Administrative Review — Challenge a UK Visa Refusal for a Caseworker Error
Your deadline may be as short as 14 days from the date you receive the decision. Administrative Review is not an appeal. It exists for one purpose: to correct a mistake the caseworker made in applying the rules.
Administrative Review is not an appeal. It is a focused challenge where the Home Office made a caseworker error. The deadline can be short: 14 days inside the UK, 28 days outside the UK where AR applies, and 7 days if detained.
Administrative Review can be the right route where the caseworker applied the wrong rule, miscalculated salary, overlooked a document already submitted, or made a clear factual or legal error. It is not the right route where the refusal happened because evidence was missing, weak, or not submitted in the correct format.
Quick Answer
Administrative Review is the formal process for challenging a UK visa refusal where the caseworker made a legal or factual error in reaching their decision. It is available for most Points-Based System routes including Skilled Worker, Student, and Graduate visas, and some other routes where the refusal letter confirms AR rights.
AR is not an appeal. You cannot submit new documents or ask for a fresh assessment of your evidence. The reviewer looks only at whether the original caseworker applied the rules correctly — not at whether the outcome was fair or reasonable.
If your refusal was caused by a caseworker error, AR can be faster and cheaper than reapplying. If the refusal was based on a credibility finding or weak evidence rather than an error, AR is unlikely to succeed and a fresh application is usually the better route.
Administrative Review Fixed Fee £1,500
KQ Solicitors identifies the caseworker error, prepares the grounds, and submits the Administrative Review before your deadline closes.
What Is Administrative Review?
Administrative Review is the formal process for correcting a caseworker error in your refusal. A different caseworker — one who was not involved in the original decision — reviews whether the original decision was wrong in law. Their role is not to substitute their own view of the merits. It is to assess whether a caseworking error was made.
AR became the main challenge route for many Points-Based System decisions after appeal rights were restricted, but it is only available where the Immigration Rules and the decision letter confirm it is. It is primarily an in-country remedy for permission to stay refusals.
AR is available for in-country refusals of most work and study routes, and some family and settlement routes. Entry clearance refusals from outside the UK generally do not carry AR rights unless the refusal letter specifically confirms it. A fresh application is usually the only route in those cases.
Who Can Apply Through KQ Solicitors?
We handle Administrative Review applications for:
- Skilled Worker visa refusals — including salary grounds, occupation code errors, sponsor compliance concerns, and suitability findings.
- Student and Graduate visa refusals — including CAS errors, academic progression misapplication, and financial evidence calculation mistakes.
- Some family and settlement refusals — where AR rights are confirmed in the refusal letter. Spouse and partner refusals more commonly carry appeal rights rather than AR rights.
- ILR and settlement refusals — where the caseworker made an error in calculating the qualifying period, absence days, or salary threshold.
- Other PBS route refusals — including Scale-up, Global Talent, and other Points-Based System routes where AR is confirmed available.
The deadline depends on where you applied and whether you were detained.
- In-country permission to stay refusals: 14 calendar days from the date you receive the decision
- Outside the UK entry clearance refusals where AR applies: 28 calendar days
- Detained when decision served: 7 calendar days
Missing the deadline usually makes the Administrative Review invalid. Late AR may only be accepted in very limited circumstances — treat the deadline as strict.
AR does not accept new evidence. If your refusal was caused by missing or weak evidence rather than a caseworker error, AR will not succeed. A fresh application is usually the right route in those cases.
Do not submit a fresh application while AR is pending without advice. A new application can withdraw the Administrative Review automatically.
We Can Help If...
- Your visa was refused and you believe the caseworker misapplied the Immigration Rules
- The refusal letter cites a requirement that does not apply to your route or application type
- Your salary, qualifying period, or absence days were calculated incorrectly
- A document you clearly submitted was stated as not provided in the refusal letter
- The financial requirement was assessed using the wrong formula or threshold
- An academic progression exception under Appendix Student was not correctly considered
- Your refusal letter does not address exceptional circumstances where it was required to
- You are within your deadline and have not yet taken any steps
AR is most effective when the error is clear and identifiable — a wrong calculation, a misapplied rule, or a document overlooked. It is not the right tool for cases where the caseworker exercised judgment against you on the evidence.
