Statelessness in Practice: Implementation
of the UK Statelessness Application
Procedure
Table of Contents
1
Background and objectives of the research.................................................................................... 4
2
Introduction and key challenges ..................................................................................................... 6
3
The statelessness leave application procedure. ............................................................................. 9
4
The initial application.................................................................................................................... 10
4.1
Accessing the most appropriate procedure.......................................................................... 10
4.1.1
5
6
Decision making ............................................................................................................................ 14
5.1
Lack of a systematic approach which reflects the structure of the Rules ............................ 14
5.2
Where there is a deportation order or decision to deport ................................................... 15
5.3
Shared burden of proof......................................................................................................... 17
5.4
Interviews and further enquires ........................................................................................... 18
Poor understanding of the objective evidence ............................................................................. 20
6.1
Where a person has an Article 8 ECHR (or other claim) as well as a statelessness claim. ... 22
6.2
Statelessness as an Article 8 ECHR right ............................................................................... 23
6.3
Where a stateless person is entitled to Humanitarian Protection ....................................... 23
6.4
Time, delay and expedition ................................................................................................... 24
6.4.1
7
Recommendations – decision making .......................................................................... 26
Legal advice: Role of the legal adviser and the case for legal aid. ................................................ 27
7.1.1
8
Recommendations – the initial application .................................................................. 13
Recommendations - legal aid ........................................................................................ 29
Challenging decisions .................................................................................................................... 30
8.1
The need for an appeal right................................................................................................. 30
8.2
Administrative review ........................................................................................................... 31
8.3
Judicial review ....................................................................................................................... 31
8.4
Applications made by people with extant leave – lack of protection for those without
appeal rights ..................................................................................................................................... 32
8.4.1
9
2
Recommendations – challenging decisions .................................................................. 33
Trafficking and statelessness ........................................................................................................ 34