Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister, has revealed plans to raise visa application fees substantially as part of an initiative to generate over a billion pounds in revenue to address financial shortfalls.
During a press briefing at Downing Street on July 13, Sunak outlined various government priorities in the face of an economic downturn. These included efforts to reduce inflation, stimulate economic growth, and tackle debt. Additionally, he mentioned a significant pay increase for teachers to avert a potential strike, acknowledging that it would exceed the government’s budgeted amount.
To bridge the revenue gap, Sunak announced two measures related to migrant visas as a means of generating the necessary funds. He explained that charges for visa applications to enter the country would be increased, alongside the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is the fee migrants pay to access the National Health Service (NHS).
Sunak stated that these tax measures would result in revenue surpassing one billion pounds. He justified the proposed fee hikes, emphasizing that visa application fees have not been increased recently, and it is appropriate to do so given the rising costs of everything.
In the coming days and weeks, the Foreign Office is expected to implement the announced fee increases. It’s worth noting that the United States recently raised certain visa category fees for non-immigrant visas. Visa fees have often faced criticism for being viewed as a means to profit from applicants, even when their applications are rejected, as embassies generate significant sums of money through this process.
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