New immigration fees proposed

[rusty]

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2012/february/21-new-immigration-fees-proposed

Immigration minister Damian Green has issued a written ministerial statement proposing an increase in visa fees, and an increase in UK-based visa application fees.

The proposals will be laid in Parliament in 2 separate regulations and, subject to Parliamentary approval, the government hopes to bring the new fees into force from 6 April 2012.
Immigration minister, Damian Green said:

'It is only fair that those who use and benefit from the immigration system contribute a higher share of the cost of running it - reducing the burden on the UK taxpayer.'
Fees will increase by only 2 per cent in the majority of cases, but there will be higher increases on certain routes.

[stevie c]

Disgracefull the fees being charged at present is way over the top :cwm23:

Im sure it is another ploy to make the via application more difficult for genuine people like ouselves :NoNo: :doh :cwm23:

[grahamw48]

These increases....on top of already exorbitant fees should not apply if the sponsor is a BRITISH citizen BORN here....especially if they've been paying taxes for over 40 years !

Cheeky :censored:s :angry:

[Steve.r]

:cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23::cwm23:

[lastlid]

Yes, way over the top.....

Just seen em. We were expecting them. Looks like the Spousal route subsidises other routes in. We pay over the odds (over cost) so that others can get in below cost.....

"Some fees are set above the administrative cost of providing the service to generate the
revenue which is used to help fund the UK immigration system and which enables others to
be set below cost recovery to support wider government objectives."

[imagine]

its just any excuse to collect more money

[stevewool]

who has benifited from this , we have paid for what we have an our partners pay tax and insurance too,

[joebloggs]

Immigration minister, Damian Green said:
[INDENT]'It is only fair that those who use and benefit from the immigration system contribute a higher share of the cost of running it - reducing the burden on the UK taxpayer.'

they say that every year :doh , fair, so why the :censored: arn't the Europeans who use the Immigration system in the Uk paying their fair share :action-smiley-081:

[stevewool]

the magic word there is europeans,

[Iani]

Great!

Can think of instances they ought to put it up, bet we all can

[lastlid]

Looking at the link submitted by Rusty. I wondered how much over the odds the fees for the Spouse visa were and now I know as I didn't think it would cost the UKBA 800 quid to process a Spouse visa. Some more than others maybe but on average........ Big difference between the fee and the average cost per head. We pay (paid) double what it costs to process a Spouse visa.....

[joy_86jm]

what a sad news :( Hopefully we can apply by March. Thnx Rusty for posting about this fees proposed.

[joebloggs]

Looking at the link submitted by Rusty. I wondered how much over the odds the fees for the Spouse visa were and now I know as I didn't think it would cost the UKBA 800 quid to process a Spouse visa. Some more than others maybe but on average........ Big difference between the fee and the average cost per head. We pay (paid) double what it costs to process a Spouse visa.....

2007 a settlement visa was £500
http://collections.europarchive.org/tna/20050328200713/http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1006977150007

you not just paying for the processing fee, UKBA, but your also paying for the privilege of living in the UK. :angry: no i'm not joking..

[lastlid]

Big jump eh, from 2007!

[joebloggs]

yes i think i paid £500 back in 2005. but its gone up every year, and it probably will keep going up each year, its a :REGamblMoney01HL1: maker :D

[grahamw48]

1991 = £40. :NoNo:

Wish my wages had gone up by the same multiple during the past 21 years. :rolleyes:

[andy222]

These increases....on top of already exorbitant fees should not apply if the sponsor is a BRITISH citizen BORN here....especially if they've been paying taxes for over 40 years !

Cheeky :censored:s :angry:

Totally agree Graham.:xxgrinning--00xx3: But adding a £16 to a settlment visa I can live with. Its the income limit thats worrying me.

[grahamw48]

On the income level....blatant discrimination. :angry:

Can you imagine the uproar if all on benefits were told they were not permitted to add to their families....or buy beer or cigarettes with the money, or feed their pet/s ? :Erm:

WE are an easy target. :cwm23:

[andy222]

Good point Graham.

[stevewool]

well all in all once the visas have been got and your wife is here, its money well spent i say:)

[grahamw48]

I don't think it's just about the money for the visas and other expenses though Steve....most could just flog their car or get a loan, downsize their house etc, if they felt their girl was worth it.

