1714722 (Refugee)

The applicant, who sought a protection visa from Vietnam, failed to attend a hearing before the Refugee Tribunal. The applicant also failed to apply for reinstatement of their application within the prescribed 14-day period following the missed hearing. The matter came before Member Jessica Henderson of the Refugee Tribunal.

The central legal issue before the Tribunal was whether the applicant's failure to apply for reinstatement within the statutory timeframe mandated the affirmation of the decision to dismiss the application.

Member Henderson reasoned that the legislative framework required the Tribunal to confirm the dismissal of the application if no request for reinstatement was made within the 14-day period. Consequently, the decision under review was taken to be affirmed. The Tribunal confirmed the decision to dismiss the application.