Proposed Increase In Uk Visas

[Up2U]

From today's Guardian:

4.30pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Government plans four-fold rise in visa costs

Sarah Left

Wednesday September 8, 2004

The Home Office proposed today to make legal immigrants in the UK pay up to four times more for vital travel documents and visas to offset the cost of dealing with illegal immigrants.

The immigration minister, Des Browne, outlined plans to raise £100m by hiking fees for work permit holders, foreign students and spouses, and travel documents for those without a passport from their own country. The increased charges would save the taxpayer the cost of trying and deporting illegal immigrants and those who have over-stayed their visas, the Home Office said.

"It is only right that those who benefit from the immigration service meet the costs of providing it," he said, introducing the consultation document.

The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) denounced the proposals, suggesting that they could cause skills shortages in healthcare, catering, food processing and cleaning, among other sectors.

"The people who benefit from immigration should pay for it, but we think that really means the UK economy and UK businesses," a JCWI spokeswoman said.

She warned that the proposals would penalise poor migrants from developing countries looking to get onto the first rung of the job ladder.

"If Des Browne imposes this kind of charge on low-skilled migrants, he could wind up sitting in a very dirty office," she said.

From April, a travel document for asylum seekers granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK for humanitarian reasons would rise four-fold from £67 to £270. The cost a visa on the highly skilled migrant programme could rise from £150 to £375, and extending a work permit may rise £121 to £300. Extending a student or spouse's visa could rise from £250 to £495 for a premium service, while the visa scheme intended to allow workers into the UK to work in hospitality and food processing sectors may see prices rise from £153 to £270.

The Home Office raised £70m from visa charges over the last financial year.

Businesses and other organisations will have until December to comment on the plans.

"It is clearly in our interest to welcome genuine overseas students and workers with the skills we need to contribute to the UK and our economy. However these benefits are reciprocal," Mr Browne said.

"The fees we are proposing are proportionate and necessary to ensure that we can deliver a self-financing migration programme which continues to provide an efficient service to its customers, while regulating entry and taking action against those who do not have a right to be here."

The JCWI said discouraging migrants through increased fees could also cost the UK directly by putting more pressure on aid budgets. The spokeswoman said migrant workers from the developing world remitted more money to their families and home countries than the combined aid budgets of developed nations.

"By penalising low-skilled workers, you are frustrating a very important channel of development," she said.

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

[jhj2000]

I just have one comment. The rates are way above what they should be already and any ex-pat should lobby his/her MP in all of the areas they have ever lived in. It is legislation by stealth which is not acceptable in any country.

[Rinrada]

What ...No Tea money

[Up2U]

The JCWI said discouraging migrants through increased fees could also cost the UK directly by putting more pressure on aid budgets. The spokeswoman said migrant workers from the developing world remitted more money to their families and home countries than the combined aid budgets of developed nations.

"By penalising low-skilled workers, you are frustrating a very important channel of development," she said.

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

The last paragraphs are what surprised me.

Consider that illegal immigrants cannot, as far as I know, transfer funds back home legally (not supposed to work, don't know if they can open bank accounts, don't now about Western Union methods / rules).

Legal migrants can - and therefore take money out of the UK economy.

Is this why UK Gov't tolerstes high levels of illegal immigration? They can get the mucky work done by illegals, but do not lose the money to overseas accounts?

But what does it mean to families already in UK - will your Thai wife have to pay more for her aliens registration? Will her family have to pay more when they visit?