Skilled Migrants and Families to be hit by huge fee increases

The Home Office have announced plans to increase fees for the family members of skilled migrants by nearly 40%.This is a move that is certain to create anger and financial hardship for many of the ‘hard working people’ who have migrated to the UK.

As an example, a skilled migrant holding a Tier 1 General visa who wishes to extend the visa for 2 years with his spouse and 2 children using a same-day service to avoid the potential 6-month processing time would be expected to pay application fees of £8,028. In return for this fee the applicant would get a visa enabling work for up to 2 years. There is no entitlement to any benefits despite paying tax and National Insurance contributions.

The same fee increases apply to most other applications, including Tier 2 Visas, Indefinite Leave to Remain and Naturalisation.

Many migrants are already expressing anger at such huge fee increases in difficult financial times and feel that they are being taken advantage of. If a migrant cannot afford these new fees then the only alternative is for some or all of the family to leave the UK.