Large fee increase for Home Office immigration applications planned
11th February 2005
After much consultation and many regulatory impact assessments, the Government has released the proposed fee increases for immigration applications made to the Home Office. It is likely that these fee increases will come into force from April 2005.
The fee increases are reflected in the five year strategy—to deliver a self-financing managed migration programme by 2008, which reduces reliance on the public purse, and which supports the modernisation of immigration services. It has been stated that the fees summarised below will save the UK taxpayer in the region of £170 million in 2005–06. The proposed fees, which are subject to parliamentary approval can be seen in the table below.
| Application Type | Postal Service (£) | Premium Service (£) |
| Leave to Remain | 335 | 500 |
| Leave to Remain - Immigration Employment Document holders. FLR (IED) | 335 | 500 |
| Student Leave to Remain | 250 | 500 |
| Transfer of Leave | 160 | 500 |
| Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) | 315 | — |
| Sectors Based Scheme | 153 | — |
| Travel Documents (CID) | 195 | — |
| Child CID | 115 | — |
| Travel Documents (CTD) | 42 | — |
| Child CTD | 25 | — |
| Nationality—ROA | 120 | — |
| Nationality—6 (1) | 200 | — |
| Nationality—6 (2) | 200 | — |
| Nationality—Adult Registration | 120 | — |
| Nationality—Minor single and multiple | 200 | — |
| Nationality—Renunciation | 120 | — |
Fees for other immigration applications remain unchanged.
UK Working Holidaymaker rule change
10th February 2005
In line with the Government's five year strategy to reform UK immigration, one immediate change has been to the Commonwealth Working Holidaymaker Scheme. The main changes are as follows:
- As of 8th February all new recipients of Working Holidaymaker visas will only be permitted to take employment incidental to a holiday and will not be allowed to engage in business or as a professional sports person. Work will be limited to 12 months for citizens of Commonwealth countries (except Lesotho ), British Overseas Citizens, British Overseas Territories Citizens, and British Nationals (Overseas). The remaining 12 months (of the maximum 24 month scheme) should be spent on holiday i.e. no work.
- Switching into other employment categories (as mentioned previously in a news article) from Working Holidaymaker status will now only be possible into the Innovator, Highly Skilled Migrant Programme and work permit categories. However, switches into the work permit category will only be allowed if the job to be undertaken appears on the Shortage Occupations list as stipulated by Work Permits (UK).
Working Holidaymakers who obtained entry clearance (a visa) prior to 8th February 2005 will still benefit from the old rules regarding the employment they can undertake and the time allowed to undertake that employment (maximum of 24 months).
The Switching status amendment will affect all Working Holidaymakers (regardless of when they obtained their entry clearance) for applications submitted to the Home Office on or after 8th February 2005 .
UK Immigration System - proposed major changes
10th February 2005
Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary set out the Government's comprehensive reform of the UK immigration and asylum controls on Monday with the aim of strengthening the UK's borders and ensuring that only those who benefit Britain can come here to work and study. The strategy to be put in place over the next 5 years includes the following:
- A new points system for people applying to work or study in the UK (including replacing the work permit scheme). The scheme will consist of four new tiers: highly skilled, skilled, low skilled and student/specialist. Points will be adjusted to respond to changes in the labour market giving the system flexibility and control.
- Financial Bonds where necessary for specific immigration categories where there has been evidence of abuse. This will be refundable only on the individual's return to their country of origin.
- Ending chain migration by limiting family migration. There will be an end to the practice whereby those who have settled in the UK can bring in dependents who can then bring in further family members in their own right.
- There will be no automatic right to stay in the UK for lower skilled workers and students. They will have to leave when their visas expire. Only skilled workers who support themselves financially can apply to stay permanently after five years - an increase on the current four - and they will be required to speak and write English.
- Employers' responsibilities will ensure that those who benefit from migration will share the responsibility for making the system robust. Below the most highly skilled, each migrant will need a sponsor (normally their employer) who must work with the Government to ensure a migrant worker complies with the rules of their entry to the UK and returns home at the end of their stay. As part of the continued drive against illegal working the Government will also introduce £2,000 fixed penalty fines for employers for each illegal worker identified;
Strengthening the UK 's borders through the rollout of 'e-borders', where travellers will be electronically checked before they reach the UK , as they enter and as they leave. Ten high risk routes covering about six million people will have the new technology from as early as April this year.
