The Home Office has introduced new fees for visas, immigration and nationality applications, and associated premium services as of 6 April 2014.
Fee increases are to be expected in April each year and this year has been no exception. In particular, fees for dependants have increased considerably for some visa types.
The changes are equivalent to a 4% rise for most fees, including the short-term visitor visa and most work, study and Settlement applications (Indefinite Leave to Remain). Targeted increases have also been made to other specific categories.
The Home Office claims that the fee increases will enable them to continue to improve their customer service and ensure that those who benefit most from the immigration and visa sytem meet a proportionare share of the costs in running the system.
Some of the key changes include -
• fees for most applications, including short-term visit, work, study and settlement, increase by 4%
• fees for all dependants are set at the same level as main applicants (25% discount for in-UK dependants applying with main applicants removed)
• nationality fees restructured, with discounts for child applications
• priority postal service fee rises to £300 and the in-person application fee to £400
• fee for direct airside transit visa decreases to £40
• sponsorship fees for Tier 2 large sponsor licenses and sponsor action plans decrease, and a number of other sponsorship fees are frozen
• Tier 2 shortage occupations fee of £428 is introduced for applicants both overseas and in the UK
• new 5 year Tier 2 general and ICT applications introduced
• 10 year long term visit visa frozen at £737
• new registered traveller fee introduced when the scheme is rolled-out
The Home Office will also set a single global fee for a number of optional premium services for applications made outside the UK, as well as expanding many of these services. This includes:
• 3 to 5 day priority visa service for £100, or £300 for priority settlement applications
• super priority visa service, with turnaround in as little as 24 hours for £600
Please feel free to contact Premier Visas to discuss your application.
