UK Visa Fees To Increase As The Points Based System Is Introduced

04/02/2008

The British Government has proposed a series of increases in visa prices to fund the new changes which will come into effect as the Points Based System for migration is rolled out in the UK.

Under the proposal, the fee for Tier 1 which directly replaces the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) will increase from 400 pounds to 600 pounds while the fee for a tier 2 work permit visa will be increased from 200 pounds to 205 pounds. Fees will also increase for a settlement visa rising from 500 pounds to 515 pounds and visitor visa fees will increase from 63 pounds to 65 pounds.

Speaking about the price increases, Immigration Minister Liam Byrne stated:

"We believe that it is fair that those who benefit most from using our immigration system should help fund it. We welcome the contribution that legal migrants make and have ensured that these fees, which will usher in the biggest reforms to the immigration system in a generation, are at levels that will not damage our international competitiveness."

Background Information - The Points Based System

The Points Based System rationalises more than 80 different routes into the UK, to either work or study. Over the next two years, the UK Government will introduce the new five-tier points system, similar to that in Australia and the USA immigration structures.

Five Routes of Entry and How They Will Work

  • Tier one visa - highly skilled workers such as scientists or entrepreneurs
  • Tier two visa - skilled workers with a job offer, for instance nurses, teachers, engineers
  • Tier three visa - low skilled workers filling specific temporary labour shortages, for example construction workers for a particular project
  • Tier four visa - students
  • Tier five visa - youth mobility and temporary workers such as working holidaymakers or musicians coming to play a concert.

The points will be awarded to reflect aptitude, experience, age and also the level of need in any given sector, to allow the UK to respond flexibly to changes in the labour market;

  • A system of sponsorship by employers and educational institutions to ensure compliance;
  • Financial securities for specific categories where there has been evidence of abuse to ensure that migrants return home at the end of their stay; and
  • The ending of employment routes to the UK for low-skilled workers from outside the EU except in cases of short-term shortages
  • The Home Secretary Charles Clarke said: "Crucially, it will allow us to ensure that only those people with the skills the UK needs come to this country while preventing those without these skills applying. Foreign workers or students will also in future need a UK sponsor to vouch for them, ensuring that businesses and colleges take responsibility for making sure foreign workers and students comply with visa rules.

When Will the Tiers Be Implemented?

The Government hopes to apply these immigration changes as soon as possible the latest by summer 2008.

Tier 1- implementation will be underway from the 1st quarter 2008 and will focus on in-country applications. The government believes it will be fully applied by the end of summer 2008.

Tiers 2 and 5 - phase implementation will be fully rolled out by summer 2008.

Tier 3 - at the moment the Governments believes it can get this part of the labour force from within the European Economic Area (EEA). Their main focus will be based within the continent for this tier.

Tier 4 - the student visas will start in the 1st quarter of 2009. However, since educational institutions need long lead times so registration of institutions will start in the 2nd quarter.

To find out more about tier visas for the UK visit the online assessment area.

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