UI2023003411

             For ease of reference, I will refer to the parties as they were before the First-tier Tribunal.

             The appellant was not represented at the hearing before me due to the non-availability of her previous representative. The appellant told me that she did not want to apply for an adjournment, and that she wanted to proceed with the hearing representing herself.

             I therefore ensured that I provided the appellant with an appropriate level of assistance, consistent with the guidance in the Equal Treatment Bench Book. I ensured that she had access to all relevant papers and explained the process to her. I am grateful to Mr Mullen for his constructive and cooperative approach to this issue at the hearing. I permitted the appellant's mother, who had accompanied her to court, to sit next to her and confer with her when necessary. Only the appellant addressed the tribunal.

             The appellant is a citizen of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. She was born in 1997. She has lived in the UK for most of the time since September 2011, which was when she arrived in the United Kingdom on a Tier 4 visa, to attend school. She has resided lawfully in the UK since then, completing her education and obtaining a degree from a prestigious Scottish university. She has had a number of lengthy absences from the UK, for reasons to which I shall return.

             Her most recent grant of leave was in the form of a Hong Kong British National (Overseas) Household Member Entry visa ("BN(O) leave"), valid from 28 May 2021 until 28 May 2026. She continues to hold that status.