The Immigration Advisory Service (IAS), the largest provider of publically funded immigration and asylum legal advice, advised today that it had been placed into administration.
Urgent advice to clients
Please do NOT visit any IAS office in person, even if you had an appointment booked, as all offices are now closed to such visits.From 8 July 2011 we cannot do any more work on your case. To protect clients’ legal positions as far as possible in the circumstances we have done the following:
1. IAS has written to all Tribunals and Courts informing them that IAS is in administration. We have asked that they deal sympathetically with applications for extensions of time in which to lodge appeals or comply with Court or Tribunal directions, until clients find new representatives. You can download a copy of the appropriate letter to include with your application. However you must seek new representatives as soon as you can, and make your application or appeal as near to the deadline as possible.
2. If you have an appeal hearing listed in the Tribunal (First Tier or Upper Tier) within the next two weeks please be advised that IAS has notified the Presidents of the Tribunal (First Tier and Upper Tier asking for all such cases where IAS are listed as representatives to be adjourned for four weeks to enable clients to seek alternative representation. BUT you MUST still turn up with any witnesses at the hearing, in case an adjournment is not granted in your particular case. Unfortunately we will NOT be able to provide representation, even where we have prepared your case.
3. IAS has written to the UKBA Directors of immigration and asylum, notifying them of the situation. You can download a copy of the appropriate letter to include with any application which is lodged late, to show the reason for it’s being out of time.
You MUST also read and carefully follow the advice below:Please do NOT visit any IAS office in person, even if you had an appointment arranged, unless asked to do so, as the offices will be closed.
1. If your case is already subject to an appeal (including an application for permission to appeal further) at the First Tier Tribunal or Upper Tribunal, you must immediately inform the Tribunal in writing that your legal representative, IAS, has gone into administration, and that the Tribunal must write to you direct at your own address until you notify the Tribunal of your new representative. You must quote your Tribunal case reference number, which you will find on any letter to you from the Tribunal.
The Tribunal address is:
Customer Services
Loughborough Support Centre
PO Box 7866
Loughborough
LE11 2XY
You should send this letter recorded delivery and keep a copy of it
2. If your case is already subject to an appeal or an application for permission in the Court of Appeal, you must immediately inform the Court of Appeal, Civil Division in writingthat your legal representative, IAS, has gone into administration, and that the Tribunal must write to you direct at your own address until you notify the Court of your new representative. You must quote your Court of Appeal case reference number, which you will find on any letter to you from your caseworker confirming that your case is in the Court of Appeal.
The address of the Court of Appeal is:
Court of Appeal Civil Division
Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
London WC2A 2LL
3. If your case is already subject an application for judicial review in the Administrative Court you must immediately inform the Administrative Court in writing that your legal representative, IAS, has gone into administration, and that the Tribunal must write to you direct at your own address until you notify the Administrative Court of your new representative. You must quote your Administrative Court case reference number, which you will find on any letter to you from your caseworker confirming that your case is in the Administrative Court.
The address of the London Administrative Court is:
Administrative Court Office
Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
London WC2A 2LL
(If your case has been started in one of the regional Administrative Courts the London court office will inform the regional court).
4. If you or your caseworker on your behalf have made an application to the UKBA, or you believe your case is “in the Legacy” and you are waiting for a response or decision from the UKBA, you must immediately write to the UKBA at:
Change of Representative
UKBA
Lunar House
Wellesley rd
Croydon CR9 2BY
by recorded delivery, informing the UKBA that your legal representative, IAS, has gone into administration, and that the UKBA must write to you direct at your own address until you notify the UKBA of your new representative.
5. If you have a scheduled interview with the UKBA you MUST attend your interview as planned and retain the record of your interview provided by the UKBA until we advise you further regarding new representation.
6. If you have an appointment with an expert arranged by us please be advised that this has been cancelled. A new appointment, if necessary, may be arranged when you secure alternative representation.
7. If you have only recently contacted IAS, or if you have asked IAS to help with making an application or an appeal which has not yet been made, you should immediately look for a new legal representative, who will then be able to obtain a copy of your file at IAS, including any work done so far, and any evidence we have collected so far.
8. If IAS has informed you that we hold any original documents in our office, these will be kept safe, and returned to you in due course. Please write to the following address:
The Joint Administrators
Immigration Advisory Service
3rd Floor
King Edward House
135a New Street
Birmingham B2 4QT
Fax: 0121 616 2444
Email: ias@corkgully.com
You must provide a safe address to which we can post your documents by recorded delivery, as the offices will not be in a position to receive personal callers.
IF YOUR CASE IS URGENT (you have just been detained; you have just received a decision to deport; you have been threatened with removal from the UK, appeal deadline within a few days), you should immediately contact the LSC helpline on 08453454345 and staff there will give guidance on finding new representatives. Those representatives will be able to explain that IAS has closed down, and that there may be difficulties getting quick access to your case papers.
Obtaining a copy of your case file
You, or your new representative, will be able to obtain a copy of your file by making a written request to the Birmingham office at the address above. Please provide a safe address, and allow 10 days for a reply.
Legal aid
If clients require advice as to alternative legal aid providers, they should contact the Community legal Advice on 0845 345 4 345 and operators will be able to provide a list of alternative providers using the client’s postcode. Alternatively, clients may visit the advisor function on direct gov at http://legaladviserfinder.justice.gov.uk/AdviserSearch.do
A list of alternative legal aid providers can also be downloaded from the following link
Contracted Immigration Providers (pdf format, requires Adobe Reader)
If clients have any enquiries in relation to their specific file, please call the IAS Helpline on
084 4974 4000
SR Cork and J E Milner
Joint Administrators
11 July 2011
