The Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) announces that it has gone into administration.
The Immigration Advisory Service (IAS), the UK's largest immigration and asylum law charity, has gone into administration.
Full details are posted in a statement on the IAS website at http://www.iasuk.org/home.aspx.
The IAS statement says trustees regrettably decided that all avenues of support had been exhausted for IAS to seek a solvent restructure, and that they had no alternative but to place the organisation into administration.
Clients are advised to monitor IAS’s website where updates on arrangements will be posted.
According to The Guardian, tens of thousands of people pursuing asylum and immigration cases have been left without support.
BBC News has more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14105065 and The Guardian has more at http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2011/jul/11/immigration-advisory-service-closes-blames-government
See also the Law Society Gazette article (which is open for comments) at http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/immigration-advisory-service-administration
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Note: The following is a press release issued by the Legal Services Commission, originally published at http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/civil/cls_news_12838.asp
CLS news
Immigration Advisory Service announce their decision to go into administration
11 July 2011
LSC to secure alternative provision as soon as possible
Today, Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) announced that they have gone into administration.
IAS is a not for profit charity and the largest provider of legal aid services in the asylum and immigration market. It has 14 offices across England and Scotland and operates outreach in a number of different locations nationwide.
Our priority now is to work closely with IAS and the administrators to ensure clients of IAS continue to get the help they need, whilst safeguarding public money. We are now identifying alternative advice provision in the areas affected and arrangements for case transfer will follow as soon as possible.
IAS clients are advised to visit IAS's website where updates on arrangements will be posted - www.iasuk.org.
Anyone who needs immigration advice should contact the Community Legal Advice helpline on 0845 345 4 345.
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