CSAN welcomes Ministry of Justice's intention to exempt destitute from immigration court fees

In the response to its consultation on increasing tribunal fees for the Immigration and Asylum Chamber, the Ministry of Justice has announced its intention to go ahead with the proposals but to implement the fee waiver policy currently used by the Home Office for visa applications. This means that those assessed as destitute are exempt from fees.

Bishop Terence Drainey, Caritas Social Action Network Chair of Trustees said: "In our response to this consultation, CSAN supported the fee waiver policy currently used by the Home Office for visa application being extended to the Immigration and Asylum Chamber. This would ensure that those classed as destitute would not have to pay these fees.

We are pleased that the Government plans to go ahead with making these exemptions and to replicate all exemptions from fees for the First-tier Tribunal to the Upper Tribunal as well.

However, of the 147 responses to the question on increasing fees for the First-tier tribunal, 142 respondents disagreed with the proposal. We are still concerned that a 500% increase in fees will act as a barrier to justice and we would welcome further consideration from the Government on this issue."