Asylum appeal success: refusal withdrawn and refugee status granted
08.10.2025
We are pleased to share a successful outcome achieved by Mr Mykola Koval and Ms Diana Bondarenko from Sterling Law’s immigration team. After an initial refusal of asylum in 2023, our dual-national client faced serious risks on return to their country of origin, including discrimination, persecution, and forced military mobilisation. Sterling Law was instructed to act as legal representatives in the appeal.
Background
-
Initial decision: Asylum application refused by the Home Office in 2023.
-
Risk profile: Dual nationality with documented risks tied to political and military conditions in the region.
-
Instruction: Client appealed and appointed Sterling Law to conduct the case.
Key issues
-
Establishing a well-founded fear of persecution linked to country-specific conditions.
-
Demonstrating the client’s individual risk profile beyond general conditions.
-
Ensuring the evidential record met the threshold for protection under the Refugee Convention and UK law.
Our approach
We prepared a comprehensive appeal, focusing on both the legal framework and robust evidential support:
-
Instructed a country expert to provide an independent report addressing current conditions and specific risk factors.
-
Collected and curated corroborating evidence, including personal statements, documentary records, and contextual materials.
-
Filed a detailed legal submission aligning the facts and expert findings with the relevant provisions of the Immigration Rules, Refugee Convention principles, and applicable country guidance.
Outcome
-
Home Office position withdrawn: Following our written representations and appeal preparations, the Home Office withdrew the refusal decision.
-
Grant of protection: In August 2025, the client was recognised as a refugee and granted five years’ permission to stay in the United Kingdom.
Why this matters
Complex asylum cases turn on precise evidence, credible expert input, and careful legal analysis. This result underlines how:
-
Properly instructed country expertise can clarify individual risk within volatile contexts.
-
Well-organised evidence and consistent narratives strengthen credibility assessments.
-
Targeted legal submissions ensure that every aspect of a client’s fear of persecution is properly recognised against the correct legal tests.
Client impact
This decision secures long-term safety and stability for our client in the UK and provides a clear route to settlement, subject to prevailing rules.
Conclusion and next steps
If you or someone you represent is facing an asylum refusal or requires advice on protection claims, contact Sterling Law’s immigration specialists. Our team can assess your position, advise on evidence and expert reports, and prepare a strong legal strategy tailored to your circumstances.
