Webinar Replay: Gaza cases: legal and practical considerations in entry clearance applications and appeals

With no bespoke immigration route or resettlement scheme available for those fleeing the conflict in Gaza, and the recent closure of the refugee family reunion route, applicants must rely on other provisions within the immigration rules as well as Article 8 ECHR.

In this webinar, we discussed:

• what the most appropriate application is (particularly in light of the media controversy surrounding one Gazan family’s use of the Ukraine Family Scheme form and the closure of the family reunion route);
• the requirements that applicants should be seeking to meet;
• what evidence is needed to support an application;
• fee waivers;
• what the most common reasons for refusal are; and
• how to seek expedition.

We also addressed the procedural barriers to making a valid application, such as applying for deferral/waiver of the biometric enrolment requirement as there are no operational visa application centres in Gaza, and the practical obstacles to leaving Gaza if a visa is granted, including the limited consular assistance.

Finally, we considered what steps to take in the event of a refusal of an application with a focus on appeals. The Home Office seem particularly keen in fighting these cases and often instruct Treasury Counsel and bring a wealth of evidence and authorities even to First-tier Tribunal appeals.

Presenter

Decla Palmer and Lucy Mair.

Decla Palmer is an experienced solicitor at the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU). She has been the legal supervisor for GMIAU’s Refugee Family Reunion Project for over two years and specialises in complex entry clearance applications based on family life.

Lucy Mair is a human rights barrister at Garden Court North Chambers in Manchester. Her practice focusses on immigration, asylum, trafficking, migrant domestic violence and public law challenges arising from these areas. She has a particular specialism in cases involving gender-based violence. Lucy previously worked in Gaza doing international human rights work.

Audience

Level: intermediate

This session is aimed at immigration lawyers and caseworkers advising clients from Gaza and assisting UK-based family members seeking to bring their relatives to safety.