Glossary

You might not be familiar with some of the words we use. This section explains these words. If there is anything you do not understand, please contact the telephone Helpline on (020) 8588 2500 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm)..

We produce this information in a number of leaflets in other languages. To get one, please contact us. We have tried to explain things in plain English. Sometimes the law is difficult to explain in a short list like this. So, do not forget, if you read or hear something you do not understand, please ask us, or your representative, to explain it to you or contact us at the hearing centre.

A

Adjourned

If your appeal is adjourned, this means that it has been moved to another date or time. This occurs only in the most exceptional circumstances.

Adjudication notice

This is the decision the adjudicator makes after they have considered your case.

Adjudicator

This is a person who decides an asylum support appeal.

All adjudicators are independent. This means nobody tells them how to decide a case. They make their decision according to the law.

Adjudicators are all experienced solicitors or barristers.

Allowed

The adjudicator allows your appeal when they agree with all or part of your arguments.

Appeal

An appeal is when you ask the adjudicator to reconsider something.

Appellant

The appellant is the person who makes an appeal to the Asylum Support Tribunal.

AST staff

AST staff is another name for the people who work for us.

Asylum Support Tribunal

This is what we are called. We are sometimes referred to as the AST.

B

Border and Immigration agency (BIA)

This is the organisation that is responsible for providing you with support. It is also responsible for making decisions to refuse or discontinue support.

Border and Immigration agency (BIA) Presenting Officer

This is an official of the BIA who presents the BIA's side of the appeal to the Adjudicator.

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C

Centre Manager

The Centre Manager is an official. He is there to make sure that the centre runs properly. The centre manager is in charge of the staff who work for us. The centre manager's staff help the adjudicators with the paper work, but do not decide appeals. They are there to help things run smoothly. Please remember the centre manager cannot intervene in any appeal. If anything goes wrong, please ask to speak to the centre manager.

Citizens' Advice Bureau

The Citizens' Advice Bureau is an organisation with offices in most towns. They give advice to anyone who has a problem. Their advice is free. If you have a difficult problem, they may refer you to a lawyer, or someone else who has special knowledge.

Cross-examined

At the start of your hearing, you and your witnesses will be asked questions. After you have answered these questions, you may be asked questions by the other side. This is called being cross-examined.

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D

Directions

Directions are when the adjudicator asks the appellant, their representative and the BIA to produce extra information before the date on which the appeal must be decided.

Dismissing your Appeal

This is one of the decisions an adjudicator can make and means that the adjudicator agrees with the decision you were given by the Border and Immigration Agency. The adjudicator would only reach their decision after considering your case.

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G

Grounds of Appeal

These are the reasons for your appeal.

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H

Home Secretary

The Home Secretary is the government minister in charge of the Home Office. He or she is sometimes called the Secretary of State. The Home Secretary is in charge of asylum support matters.

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I

Immigration Advisory Service

The Immigration Advisory Service gives free advice on immigration matters.

In Court

In Court usually means when people are in a courtroom and a hearing is going on. A courtroom is another word for a hearing room.

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M

Migrant Helpline

Migrant Helpline is a non-government organisation that provides free advice on asylum support matters.

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N

No Jurisdiction

No jurisdiction means that the adjudicator is satisfied that the tribunal has no authority to hear the appeal.

Notice of Hearing

A notice of hearing is the document we send you telling you when your hearing will take place. It tells you the date and the time, as well as where the appeal will be dealt with. It also tells you about things you have to do.

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O

Oral Hearing

This is where an adjudicator decides an appeal in Court, usually after hearing evidence from both sides and their witnesses.

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P

Papers Hearing

This means that the adjudicator will carefully read the papers in your appeal. He or she will then make a decision about your appeal without you coming to the appeal centre.

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R

Reasons Statement

The Reasons Statement is a document that sets out the full reasons for the adjudicator's decision.

Refugee Action

Refugee Action gives free advice on asylum matters.

Refugee Council

The Refugee Council gives free advice on asylum matters.

Refugee Legal Centre

The Refugee Legal Centre gives free advice on asylum matters.

Remitted

This is one of the decisions an adjudicator can make and means that the adjudicator will ask the Border and Immigration Agency to consider your asylum support case again.

Refugee Legal Centre/Refugee Council

The Refugee Legal Centre/Refugee Council gives free advice on asylum matters.

Representative

You should think carefully about getting a representative because they can help you with your appeal.

Representatives can be solicitors, barristers or people who are trained to deal with appeals. They may be representatives of groups such as the Immigration Advisory Service or the Refugee Legal Centre/Refugee Council, Law Centres or Citizen's Advice Bureau.

Make sure that the person you choose has the training and experience to help you. If you need help to choose someone, you can phone or visit any Citizen's Advice Bureau or Law Centre. Also, most libraries have directories of solicitors.

Respondent

The respondent is the person whose decision is being challenged in the appeal. The Secretary of State will be the respondent in all appeals submitted to the Asylum Support Tribunal.

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S

Secretary of State

This is another name for the Home Secretary. Most government departments have a Secretary of State, but in AST appeals the words Secretary of State usually mean the Home Secretary.

Solicitors

Solicitors are lawyers. Some have special training and experience e.g. in asylum support matters.

Submissions

Submissions are when both sides tell the adjudicator what they think. A submission takes place at the end of an appeal, after you and your witnesses have been heard. This is a way of drawing those things that both sides think are most important to the adjudicator's attention.

Substituted Conditional Reinstatement

A conditional reinstatement is one where the appellant is found to be entitled to support but only upon the performance of some condition, for example responding to the BIA's enquiries.

Substituted Unconditional Reinstatement

An unconditional reinstatement is one where the Secretary of State's decision is found to be incorrect and is overturned in full.

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U

Usher

The usher is an official who helps the adjudicator in the hearing room. They will show you where to wait before your hearing. They may sometimes be assisted by a security person.

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W

Withdrawal

Once an appeal has started either party may withdraw from the proceedings by giving notice in writing to the AST and the other party. The appeal is then treated at an end.

Witnesses

These are people who you ask to come along to your hearing to support your appeal or who are asked to come along by the Presenting Officer to support their argument. You do not have to bring witnesses but you may do so if you wish. You should ask your representative about this.

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