Course title

Days

1

Introduction to the system of Immigration Control

Gives a basic over view of the structure and function of immigration control, describing routes of entry into the UK. It gives an introduction to the subject of how the entry, exit and internal movement of foreign nationals are overseen and controlled by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. The Level 1 adviser will become familiar with basic immigration law terminology and concepts.  

2

2

Family applications for settlement 

This course will cover the law and practice of making applications under the rules for family settlement for spouses, fiancés children elderly parents and other relatives; it will include changes introduced to this area of work by the 2004 Act.

1

3

Visiting and studying in the UK 

This course will deal with the Immigration rules on visitors and students and will aim to discuss the practice of making successful applications as visitors and students in the UK.  It will cover the recent developments with regard to changes in the immigration rules in connection with these areas of work. 

½

4

Basic EEA law 

This course will give a basic overview of how Community law impacts on the free movement of persons, including third country nationals in the UK.  It will through practical examples give a clear understanding of the rights and entitlements of EEA nationals and their dependents, and give information on how to apply for residence permits for third country spouses, and other family members and also discuss the worker registration scheme. 

½

5

Introduction to Nationality and Citizenship 

This course will be an introduction to British nationality and will cover the basic routes of obtaining British citizenship; and discuss the practice of making applications for naturalisation and registration.  

½

Course title

Days

1

Professional Conduct in Immigration Casework – Levels 1, 2 & 3

This course will deal with Understanding the OISC codes and standards, and competence guidance; understanding and identifying who the client is and the principle of acting in the best interest of one’s client.  It will also deal with the principles of maintaining confidentiality and conflict of interest; it will highlight the potential difficulties of working with interpreters and the importance of clarity about any financial charges; It will also make the adviser understand the powers of Immigration Officers and the offences that an adviser can commit under the Immigration Acts.  It will also discuss how and in what circumstances an adviser should withdraw from a case. 

1

Course title

Days

1

Immigration Enforcement – detention, deportation and removal

This course will cover all issues that deal with the control and curtailment of the movement of those subject to enforcement procedures in the UK and explain how these powers of enforcement could be deployed against such persons through procedures of detention and temporary release, bail, removal and deportation.  The course will also discuss ways of challenging these procedures. 

2

2

Family Migration and Settlement

This course will cover the law and practice of making applications under the rules for family settlement for spouses, fiancés, children elderly parents and other relatives; it will include changes introduced to this area of work by the 2004 Act.  The course will also discuss how to make applications outside the rules; it will discuss the various policies that can be relied upon and the impact of article 8 of the ECHR on these applications.  

2

3

Nationality and Citizenship

This course looks at the various forms of British nationality and Citizenship, who they apply to and how they are acquired.   It aims to explain the way in which these categories emerged, and then to look in detail at the key issue of British Citizenship.  The course will cover citizenship by descent, registration and naturalization and briefly cover the rules on reduction of statelessness and loss of citizenship. It will then deal with the requirements for naturalization in more detail, covering the statutory criteria and Home Office policy, as well as the procedural requirements. 

2

4

European Union Law

This course will give a thorough understanding of EU law on the free movement of persons, particularly third country nationals who are dependent or linked to EU nationals.  The course will attempt to teach through practical examples, and through explanation of case law development how third country nationals can access rights of free movement because of their relationship with EU nationals.  The course will cover all aspects of accession of the 10 new Member states on 1 May 2004.  Additionally the course will give practical understanding of how to use the Association Agreements with Bulgaria Romania and Turkey. 

2

5

Immigration Law and Welfare Benefits

This course will cover the fundamental rules of entitlements to the UK’s mainstream benefits; main immigration rules for entitlement to benefits; public funds- what counts as public funds and the notion of ‘no additional recourse to public funds and taking benefits abroad.  It will also deal with complex situations, which need referrals to specialists.  

1

Course title

Days

1

Asylum Law and Practice

The course will cover the sources of asylum law, the 1951 Refugee Convention, and the important notions current in the definition of a refugee, that has evolved through developments in case law and other analyses.  The course will attempt to teach the practical aspects of making an asylum application in accordance with best practice, and the details of the UK government’s asylum determination process, such as SEF completion, representing at Home Office interviews and building country and expert evidence in support of claims.   

