Upper Tribunal
(Immigration and Asylum Chamber) Appeal No: IA/12224/2014
THE IMMIGRATION ACTS
Heard at Field House Determination promulgated
On 1 September 2014 On 9 September 2014
Before
DEPUTY JUDGE OF THE UPPER TRIBUNAL DIGNEY
Between
SARVAR AMANOV
Appellant
and
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT
Respondent
Representation:
For the respondent: Mr Duffy, Home Office Presenting Officer
DETERMINATION AND REASONS
- The appellant, a citizen of Uzbekistan, applied for a residence card as confirmation of a right to reside in the United Kingdom. That application was refused and an appeal against the decision dismissed. The application was refused because the respondent concluded that the marriage in question was a marriage of convenience and the judge who heard the appeal reached the same conclusion.
- The grounds of appeal make four points: (i) the appellant said that he had sent witness statements and photographs to the court but no mention has been made of these in the court proceedings; (ii) the judge refers to an entry clearance officer when this was an in-country appeal; (iii) there was a reference to a previous application; (iv) the judge said that a permanent residence card was being requested when this was not the case.
- Permission to appeal was granted by Judge Simpson. She referred to the second and fourth of the above mentioned matters and added that the judge said that the respondent had discretion, which was not the case. She concluded that:
i. Altogether there were disclosed arguable errors of law arising from the judge’s conceptions of the facts and law.
- There is a rule 24 response which states that whilst there appear to be superficial errors in the determination these do not vitiate the decision. It is then said that in spite of the serious allegation, the appellant did not fully engage with the appellate process and sought a decision on the papers. The judge made clear findings on the question of a marriage of convenience and the appellant provided no evidence dealing with the points taken against him.
- The points I have called (ii) and (iv) and the point that the judge granting permission made about discretion have no relevance to the decision at all and whilst they are errors they are not material errors and could not effect the decision in any way. The reference to a previous determination did not contain an error of law; the judge was entitled to do this.
- The first allegation in the grounds, that the appellant said that he had sent witness statements and photographs to the court but no mention has been made of these in the court proceedings is different in nature. It is clear that these were not on the court file; see paragraph 11 of the determination. There is no evidence that they were ever sent and even now have not been. For such a point to become even arguable there would have to be, at the very least, evidence that documents were sent and there is no such evidence. It follows that there is here no error of law.
- I turn to the core of this case. The law is set out in Papajorgi (EEA spouse – marriage of convenience) Greece [2012] UKUT 38 (IAC). It is for the respondent to raise reasons for concluding that the marriage is one of convenience, and then it is for the appellant to prove on a balance of probabilities that it is not.
- Here the respondent produces clear evidence as to the doubtful status of the marriage; see the paragraph that commences “On arrival at the premises” in the Reasons for Refusal Letter. It is then for the appellant to prove that the marriage is not one of convenience. That is something that he has plainly failed to do. He provided no evidence on the point at all. The judge gives clear reasons in paragraph 11 of the determination why he concluded that the marriage was one of convenience; that conclusion was clearly open to him on the evidence In those circumstances the judge’ decision is properly reasoned on the crucial points in the case.
- It follows that the original judge made no error of law. The original decision stands.
The appeal is dismissed
Designated Judge Digney
Judge of the Upper Tribunal 2 September 2014