What Counts as a Caseworker Error?
The AR reviewer can only correct the original decision if there was a caseworker error. Not every refusal involves one — and understanding the difference is critical before committing the £80 Home Office AR fee.
| AR can correct | What it means |
|---|---|
| Wrong rule applied | The caseworker refused under a paragraph that does not apply to your route or application type. |
| Calculation mistake | Your salary, qualifying period, or absence count was calculated using the wrong formula or incorrect figures. |
| Document overlooked | A document you clearly submitted was stated as not provided or not considered. |
| Financial requirement misapplied | The wrong threshold was used, or the savings formula was applied incorrectly. |
| Mandatory consideration omitted | The caseworker was required to consider a specific matter and failed to do so. |
| AR cannot usually correct | Why |
|---|---|
| Credibility findings | The caseworker assessed your evidence and did not believe it. AR does not allow you to reargue the merits. |
| Judgment calls | AR does not substitute the reviewer’s judgment for the original decision-maker’s judgment. |
| Missing evidence | You did not submit a required document. AR cannot normally remedy this; a fresh application is usually needed. |
Caseworker Insight: The most common strong AR ground is a miscalculated salary or absence figure. These are mathematical errors — identifiable, evidenced, and correctable. The weakest AR grounds are those that amount to “the caseworker assessed my evidence unfairly”.
Administrative Review Fees
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| KQ Solicitors fixed fee | £1,500 |
| Home Office AR fee | £80 |
| Estimated total | £1,580 |
The £80 Home Office AR fee is normally refunded if the Administrative Review succeeds because a caseworking error is found.
The KQ fee of £1,500 covers the full AR service — refusal letter analysis, identification of the caseworker error, preparation of the AR grounds, and submission within your deadline.
If the AR is unsuccessful and a fresh application is subsequently needed, that is a separate instruction at a separate fee. Home Office fees can change, so always confirm the current AR fee on GOV.UK before submitting.
What Our AR Service Includes
- Refusal letter analysis — we read the refusal letter line by line to identify whether a caseworker error exists and whether AR is the right route.
- Route advice — we tell you clearly whether AR is available for your refusal, whether the grounds are strong, and whether a fresh application would be more effective.
- AR grounds preparation — we identify the specific error, prepare the written grounds for review, and structure the submission clearly.
- Submission within your deadline — we submit the AR before the 14-day, 28-day, or 7-day deadline and confirm receipt.
- Post-decision advice — we inform you of the outcome and advise on next steps, whether the decision is overturned or maintained.
Our AR Process
- Refusal letter review. You send us your refusal letter. We assess whether a caseworker error exists, whether AR is available for your route, and whether AR or a fresh application is the stronger route.
- Route recommendation. We tell you clearly whether to proceed with AR or reapply. If the grounds are weak, we tell you before the £80 Home Office fee is paid.
- AR grounds preparation. We identify the specific error, draft the written grounds, and prepare the submission.
- Submission. We submit the AR to the Home Office and confirm receipt before your deadline.
- Decision and next steps. If successful, the original refusal is overturned and the application is reconsidered. If unsuccessful, we advise on whether a fresh application, Pre-Action Protocol letter, or Judicial Review is appropriate.
How Long Does Administrative Review Take?
GOV.UK currently warns that Administrative Review can take 12 months or more. Straightforward reviews involving a clear calculation error may be decided sooner in practice, but you should not plan on a quick decision.
If no decision is made within 6 months, the Home Office will update the applicant.
While your AR is pending, Section 3C leave continues for in-country applicants who submitted a valid in-time application. This means your existing immigration status is protected — you remain lawful and can continue working or studying under your existing conditions.
You should not travel outside the Common Travel Area while your AR is pending. Section 3C leave ends the moment you leave the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man. If you travel while AR is pending, you lose Section 3C protection and the AR may be treated as withdrawn.