It's the fact that as British citizens born and bred, we are PAYING unreasonable fees and having to jump through unfair hoops in order to do what every other Brit can do without a second thought whether they are bankrupt, 5 times divorced without contributing a penny to their 9 kids, a rapist or a murderer and possibly having never worked a day in their life. :NoNo:

[Moy]

for ILR WITH one dependent:rolleyes:..how much would it be:cwm3: if i apply on the 25th of April this year..i couldnt open the said website:doh am afraid

[Rosie1958]

Hi Moy

The provisional fees from April 2012 if you are applying from within the UK are as follows:-

NON-PBS ROUTES

Product - Current Fee from April 2012

Indefinite leave to remain: postal, main applicant
(was £972) New fee is £991

Indefinite leave to remain: postal, dependant
(was £486) New Fee is £496

Application for ILR in person at enquiry office for main applicant has gone up from £1350 to £1377
Application in person as above for dependent has increased from £675 to £689

:doh:doh:doh

[andy222]

Ok guys . How much to bring my wife and stepdaughter here under the new proposals?

[joebloggs]

Ok guys . How much to bring my wife and stepdaughter here under the new proposals?

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/fees-spring-2012.pdf

around £826 each :cwm24: and make sure your visa apps are strong as possible, not many people can afford to lose that amount of money :Help1:

[lastlid]

Wot, no buy one get one free?

[joebloggs]

Wot, no buy one get one free?

FLR and ILR was free for dependents until very recently, now you have to pay :angry:

it's all about the :REGamblMoney01HL1:

[andy222]

Thanks joe I thought it was but just checking. And your right I cant afford to lose that much.:doh

[Moy]

Hi Moy

The provisional fees from April 2012 if you are applying from within the UK are as follows:-

NON-PBS ROUTES

Product - Current Fee from April 2012

Indefinite leave to remain: postal, main applicant
(was £972) New fee is £991

Indefinite leave to remain: postal, dependant
(was £486) New Fee is £496

Application for ILR in person at enquiry office for main applicant has gone up from £1350 to £1377
Application in person as above for dependent has increased from £675 to £689

:doh:doh:doh

thanks in many for reply:xxgrinning--00xx3::Jump: rosie1958..it gone up a bit yet still we have to deal:rolleyes::doh:NoNo:

[tone]

In the same breath those drunken .......s who use the A&E more than any of us should be making a contribution every time they use it...

Then is taxpayers won't have to pay their usage costs! The list could go on couldn't it!
I think there should be a charging tariff for European immigrants too and if they want tomcome here to settle they show they can afford it and pay!

There are quite a few ways to raise revenue, one of them would also be to make sure the large corps pay their fair share of tax rather than writing off billions, and forcing us 'minions' to pay on their behalf.

Totally taking the piss, especially the cost of bringing dependants here. Hose of you that have to bring your family here you have my sympathies...disgraceful!

[joebloggs]

I
Totally taking the piss, especially the cost of bringing dependants here. Hose of you that have to bring your family here you have my sympathies...disgraceful!

i worked it out i spent more than £4,000 for the misses and kids on visa's and most of that was 7yrs ago, i hate to think what that cost would be now :cwm24:

[lastlid]

Thanks joe I thought it was but just checking. And your right I cant afford to lose that much.:doh

Yes. I sympathise Andy. In a way I can accept the fees for the Spouse visa (not happy of course, you understand) but charging for dependent children to such a level is well out of order. I didn't realise the charge was the same.

My way of thinking is that for a range of reasons, is that for someone in your position can't really afford to have one succesful application and one refused application (one is no good without the other) so even more reason to ensure that the applications succeed.

While waiting till later this year, at least you have given yourself a chance to plan and prepare meticulously........:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[joebloggs]

settlement fee is the same for an adult and a child but for FLR or ILR its roughly around half the cost of an adult, but then not long ago it was free when the child was included on the parents FLR/ILR app form.

almost certainly if the mothers (probably the mother is the one who's is applying 95% of the time) is refused the child's visa will be refused too, because the child is a dependent of the mother, basically what happens visa wise to the mother, will probably happen to the child.

more likely to happen is the mother will be granted and the child refused because the mother hasn't proven 'sole responsibility' or custody of the child.

