Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 Explanatory Notes

Section 94: Appeal from within the United Kingdom: unfounded human rights or asylum claim

239.This section applies to a right of appeal against an immigration decision (see section 82(1)). Where the person has made either an asylum claim or a human rights claim, or both, an appeal may not be brought while the person is in the United Kingdom by virtue of section 92(4) i.e. on the grounds that they have made an asylum or human rights claim, if the Secretary of State certifies that the claim or claims are clearly unfounded.

240.Subsection (3) provides that if the asylum or human rights claimant is entitled to reside in any of the States listed in subsection (4) then the claim shall be certified unless the Secretary of State is satisfied that it is not clearly unfounded. The States listed are all "EU accession states": Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia.

241.Subsection (5) enables the Secretary of State, by order, to add a State, or part of a State to the list in subsection (4) if he is satisfied that there is in general no serious risk of persecution in the State or part State of persons entitled to reside there and that removal to that State will not in general contravene the United Kingdom’s obligations under ECHR. Subsection (6) allows for a State or part State that has been added in accordance with subsection (5) to be removed, by order.

242.Subsection (7) provides that an appeal may not be brought while the person is in the United Kingdom in reliance on section 92(4), if the Secretary of State certifies that it is intended to remove the applicant to a third country of which he is not a national and that there is no reason to suppose that his human rights will be breached in that country. Subsection (8) provides that a country which is named in the certificate to which it is intended to remove an applicant under subsection (7), is to be regarded as one where the applicant's rights under the Refugee Convention will be observed and from where he will not be sent to another country other than in accordance with the Convention.

243.Subsection (9) provides that where a certificate is issued under this section an appeal that is made outside of the United Kingdom shall be considered as if the applicant had not been removed from this country.

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