New Uk Flr(M) Visa Service And £15,000 Fee

[Foggy Bottom]

No, it's not an April Fool joke - it's from the UK Border Agency website.

New super premium service for applications

01 April 2010

On Tuesday 6 April the UK Border Agency is launching a new service for customers applying to extend their permission to stay (also known as 'leave to remain') in the UK.

The super premium service will provide a high level of customer service and convenience. Our officers will visit a location chosen by the customer to enrol the customer's biometric information (fingerprints and photograph).

The super premium service is available to people who are applying to extend their stay in the UK under one of the following immigration categories:

* Tier 2 and Tier 4 of the points-based system

* categories using application forms FLR(M), FLR(BID) and FLR(BUS)

All of the above categories require the applicant to obtain an identity card for foreign nationals (ICFN) as part of their application to extend their stay.

You can also use the service if you are applying to transfer your residence permit to a new passport using application form TOC.

The super premium service is not currently available to customers applying for an extension under a non-ICFN category, or applying for permanent residency or citizenship.

The fee for the new service is £15,000 per application, which includes any fees relating to dependants. The key features of the service are:

* customers can have their biometrics enrolled at a location of their choosing, including their home or business premises;

* customers can arrange a visit at a time and date of their choosing, subject to certain conditions; and

* we will make a decision on the application within 24 hours of the visit, if all the requirements are met.

Initially the service will be available to customers located in London and the south of England. At a later date it will be extended to cover all of the UK.

If you are interested in using this service, please visit the Super premium service page.

Source = http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2010/april/01-super-premium

[smartecosse]

decision within 24 hours as opposed to months of waiting?

got to worth the money to some people..............

[bangkockney]

Typical UKBA: one page says the fee is 15k, another 6k!!

[KamnanT]

£15,000, and this is just for extending leave to remain and a house call to collect the biometrics. No objection to the UKBA offering new services if they think there is sufficient demand, but isn't this likely to support those who argue that the UKBA is just about the money?

[meatboy]

£15k for a visa service,please forward fee to bank in nigerea.