In this guide
Use this material to examine your own work. Confirm current requirements, forms and dates with ICE before applying.
You can request a deferral after submitting your application. The cost depends on whether ICE has already issued your review date.
Deferral following pre-assessment
Reviewers may agree that your report is not of a satisfactory standard and defer the review. The Professional Reviews team explains the concerns and what you must do next. The review is rearranged after you have addressed the comments.
Requesting a deferral
Consider what has changed and what you need to resolve:
- For illness, bereavement or an emergency, contact ICE promptly and gather the evidence requested. You have ten working days to provide it once asked.
- If workload has prevented preparation, discuss how to make time before choosing a new date.
- If the report is incomplete or insufficient, address it before proceeding.
- If anxiety is the main concern, a mock review with your lead sponsor may help you prepare more than postponing alone.
What it costs, and when
| Situation | Deferring before your review date is issued | Deferring after it is issued |
|---|---|---|
| The fee | Your original fee carries over if you re-apply within 12 months. Beyond that, a new fee is payable. | You are liable for the next application fee. |
| Exceptions | Not needed within the 12 months. | ICE may grant one for medical reasons, bereavement or a local emergency, and will consider circumstances beyond your control outside those. |
| Evidence | None required. | Required, with 10 working days to supply it. |
| What you do next | Make a new application in line with the published dates and current guidance. | The same, and notify your lead sponsor, which ICE asks for in all cases. |
ICE's decision on a deferral is final. The point of the table is that the timing of your call matters more than the reason.
Questions to ask yourself
- Which of the four situations am I in?
Something happened; work swallowed the preparation; the report is not good enough; or nerves. They call for different responses, and only the first three are helped by deferring.
- Has my review date been issued yet?
It decides the fee position entirely, and it means a decision taken this week may cost less than the same decision next week.
- If work caused this, what will be different next time?
Deferring buys time. It does not change the thing that consumed the last lot.
If you need to defer
Official sources
Selected publisher pages were rechecked in September 2026. Other source records were last checked in July 2026. Open the latest official document before relying on a requirement.