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Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) Representation

The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) deals with appeals against UK government decisions over refusing or removing British citizenship, deportations from the UK and denial of entry to the UK, including on national security grounds. Dealing with these types of issues can be scary and confusing, but with the right legal advice, it is often possible to secure a positive outcome that protects your right to live in the UK, or enter the UK.

 

SIAC appeals are usually very complicated and, given the high stakes, it is essential to work with a specialist immigration appeals solicitor with specific expertise handling cases involving national security concerns. This will ensure your case is dealt with the right way from the outset and that no critical details or arguments in your favour are missed.

JD Spicer Zeb is home to one of the country’s leading immigration appeals teams, with decades of experience in these types of challenging cases. We will make sure you understand the reasons for the government’s decision and your legal options for fighting that decision. Our team will then be by your side for every stage of the appeals process.

If you have been denied or deprived of British citizenship, are facing deportation from the UK, or have been refused entry to the UK on national security grounds, we can help immediately as it is often necessary to act urgently

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Why choose JD Spicer Zeb?

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  • 100's Years Combined Experience
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Please contact us 24-hours a day, seven days a week for an immediate free initial consultation, expert legal advice and representation.

Our highly experienced immigration appeals lawyers offer:

  • 24/7 legal support in person and over the phone, 365 days a year
  • Representation anywhere in England or Wales including if you are being held in detention
  • Clear, effective legal advice in any language (see our languages spoken)
  • Local offices in London, Birmingham or Manchester
  • Legal aid provided you are eligible

If you need immediate advice and representation for the Special Immigration Appeals Commission, please use our emergency contact numbers:

Birmingham – 07891 777090

Brent & Camden London –07836 577556

Manchester – 07798 701339

How can we help?

Common questions

We always work with the most experienced and best leading UK barristers, KCs (Kings Counsel). We cover all criminal cases 24/7 at the police station and court. Offices in London, Birmingham, and Manchester cover cases across England and Wales. We can offer Legal Aid and affordable Private fee agreements. We can see you the same day, including virtually. Our Senior Partners supervise all of our cases.

How quickly do you respond?

We respond quickly even during out of hours. We do not get our work by paying for online adverts but based on the fact that few criminal law firms can match our 45 years of experience. Most of our cases are still from word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied clients. We are called daily by dissatisfied clients from firms with less experience than us. We respond very quickly to new enquiries. We know what clients seek and so we update clients rapidly.

Can you get cases dropped?

Yes, read about the recent cases we've helped our clients with here.

We always keep you updated and give straightforward advice. We will get cases dropped early where the case is weak or should not be prosecuted. We will be upfront with you about where you can benefit from a good result with an early guilty plea, such as a discount on your sentence. As we work on cases across all levels with clients from all walks of life, we are excellent at giving clear, spot-on advice. As an established firm, we can allocate a whole team to your case often at short notice to secure evidence to minimise the damage to you. 

Have you won any awards?

OUR PROFESSIONAL BODY THE LAW SOCIETY AWARDED US IN OCTOBER 2020 WITH THE EXCELLENCE IN CLIENT SERVICE AWARD AND STATED - 

"JD Spicer Zeb demonstrated a clear commitment to client service through their work with vulnerable and diverse individuals in what can be severely traumatic circumstances".

Do you offer free consultations?

Where it is possible, we aim to provide an initial consultation to you. If we can speak to you, we can if required inform you about  –

  • Whether we can take the case on and our relevant experience.
  • Public and private funding benefits.
  • Assistance in applying for legal aid where we are likely to accept instructions.
  • An outline of options in police interview only. We will not advise you on which option to adopt.
  • Providing our free written guide explaining the police station process.
  • The gravity of routine and day-to-day offences you face.
  • Consequences of not attending the court or police station.
  • Consequences of interfering with any witnesses.
  • Retaining any evidence in support of your case.
  • If possible an outline of the elements of the offence that the police or CPS must prove.
  • This consultation will normally be by telephone or email and will only be for as long as we deem necessary to establish if we can act for you. If we cannot usefully give you any advice in this manner then we will not continue with the consultation. We will not discuss the case in depth for you to be able to decide on your plea or any significant aspect of the case, as this cannot be undertaken informally.
  • Referring you, if possible, to other firms for matters out of our specialism or if we cannot help.

Consultations do not apply to the following cases –

  • If we do not intend to take the case on.
  • Road Traffic cases, drink driving, drug driving, driving bans, speeding, no insurance, mobile phone use, points etc.
  • In all cases where we do not have the capacity to take your case or the availability of suitably qualified staff to provide an initial free consultation. This is applicable in all cases but especially where a more senior lawyer is required because of your personal needs or the complexity of the case.
  • Harassment/stalking/ coercive behaviour/malicious communications or road traffic cases and most sensitive cases. These cases are often too complicated to assess in short consultations.
  • The locations concerned may be too distant to represent you adequately or it may not be cost-effective for you or us.
  • The case is too complicated to assess or raises various charges or facts, complexity, or history to be considered informally or in a short consultation.
  • In most Legal aid transfers where legal aid is granted to another firm except in very grave cases, we may assess the case and merits for a transfer.
  • If your relationship has broken down with your existing solicitor or several solicitors.
  • If you have been released under investigation and have already had a police station attendance. 
  • If you hold legal aid with another firm and seek a second opinion.
  • If you are calling on behalf of the client as a friend or family member unless you have full authority and full facts.
  • To businesses.
  • Advising whether you were given good advice by your other solicitor.
  • Whether to decide to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • Whether you have an arguable defence in law or factually complicated defences.
  • Any advice you have had after your first court appearance.
  • Any advice on appeal on conviction or sentence.
  • If we feel we are unable to communicate with you.
  • If we are likely to be conflicted or breach our professional rules.

