Increased Costs : Beginning this Wednesday, the British government’s planned visa fee hike will become operational, impacting travellers worldwide, including Indian students. These modifications were revealed by the UK Home Office and follow recent legislation introduced in Parliament.
As part of these changes, the cost of visit visas for stays under six months will rise by £15. Meanwhile, student visa applicants from outside the UK will face a increase aswell, resulting in a total fee of £490, bringing it in line with the fee charged for in-country student visa applications.
Increased Costs of UK Visa Issues
In July, the government unveiled a 15% hike in the fees for most work and visit visas, alongside a minimum 1/5th increase for priority visas, study visas, and certificates of sponsorship.
The UK Home Office emphasized that the revenue generated from these fees is crucial for sustaining the immigration and nationality system.
This decision aligns with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s July announcement to raise fees and the health surcharge for visa applicants, contributing to funding the public sector wage hike in the UK’s state-funded National Health Service (NHS).
The revenue derived from visa fees is pivotal in upholding a viable immigration and nationality system in the United Kingdom. The government aims to strike a balance by lessening the financial load on British taxpayers while sustaining an appealing service for individuals desiring to work and study in the UK.
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