2

2

Immigration and the ECHR

This course will give an overview of the ECHR, and its application and incorporation into British Law.  It will examine the use of the ECHR in immigration cases and give practical guidance on making an immigration application relying on the ECHR.  It will cover vulnerable applicants, including unaccompanied minors, HIV/AIDS sufferers and those with acute trauma and other psychiatric problems. 

2

3

Welfare Provision for asylum seekers and former asylum seekers

This course will deal with NASS provision, eligibility for asylum support, refusals and possible challenges.  It will cover Housing and subsistence provisions and related problems; emergency accommodation and NEAT S 55 procedures; S4 hard cases support for failed asylum seekers, rights and responsibilities of asylum seekers; changes to the asylum support system; changes to the asylum support system through the 2004 Act. 

1

4

When Asylum is refused or granted

This course will deal with the grant of refugee status, and the rights it entails such as travel, benefits and other entitlements, and family reunion; it will discuss the circumstances in which humanitarian protection and discretionary leave are granted and their corresponding entitlements; The impact of Article 33(2) and the cessation clauses on the grant of refugee status will be discussed.  Also the course will train on the practical aspects of lodging an asylum appeal if the claim is refused within the deadline and will briefly explain the lodging of appeals under the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. 

1

Course title

Days

1

Preparing and Presenting Immigration Appeals: a course on advocacy  

This is a practical skills course, on presenting an appeal before an Immigration Judge.    Selecting evidence, preparing skeleton arguments; court room skills such as leading evidence in chief and cross examination; making submissions; applying for adjournments and bail; The training course will be run with the aid of role plays based on actual cases that have been before the court to teach the fundamental principles of advocacy.  

2

2

Preparing Human Rights Appeals

The course will outline how ECHR case law is made, and will focus on the preparation and presentation of Article 3 protection claims, Article 3 health claims, Article 8 Family life claims and private life claims; The course will also deal with special situations needing referral to specialist advisers. 

1

3

Offences under the Immigration Acts

This course will deal with the various Immigration Offences that attract a criminal sanction and the consequences of being convicted in relation to their immigration status; It will deal with the description of these offences in the legislation, the powers of the Immigration Service in connection with search and arrest without warrant and detention.  It will also discuss the impact of criminal procedures on Immigration Applications such as in connection with Section 2 of the 2004 Act.

½

4

Immigration and Race Discrimination Law

(Awaiting description)

½

Course title

Days

1

Preparing Asylum Appeals

This course will discuss the preparation of asylum appeals starting with the refusal letter right through to conference with Counsel, to the hearing.  The course will cover evidence that is needed to rebut the refusal letter, and other issues not raised; the preparation of the witness statement, objective bundle of country background materials, documentary evidence provided by the appellant and the authentification of these materials, supporting witnesses and expert evidence, preparation of the appellant for the hearing and cross examination. 

1

2

Gender and Asylum Law

This course will deal with through practical examples and actual case histories the various issues presented by the Gender dimension in asylum law and practice.  It will discuss notions such as ‘political opinion ‘ and ‘membership of a social group’ in relation to gender cases; it will deal with the special obstacles faced by female asylum seekers in the asylum determination process and the skills and knowledge required to deal with these cases.  

½

3

The Use of Expert Evidence in Asylum Law

This course will cover the different types of expert evidence that can be useful in asylum and immigration appeals; it will discuss issues such as the choice of appropriate experts, through the discussion of good and bad expert advice; the course will also train participants on how to instruct experts by identifying the pertinent issues.  It will discuss case law relating to expert evidence and also possible grounds of challenge that could arise from appeal determinations relating to expert evidence. 

½

4

Exclusion and Cessation Clauses

This course will cover Exclusion  (1F a, b and c) and the Cessation clauses (Article 1 c) of the Geneva Convention, and discuss through examples and case law the principles that have been settled in this area of asylum law and the mechanisms through which asylum seekers could be excluded from the asylum determination process, or lose their status once recognised as a refugee.    The course will discuss the implications of Articles 33 (1 & 2) and how they interact with Section 72 of the 2002 Act, and other domestic legislation on ‘terrorist activities’, and Section 76 of the 2002 Act in relation to refugees ceasing to be refugees. 

1