[lastlid]

I see.

What about a child born in the UK to UK citizen and a Filipina spouse on a spouse visa? Would ILR requirements / charges apply to the child then or presumably not as it would be British?

[joebloggs]

if a child is born in the UK and one parent has at least ILR then the child is British

[andy222]

Yes. I sympathise Andy. In a way I can accept the fees for the Spouse visa (not happy of course, you understand) but charging for dependent children to such a level is well out of order. I didn't realise the charge was the same.

My way of thinking is that for a range of reasons, is that for someone in your position can't really afford to have one succesful application and one refused application (one is no good without the other) so even more reason to ensure that the applications succeed.

While waiting till later this year, at least you have given yourself a chance to plan and prepare meticulously........:xxgrinning--00xx3:

Thanks for that lastlid much appreciated mate. I will just wait till everything is in order but I will still need help from you guys when the time comes.:xxgrinning--00xx3:.

[lastlid]

if a child is born in the UK and one parent has at least ILR then the child is British

Or in our case maybe Manx :omg:

[andy222]

What we have to bear in mind is these are only proposals it could go up!:doh.

[joebloggs]

Or in our case maybe Manx :omg:

one thing to consider if any kids are born in the phils, they would be British by descent and their children would only automatically be British if born in the UK.

[Moy]

one thing to consider if any kids are born in the phils, they would be British by descent and their children would only automatically be British if born in the UK.

talking about british my descent joe:rolleyes: my 2 young kids that were born in the PH which had there dual passport now english and Ph:rolleyes: can stay here in anytime they like..and if we decide to get back to PH would they still be able to come back here without hasstle:D..:doh
and about me applying for ILR i have my one kid dependent and hopefully after 3 years(that would be next year) if the time will allow i would apply for citizenship would she be still do the same as me..can she apply..as well:):rolleyes: shes only 8 years old at the moment though:D

[grahamw48]

If they have British passports....no worries about getting into the UK. They're British citizens....forever. :)

[joebloggs]

talking about british my descent joe:rolleyes: my 2 young kids that were born in the PH which had there dual passport now english and Ph:rolleyes: can stay here in anytime they like..and if we decide to get back to PH would they still be able to come back here without hasstle:D..:doh
and about me applying for ILR i have my one kid dependent and hopefully after 3 years(that would be next year) if the time will allow i would apply for citizenship would she be still do the same as me..can she apply..as well:):rolleyes: shes only 8 years old at the moment though:D

as Graham has said they are ok, when you apply for citizenship you can register her as British at the same time using form MN1. :xxgrinning--00xx3: as she will be under 18

http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/applying/applicationtypes/childregisteringasbritishcitizen/

[Moy]

If they have British passports....no worries about getting into the UK. They're British citizens....forever. :)

thanks for the reply graham:) and yes they have british passport issued in HK that we applied from PH:Jump:
BUT am wondering if its still worthy to when there PH passport will expire its worthy to renew it..just to say they are dual:D ..something to show to PH IMMIGRATION in case they will tax them:rolleyes: when we decide to get back:cwm24::D

[Moy]

as Graham has said they are ok, when you apply for citizenship you can register her as British at the same time using form MN1. :xxgrinning--00xx3: as she will be under 18

http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/applying/applicationtypes/childregisteringasbritishcitizen/

ah..thanks for the links joe:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[RickyR]

The UK Visa fees must be amongst the most expensive, if not being the most expensive in the world.
Visa processing is outsourced to VFS, and then routed on to a central Embassy for the region where the Entry Clearance Officers make the decision.
Consular services from the Embassy are limited and pretty poor, with many restrictions on appointments and times, with incredible costs.
Passport processing is now by courier to a central processing centre, applicatons for a passport cannot be made in person. The ridiculous thing is that an expat in Calais would have to send his application to Dusseldorf instead of the UK...
The British Embassy tend to be the biggest and most secure after the US Embassy in most countries, and have several of the military grade range rovers (half a million pounds each??). What on earth do they actually offer to British citizens for all that money?
Here in Oman, the British Embassy have a terrible reputation, and a friend of mine who is half British/half French, uses the French one because they actually welcome him and help him, and normally offer a glass of wine!

