Immigration Advisory Service
{{Short description|UK charitable organisation}}
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The Immigration Advisory Service was a British charity, in existence from 1993 until 2011. It was a UK organisation registered as a charity,{{EW charity|1033192}} providing direct legal assistance to refugees, asylum seekers and others needing advice and guidance around British immigration law.{{cite web |url=http://www.iasuk.org/ |title=Immigration Advisory Service |publisher=Immigration Advisory Service |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305161749/http://iasuk.org/home.aspx |archivedate=2011-03-05}} Founded in 1993, it closed after going into administration on 8 July 2011.
It was formed out of the former United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service. It was a nationwide charity with many offices throughout the UK. It derived its funding through donations as well as case funding from Legal Aid, which was means tested. 2008 was a particularly good year for the IAS. IAS lawyers succeeded in winning a number of high-profile and far-reaching cases before the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal and higher courts. Kalvir Kaur of the IAS won the 2008 Immigration Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Award for her work with unaccompanied minors and victims of trafficking.
As of 8 July 2011 IAS went into administration,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14105065 |title=Immigration Advisory Service goes into administration |work=BBC News |date=11 July 2011 |access-date=10 August 2021}} blaming government changes to legal aid.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2011/jul/11/immigration-advisory-service-closes-blames-government |title=Tens of thousands lose support as Immigration Advisory Service closes |last=Bowcott |first=Owen |newspaper=The Guardian |date=11 July 2011 |access-date=10 August 2021}} The Legal Services Commission said "During recent stewardship activities the LSC raised concerns around financial management and claims irregularities, which prompted IAS trustees to conclude that the organisation was no longer financially viable".{{Cite web |url=http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/immigration-advisory-service-administration |title=The Law Society Gazette, Immigration Advisory Service in administration |access-date=2011-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911103340/http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/immigration-advisory-service-administration |archive-date=2011-09-11 |url-status=dead }} Major changes in legal aid for refugees and asylum seekers were made in 2007{{Cite web |date=21 March 2012 |title=LSC Website : Immigration and Asylum Graduated Fee Scheme |url=http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/civil/remuneration/immigration_asylum_graduated_fee_scheme.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321035704/http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/civil/remuneration/immigration_asylum_graduated_fee_scheme.asp |archive-date=2012-03-21 |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=legalservices.gov.uk}} and 2010.{{Cite web |date=21 March 2012 |title=LSC Website : Press Releases pre-May 2010 |url=http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/aboutus/press_releases_10617.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321035710/http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/aboutus/press_releases_10617.asp |archive-date=2012-03-21 |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=legalservices.gov.uk}}