Inspection of Home Office review process

In a recent initiative aligned with his 2026–27 Inspection Plan, the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration has begun an inspection of the Home Office’s pre-appeal review process. This crucial process involves reviewing decisions that are appealed to the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) before they advance to Tribunal consideration. Although the focus will be primarily on asylum and protection appeals, evidence pertaining to other types of appeals is also encouraged.

This inspection seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of the pre-appeal review mechanism, spotlighting several key areas: the efficiency and effectiveness of the Pre-Appeals Review Unit (PARU) as a control mechanism, PARU's role in facilitating improvements within asylum operations and policy, and the interface between His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service and the Home Office. It is important to note that the focus remains strictly on tribunal policies, processes, and procedures, including access to legal aid, only to the extent they affect the Home Office pre-appeal review process.

The call for evidence remains open until 24 June 2026. The Independent Chief Inspector encourages individuals with relevant knowledge and experience related to the Home Office’s pre-appeal review process to submit their insights to enhance this inspection. The Chief Inspector is eager to gather information about both effective aspects of the process and areas that could benefit from improvement. Evidence submitted will be assessed using the ICIBI Inspection Framework.

The details provided may inform the final inspection report; however, it is ICIBI’s standard practice to keep sources anonymous and limit identifying information in examples or case studies. Individuals are invited to email their submissions directly to the Chief Inspector.

It's also important to clarify that the ICIBI’s statutory remit does not encompass investigating or making determinations regarding individual cases, which remain the jurisdiction of the Home Office. Nevertheless, the Chief Inspector may examine individual instances that highlight systemic issues.

To ensure transparency and compliance, information regarding how personal data is handled in response to this call for evidence is available in the ICIBI privacy information notice on the ICIBI website.