UK Visa and immigration fee increase from next month

The UK Visa and immigration fee increases, in line with broader announcements about reductions to public spending, will help the department meet budgetary pressures, alongside efficiency savings.

“The Government has looked again at the contribution made towards the costs of running an immigration system by the users of that system, balanced against those costs met by the UK taxpayer and we believe proposals to increase fees at this time are in the best interests of the UK,” the minister for Immigration Damian Green said.

“Securing the border brings with it an unavoidable core of cost, especially as we seek to improve customer service for visa applicants: something which we believe is important in the efficient running of the UK economy,” he said.

Regulations to set application fees at or below the cost of processing are subject to the negative parliamentary procedure, and these fees will increase from 1 October 2010. Where a fee is charged that is set above the cost of processing, the regulations are subject to the affirmative parliamentary process; these fees are due to come into effect in November, subject to parliamentary timetabling.

The ministerial statement about the increase in fees as well as the full list of fee increases to be applied can be viewed here.

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The UK Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people with their  UK immigration applications to the British Embassy.