The Law Society has launched a blistering attack on Ministry of Justice (MoJ) proposals to hike asylum and immigration tribunal fees by more than 500%.
Law Society president Jonathan Smithers said: “Access to justice for all through the tribunal must trump the “full cost recovery” imperative driving the MoJ’s proposal.
“A significant proportion of appeals that reach the tribunal are upheld. Yet the MoJ itself estimates the 500% fee increase would lead to a 20-40% drop in appeals. Families making joint appeals, where the fee is payable by each family member, will be particularly hard hit, so a family of five would have to pay £4,000 compared to the £800 fee for a single person, though both receive the same ‘service’.”
Smithers said profits from visa applications should be used to fund the tribunal, pointing out that the Home Office charged a fee of £991 for an application for indefinite leave to remain in 2013 compared to an estimated administrative cost of £255. The fees for visas increased in March.
