Failed asylum seeker should have had decision on case two and a half years earlier

What happened

Ms A came to the UK in 2002 and unsuccessfully claimed asylum. However, she remained in the UK. In 2009 and 2010 she asked UKVI to consider again whether she could stay in the UK as she said she had new information for them to consider. Her case was put in the backlog of old asylum cases which UKVI had promised to conclude by summer 2011. However, UKVI did nothing more on her case until the end of 2013 when it refused her permission to stay in the UK.

What we found

UKVI made a decision on Ms A's case at the end of 2013 to refuse her permission to stay in the UK but it should have done so by the summer of 2011. Even if it had made a decision by summer 2011, Ms A would still have had a negative decision.

UKVI communicated poorly with Ms A by not updating her about the lack of progress with her case. UKVI's poor communication and unnecessary delay of two and a half years to conclude her case caused Ms A anxiety and uncertainty.

Putting it right

We recommended that UKVI write to Ms A to apologise for the anxiety and uncertainty she experienced in not knowing what would happen with her case from summer 2011 to the end of 2013.