseworker applied the Immigration Rules and guidance correctly to the application you sent.
- It is not a tribunal appeal. The review looks only at your original application, so you cannot add new documents, except in limited cases.
What are the advantages of Administrative Review?
Administrative Review is a low-cost way to challenge a refusal. The Home Office fee is £80.
The key to success is to find the exact error the caseworker made and explain it clearly in your application. This is how one of our Student visa clients (formerly Tier 4) won their Administrative Review the first time.
Who can apply for Administrative Review?
You can usually apply if you were refused:
- A Skilled Worker visa (formerly Tier 2)
- A Student visa (formerly Tier 4)
- A Tier 1 Entrepreneur or Tier 1 Investor application, where the letter offers a review
- Indefinite Leave to Remain under the Points-Based System
Administrative Review is not the right route if:
- You were refused a visitor visa
- Your refusal letter gives you a right of appeal instead
- You disagree with the outcome, but there was no caseworker error
- You want to send new evidence you did not include before
What you need to apply for Administrative Review
Your refusal letter
It must say Administrative Review is available. It lists the reasons for refusal and your deadline.
The reasons you dispute
List each reason for refusal in your letter and say why you think the caseworker made a mistake.
A covering letter
A detailed letter that explains each error. We write this for you.
The completed form
Send it in the way your refusal letter states, before your deadline.
The £80 fee
Paid when you apply, unless your original fee was waived or you qualify for a fee waiver.
Your original documents only
The review looks at what you already sent. If the Home Office asks for more documents, we help you prepare them.
How does the Administrative Review process work?
We check the reasons for refusal, your deadline and whether Administrative Review is available.
We compare the decision with your original application, the Immigration Rules and Home Office guidance.
We write a detailed letter that explains each error and why the decision is wrong.
We send your form in the way your refusal letter states and pay the £80 fee.
A separate Home Office team, independent of the original caseworker, reviews the decision.
You get a written decision. We explain what it means and your next step.
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What if your Administrative Review is refused?
There are four possible outcomes under the Immigration Rules (Appendix Administrative Review):
- The review succeeds and the decision is withdrawn.
- The review does not succeed. The decision stays, with all the reasons for refusal.
- The review does not succeed. The decision stays, but one or more reasons for refusal are withdrawn.
- The review does not succeed. The decision stays, with different or extra reasons. You may be able to apply for Administrative Review of the new reasons.
If your review does not succeed, we can advise you on the next best step. This can be a new application, an appeal on human rights grounds where available, or a Judicial Review of the decision.
Cost Breakdown
In our clients' own words.
“After our ILR rejection, AY&J pursued our case through Administrative Review and Judicial Review. The team was open, honest, knowledgeable and attentive to every detail. They kept us informed at every stage, supported us throughout an extremely difficult journey and helped us regain confidence in our case.”
“My Tier 2 General case was extremely complex. My previous visa had expired. My Administrative Review was refused. My wife and I had lost the right to work. AY&J handled the case carefully and in detail. This resulted in my Tier 2 visa being approved within ten days.”
“Even after a rejection of my Initial Application, they managed to overturn the decision in Administrative Review with very strong arguments.”
Frequently Asked Questions
After you apply
The decision stays in force. We can advise on your next step, such as a new application, an appeal on human rights grounds where available, or a Judicial Review.
Applying and costs
Usually not. The review looks at your original application. If the Home Office asks for more documents, we will help you prepare them.
Applying and costs
£80 per application. You may not need to pay if you did not pay for your original application or the fee was waived. You can ask for a waiver if you cannot pay because of exceptional circumstances.
Applying and costs
14 calendar days if you are in the UK, 7 days if you are detained, and 28 days if you are outside the UK.
Applying and costs
Complete the form and send it in the way your refusal letter states. Mention each reason for refusal and say why you think a mistake was made. We write a detailed covering letter to support your request.
About Administrative Review
No. There is no Administrative Review for refused visitor visa applications. Other options may apply, such as a new application or a Judicial Review.
About Administrative Review
A separate Home Office team, independent of the caseworker who made the original decision.
About Administrative Review
It is a way to ask the Home Office to check a refused Points-Based System application. You can use it when you think a caseworker made an error.
Administrative Review Success Stories
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