Why choose JD Spicer Zeb for SIAC representation

With decades of experience representing clients experiencing immigration and citizenship problems in the UK, we understand exactly how the appeals system works and what is needed for a successful claim.

We have very strong expertise and experience in immigration appeals related to national security issues, including terrorism charges and suspicion of terror-related activities. Using our detailed understanding of the law in this area, we can ensure any flaws in the way your case has been handled by the Secretary of State are swiftly exposed, giving you the best chance of a successful appeal.

Our Head of Immigration Kam Dhanjal is accredited under the Law Society’sImmigration and Asylum Scheme reflecting her exceptional expertise in this complex area of UK law. Kam is supported by an exceptional team who can ensure your case is dealt with swiftly and effectively, matching the tight time frames involved in making an SIAC appeal.

Our expertise with the Special Immigration Appeals Commission

We regularly advise and represent clients dealing with all types of SIAC appeals, including:

Appealing refusal of British Citizenship on national security grounds

Where you have been refused British citizenship for reasons including because you are subject to a United Nations (UN) or European Union (EU) travel ban, you have been convicted of a terrorism offence or the Home Office believes you have been involved in terror-related activity.

Appealing deprivation of UK citizenship on national security grounds

Where you have been stripped of your UK citizenship, whether you are still resident in the UK or are currently resident abroad.

Appealing exclusion from the United Kingdom on national security grounds

Where you have been denied entry to the UK on the basis that the Home Office believes you could pose a threat to national security.

Appealing deportation from the UK on national security grounds

Where you are facing deportation from the UK or have been deported because the Home Office considers you to be a risk to national security.

How SIAC appeals work

How to appeal an immigration decision on national security grounds

You will need to complete a notice of appeal or review form and submit this to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission office in London. You can do this via email or through the post.

While you can complete   this form yourself, it is strongly recommended to have a specialist immigration appeals lawyer help with this so that detailed grounds of appeal can be submitted with the appeal form setting out your arguments This can ensure your argument is as strong as possible, you provide the right supporting evidence and that there are no basic errors that could see your appeal refused.

Time limits for SIAC appeals

Once you are informed by the UK government of their decision, there are strict time limits to make an appeal. Those time limits will depend on whether you are in the UK or outside the country and whether you are currently being held in detention.

If you are in detention in the UK, you have 5 days to apply to the SIAC.

If you are in the UK and not in detention, you have 10 days to apply.

If you are outside the UK, you have 28 days to apply.

If you are being deported from the UK and are refused the right to appeal from within the country, the 28-day time limit to appeal from outside of the UK will apply from the date when you leave the country.

Should you miss the deadline to make an appeal, you can ask for more time and the SIAC will consider this, but there is no guarantee extra time will be granted.

The above time limits are subject to any additional limits imposed by the Home Office.

How the SIAC makes decisions about immigration appeals

Your appeal will be dealt with by a tribunal hearing attended by:

  • A tribunal panel made up of a senior judge and two other commission members – they will decide the outcome of your appeal
  • A lawyer from the Home Office – who will present the government’s case for refusing/revoking your citizenship, deporting you or refusing you entry to the UK
  • You and your lawyer – to present your case for why the Home Office’s decision is flawed and your appeal should be granted.

The hearing will be held in public, except if there is any evidence which needs to be heard in secret. If there is secret evidence that needs to be heard, you, your lawyer and the public will be required to leave the hearing and a ‘special advocate’ will represent you instead.

Appealing a Special Immigration Appeals Commission decision

If you are unhappy with the outcome of your appeal to the SIAC, you may be able to appeal to a higher court, although you can only appeal on a point of law i.e. if you believe the tribunal panel have incorrectly interpreted the law in dealing with your case.

You will need to apply within 10 days of the SIAC decision (or 5 days if you are being held in detention). Which court you appeal to will be one of the following, depending on which part of the UK you are in:

  • Court of Appeal in England and Wales
  • Court of Session in Scotland
  • Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland

Funding representation for the Special Immigration Appeals Commission

Legal Aid for SIAC appeals

Whether you can secure legal aid funding for an SIAC appeal will depend on your circumstances, including your financial situation and where you are in the UK.

Legal aid funding is currently available for appeals in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but not for Scottish SIAC appeals.

Private fees 

Should you be funding some or all of your legal representation yourself, we will make sure you are completely clear about the likely costs involved.

To discuss our fees for Special Immigration Appeals Commission advice and representation, please get in touch.

Contact our immigration appeals lawyers today

For a free initial consultation, urgent specialist advice, immediate representation or to speak to us confidentially about an immigration appeal connected to national security concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

You can contact our dedicated immigration lawyers in London, Birmingham, and Manchester by telephone on:

  • Brent & Camden London Office: 020 7624 7771
  • Manchester Office: 0161 835 1638
  • Birmingham Office: 0121 614 3333
  • City of London: 0207 624 7771 (our senior Solicitors and Partners can meet by appointment in the City)

Or email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk

Alternatively, you can fill out our quick online enquiry form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

24/7 legal representation for immigration appeals

We are available to represent clients all over England and Wales at any time, so please contact our Emergency Numbers:

Birmingham – 07891 777090

Brent & Camden London – 07836 577556

Manchester – 07798 701339

This document does not constitute legal advice.

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