If you’re planning to visit the UK, be prepared to shell out more money as the visa fee hike that the British government had announced last month has come into effect from October 4. Going forward, a visit visa for under six months will cost 15 pounds more and student visas will be 127 pounds more expensive for travellers from around the world, including Indians.
Following the legislation tabled in Parliament last month, the UK Home Office said the changes mean that the cost for a visit visa for less than six months will rise to 115 pounds and the fee for applying for a student visa from outside the UK will rise to 490 pounds.
"It is right and fair to increase visa application fees so we can fund vital public services and allow wider funding to contribute to public sector pay," a Home Office spokesperson said, according to PTI. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had announced in July that the fees and health surcharge paid towards the UK's state-funded National Health Service (NHS) by visa applicants are set to rise significantly to meet the country's public sector wage increase.
The Home Office indicated a 15 percent increase in the cost of most work and visit visas, and an increase of at least 20 percent in the cost of priority visas, study visas and certificates of sponsorship. Income from fees charged plays a vital role in the Home Office's ability to run a sustainable immigration and nationality system.
The Sunak-led Conservative Party government has been under intense pressure with disputes over the public sector pay, leading to a series of strikes over the past year hitting schools and hospitals. In fact, junior doctors in England began yet another five-day strike on Thursday after their demands for a 35 percent pay hike were rejected.In his wage announcement, Sunak warned that his offer was "final" and further industrial action would not change that decision.
The hike in fees applies across most visa categories, including fees for up to six months, two, five and 10-year visit visas; the majority of fees for entry clearance and certain applications for leave to remain in the UK, including those for work and study; fees for indefinite leave to enter and indefinite leave to remain; health and care visa; fees in relation to certificates of sponsorship and confirmation of acceptance for studies; and applications to register and naturalise as a British Citizen. A proposed increase to the IHS for funds towards the NHS is scheduled to be introduced later this year.
(With inputs from agencies)
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
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