Common AR Mistakes
| Mistake | Why it causes problems | How we help |
|---|---|---|
| Missing the deadline | Missing the 14, 28, or 7-day deadline usually makes the AR invalid. | We act quickly from the moment you contact us and submit before your specific deadline. |
| Submitting AR for a credibility-based refusal | The reviewer cannot substitute their view for the caseworker’s assessment. | We assess the refusal grounds before submission and advise against AR where it is unlikely to succeed. |
| Using AR to submit new evidence | New documents cannot normally be introduced in AR. | We identify whether the issue requires new evidence and redirect to a fresh application where needed. |
| Not identifying the specific error | Vague grounds citing general unfairness are ineffective. | We identify the specific rule misapplied or calculation error and cite it precisely. |
| Submitting a fresh application while AR is pending | A new application can automatically withdraw the pending AR. | We advise on sequencing before any new application is filed. |
When Should You Speak to a Solicitor?
If the error in your refusal is obvious — a clearly wrong calculation, a rule that plainly does not apply to your route — you may be able to prepare and submit AR yourself. The grounds need to be precise and well-evidenced.
But if the error is complex, if you are unsure whether the refusal involved an error or a credibility finding, or if your deadline is close, legal advice before submission is significantly cheaper than a failed AR that wastes your deadline and leaves you back where you started.
The £80 AR fee costs less than a wrong choice that uses up your deadline and leaves the original refusal standing. A failed AR does not reset your options — it simply closes off one route while the situation remains unresolved.
When This Service May Not Be Right for You
This fixed-fee service covers Administrative Review for UK visa refusals where AR is available under the Immigration Rules.
- Your refusal is for a Standard Visitor visa — AR is generally not available for visitor visa refusals; see our UK visit visa refusal service.
- Your refusal was based on weak or missing evidence rather than a caseworker error — a fresh application is usually the right route.
- Your deadline has already passed — contact us to discuss whether a fresh application, PAP, or Judicial Review is appropriate.
- Your refusal letter confirms an appeal right rather than AR — this is more common for spouse and partner visa refusals.
If you are unsure whether AR is available for your refusal, contact us and we will tell you.
Check Your Administrative Review Deadline Today
Your deadline runs from the date you receive the decision notice — not from when you decide to act. If you believe a caseworker made an error in your case, act now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Administrative Review is a formal challenge to a UK visa refusal where the caseworker made a legal or factual error. A different caseworker reviews the original decision to assess whether it was wrong in law. It is not an appeal — you cannot submit new evidence or ask for a fresh assessment of your case.
It depends on where you applied and whether you were detained. For most in-country permission to stay refusals: 14 calendar days from the date you receive the decision. For entry clearance refusals from outside the UK where AR applies: 28 calendar days. If detained when the decision was served: 7 calendar days. Missing the deadline usually makes the AR invalid.
The Home Office Administrative Review fee is £80 and is normally refunded if the review succeeds because a caseworking error is found. KQ Solicitors charges a fixed fee of £1,500 for the full AR service — analysis, grounds preparation, and submission.
GOV.UK currently warns that Administrative Review can take 12 months or more. Straightforward cases may be decided sooner in practice, but no quick turnaround should be assumed. The Home Office will update you if no decision is made within 6 months.
No. Administrative Review reviews the original decision only. New documents cannot normally be introduced. If your refusal was caused by missing or incorrect evidence, a fresh application is usually the right route.
For in-country applicants who submitted a valid in-time application, Section 3C leave can continue during Administrative Review, protecting immigration status and allowing the person to continue on existing conditions. You should not travel outside the Common Travel Area while AR is pending, and submitting a fresh application while AR is live can withdraw the review automatically.
The original refusal stands. Depending on your circumstances, next steps may include a fresh application, a Pre-Action Protocol letter before Judicial Review, or in some cases an appeal on human rights grounds. We advise immediately after an unsuccessful AR.
No. An appeal is heard by an independent tribunal and may allow new evidence to be submitted. Administrative Review is an internal Home Office review limited to caseworker errors. Appeal rights were restricted for most immigration routes after the Immigration Act 2014, but some routes, including many family visa refusals, still carry appeal rights rather than AR rights.