Guidance

Appeal a decision on your registration as an immigration adviser

How to appeal against a decision on your registration as an immigration adviser by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner.

What you can appeal against

You can appeal to a tribunal if the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC):

  • refuses to register you as an immigration adviser
  • removes you from the register
  • varies or limits your registration, so you can only give advice in certain circumstances
  • withdraws your exemption from the register

The tribunal can also consider your case if the OISC brings disciplinary charges against you as an immigration adviser.

The tribunal

Your case will be dealt with by a tribunal in the General Regulatory Chamber.

The tribunal is independent of the government, and will listen to both sides of the argument before it reaches a decision.

If you or your witness or representative is outside the UK and wants to give live video or audio evidence, contact the tribunal to request it. Tell the tribunal what country you, the witness or representative is in and what type of evidence is being given. You must do this as soon as possible.

Time limits for appealing

You have 28 days to appeal after the OISC send you its decision.

If you miss the time limit, you can ask for more time to appeal. Explain why you’re late, and the tribunal will decide if it can still take your case.

The OISC’s decision will come into effect at the end of the 28 days allowed for your appeal. If you want to delay this, write to the tribunal and explain why you want the decision to be ‘stayed’ and put on hold.

How to appeal

Complete the relevant General Regulatory Chamber (First-tier Tribunal) form.

Include any supporting documents, such as the OISC’s decision.

Clearly say why you think the decision was wrong.

Send the form to grc@justice.gov.uk or:

General Regulatory Chamber
HM Courts & Tribunals Service
PO Box 9300
Leicester
LE1 8DJ

Telephone: 0300 123 4504
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

Tribunal staff can explain how the process works, but they cannot give you legal advice.

What happens next

The tribunal will write to you about the next steps.

Find out more about General Regulatory Chamber hearings and decisions.

Previous decisions

Search the decisions database to see how judges made decisions in previous cases.

Legislation and rules

You can find the right to appeal to the tribunal in section 87 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2010 transferred the tribunal to the General Regulatory Chamber.

Read more detailed rules on how your appeal will be handled in the General Regulatory Chamber procedure rules.

Published 20 November 2014
Last updated 31 January 2024 + show all updates
  1. Updated the how to appeal section with a link to the General Regulatory Chamber (First-tier Tribunal) forms collection.

  2. Changed the telephone number of the GRC and updated links.

  3. First published.