Proposed Fee Increases: a very high price indeed

The recent announcement of significant increases in visa fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge has sparked widespread criticism and raised serious concerns among various interested groups. The UK already has much higher visa fees compared to other similar countries (e.g. the US) and these changes only stand to make the UK’s job market even more inaccessible to outsiders, likely leading to even more workforce shortages than we are already experiencing.

One of the main points of contention is the sharp increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge. Migrants staying for more than six months (including family members) will be required to pay £1,035 per year (increased from £624 per year), while students, children, and youth mobility visa holders will face a rate of £776 per year (increased from £470 per year). The government claims that this increase will fund a pay-rise for doctors, but sceptics question the fairness of burdening individuals and families with such high costs, especially considering the already soaring living expenses. This is particularly difficult to justify considering that migrants working in the UK also pay National Insurance contributions on their salaries (which is how the NHS is funded generally), so they are in effect double-paying.

Additionally, immigration and nationality fees will also increase sharply, with work and visit visas rising by 15% and other categories such as student visas, settlement applications, and citizenship applications seeing an increase of at least 20%. For example, the cost of a settlement application is expected to rise to a minimum of £2,885 per person (that’s £11,500 for a family of four!).

While certain simplifications have been announced, such as abolishing fees for biometric enrolment, transfer of conditions, and amending physical document details, the overall impact of the fee increases remains significant. Indeed, the fee increases are likely to disproportionately affect specific groups, potentially trapping migrant workers into sponsored jobs they cannot afford to leave and disadvantaging larger families. Moreover, the unpredictability of fee increases poses a major obstacle for migrants who are planning for the future.

Ultimately, these proposed fee hikes may prove financially and emotionally punishing for migrants and their families, along with smaller businesses who currently sponsor migrant workers (or plan to do so in future). The increases may be cost-effective for the government, but they come at a high price for those directly affected.