Zimbabwe case not to be appealed

The Home Office is apparently not going to appeal the recent Zimbabwean test case, RN (Returnees) Zimbabwe CG [2008]. This strongly suggests that status will be granted to Zimbabwean asylum seekers who qualify and who receive decisions from now onwards. Appeals that are allowed on the basis of RN will lead to status being granted.

Will the Home Office bring Zimbabwean fresh claims to the front of the Legacy queue, in front of everyone else? I really don’t know. If not, though, there could be a wait of years before decisions on fresh claims, by which time the situation may well have improved.

And, let us all remember, we WANT the situation to improve in Zimbabwe! It is all too easy to forget this as an asylum lawyer when focussed on winning your client’s case.

Lastly, as discussed in a previous post, getting status now means leave to remain for five years, which can be reviewed and removed for any or all Zimbabweans not yet settled with ILR if things do improve in Zimbabwe. – Free Movement