Frequently Asked Questions

18. Leaving the UK temporarily

I have an appeal pending and I want to leave the country temporarily. What do I do?

If you leave the country it is possible that your appeal could be considered to be abandoned, depending on the legislation involved.

Before you leave the country you should contact us for further advice by telephoning 0845 6000 877.

If you have not received notice of the date for your hearing and your appeal was lodged with the UK Border Agency you should contact them for advice by telephoning 0870 6067766

If you have already received notice of the dates for the hearing of your appeal you should attend the hearings.

If you have already received notice of a case management review you can choose to attend or to send a representative to attend on your behalf.

If you do not attend a hearing it is possible that the Immigration Judge may decide your appeal in your absence.

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I want to leave the country temporarily. Can a hearing date be changed?

If you leave the country it is possible that your appeal could be considered to be abandoned, depending on the legislation involved.

Before you leave the country you should contact us for further advice.

You can ask the Tribunal to change the date of a full hearing. You can ask for the hearing to take place in your absence or to request that it take place at a later date or to be held at a different place. You must write to the hearing centre and your letter will be given to an Immigration Judge who will say how, when and where your appeal will be heard. It is possible that the judge will decide the hearing must go ahead and you must then choose what to do. You should provide all the details you can to help the judge reach a decision, for example, doctor's certificates or confirmation of an operation.

We will write to all parties to the appeal (you, your representative if you have one and the UK Border Agency) to inform them of the judge's decision.

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