10/07/2003

Foreigners to be charged for immigration services

The Home Office has announced today that foreigners living in the UK will be charged the costs of the immigration services they use starting August 1.

The new charges will mean that people applying for permission to extend their stay in the UK will pay a charge for processing their applications from 1 August, saving the taxpayer £90 million a year.

Postal applications will cost £155, with a premium 'same day' service for personal callers costing £250.

The charges will apply to: applications for an extension of stay in the UK; applications for settlement, and permanent residency stamps being put in new passports.

Home Office Minister, Beverley Hughes said: "We continue to welcome the many foreign nationals who choose to study, work and live in the UK - they boost our economy and add to our thriving cosmopolitan society.

"Many apply to extend their stay each year, and it is right that they should meet the costs of that. Charging for the cost of processing these applications will save the taxpayer £90 million a year."

Applicants who wish to submit their applications before the charge is introduced must ensure that they are received before 11.59pm on July 31.

From 1 August, all applications must be submitted on new forms which have payment details attached. These forms will be available from the Home Office website from today and on request in hard copy from July 21.

The Home Office has said that after August 1, it aims to process postal applications within a maximum of 13 weeks, and 70% should be dealt with within three weeks.

(GMcG)

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