ABSTRACT
The period before an asylum appeal can be crucial. Some appellants are able to prepare for their hearings, consolidate their health, solicit good advice and collect evidence. Others, however, are unable to carry out these tasks and find the period of waiting stressful and frustrating. Prolonged waiting can put pressure on their mental health and can also cause them to forget details of their testimony. In this chapter, we explore the uneven experiences of waiting for hearings and highlight the diversity of responses of judges when faced with appellants who found the waiting period difficult.