To obtain a 10 year visit visa for my wife and step daughter will cost circa 900 quid. I have just applied for them to get USA B1/B2 10 year visit visas, this is costing 65 pounds, and is done on the same day with an interview and processing at the USA Embassy by American staff. With these visas they automatically get entry for 6 months at a time, and can extend for a further 6 months on each visit to the states.

The UK visit visa will limit her to 3 months per visit, and a max of 6 months per year...
She can't even obtain a UK driving license based on the family visit visa, despite only being allowed to legally drive on hers for a maximum of 3 months, and that doesn't reset on each visit.
Tired of the UK and it's crap? Yes I am.

[RickyR]

Oh yes, and just reminded by an e-mail from the Australian Immigration (registered after I completed a points test on the website), offering 9000 Aussie Dollars housing grant to go and live there, work and contribute to society and pay taxes with a good quality of life in return.
The UK only rewards those who are screw ups and losers. Work all your life and pay tax in the UK, and you're treated like crap!

[Terpe]

....Tired of the UK and it's crap? Yes I am.

Oh dear Ricky, that's very sad.
You should actually try living here :doh

[Terpe]

Oh yes, and just reminded by an e-mail from the Australian Immigration (registered after I completed a points test on the website), offering 9000 Aussie Dollars housing grant to go and live there............

You might find you need that 9000 dollars.
By all accounts housing costs in Oz are very high.
Like for like much much higher than UK :Erm:

[Terpe]

Oh yes, and just reminded by an e-mail from the Australian Immigration (registered after I completed a points test on the website), offering 9000 Aussie Dollars housing grant to go and live there............

You might find you need that 9000 dollars.
By all accounts housing costs in Oz are very high.
Like for like much much higher than UK :Erm:

[joebloggs]

on a UK visit visa, you can visit up to 6 months in 1yr and a single trip can be up to 6 months,

i think if her license is recognized here she can drive , its only when you become a resident or the UK is your permanent home you need to pass your test in the first year.

from what I've seen some of those who goto Oz have to work longer hours and 6 or 7 days a week to get by, i don't call that a better Quality of life.

[sars_notd_virus]

The UK Visa fees must be amongst the most expensive, if not being the most expensive in the world.


Here in Oman, the British Embassy have a terrible reputation, and a friend of mine who is half British/half French, uses the French one because they actually welcome him and help him, and normally offer a glass of wine!





Oh yes, and just reminded by an e-mail from the Australian Immigration (registered after I completed a points test on the website),

You are lucky Rickyr, you got an option for your family to live wherever you want because you got a great job with great pay,...majority of us here have to put up with the immigration fees!!!:rolleyes:

[RickyR]

Sorry for the rant, just fed up of the costs. In recent years on the forum I've seen more and more genuine people with genuine relationships penalised for either not having a high enough income or being hit with ridiculous fees.


i think if her license is recognized here she can drive , its only when you become a resident or the UK is your permanent home you need to pass your test in the first year.

Thats how it should be Joe, but unfortunately I had a friend caught out by the same issue a few years back. He got a speeding ticket on one visit to the UK, returned the following year and got caught again, the police told him that the 3 months doesn't reset, which seems silly to me.

I understand Terpe that costs are higher in Aussie, but salaries also are higher. One job that does keep coming up in our professional magazines is for harbour masters/pilots in New Zealand, and I've told the wifey that it would be a good job to settle down into in 10 years time when i'm older and wiser haha.

I love so much about the UK, but I hate going back and seeing the way my sisters and their families live when they are actually earning the national average salary. They work hard like most people, and yet seem to end up with little or no disposable income.

If you live in the country, it can be a beautiful and friendly place. In the big towns and cities, the UK is getting so expensive and so hard to live in. I've heard that some people are spending 300-500 pound a month in fuel commuting to work! Thats scary!

[joebloggs]

i think the cop got it wrong, you need to pass your test within one year when you become a resident or UK is your permenant home..

i know some filipinos (and others ! ) on work permits thought if they left the country and went back to the phils for a holiday, then came back they could drive for a year again without taking the UK test :NoNo:. not when the UK is your home :doh

[joebloggs]

and everyone is entitled to a :furious3: Ricky :xxgrinning--00xx3:

you can only :laugher: about whats going on here :D