The Minister for Security and Immigration (James Brokenshire)
The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Order was laid on 2 February 2015. The order, which was made under the fees provisions in the Immigration Act 2014, was the first of two statutory instruments setting immigration and nationality fees. It set out the functions that the Home Office may charge for, and maximum amounts that may be charged for different categories of function.
The second statutory instrument, containing the individual fees for immigration and nationality applications, services and other products provided by the Home Office, will be laid shortly.
The Home Office has given careful consideration to individual fee levels to ensure that those who use and benefit directly from the immigration and border system make an appropriate contribution to the costs of managing the system. This is fair and helps to reduce public spending on the system. The requirement that the immigration and border controls are properly and sustainably funded must be balanced against the need to continue to attract and welcome tourists and the “brightest and best” migrants from around the world. That balance has been achieved by:
applying smaller increases to, or freezing, fees for products that support economic growth. For example, the fee for a tourist visa will increase by 2%; fees for many workers and students will increase by 4%; other “growth routes” will be restricted to an increase of 8%; and fees for 10-year visit, shortage occupation work and airside transit visas will remain unchanged.
applying targeted increases where the benefit to the customer is greater, the service is optional, or UK fees are below comparable charges made by other Governments.
ensuring that estimated processing costs are fully recovered where fees are tied to unit costs.
applying a fee increase of up to 12% for other products and services.
Further detail on fees changes will be provided in the explanatory memorandum for these regulations. A copy of the revised fees table will also be published on the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk
Full details on how to apply for all of the Home Office’s products and services are provided on the Home Office website.
[HCWS393]