Weekly UK Immigration News Round up 19 September 2010

Vince Cable says immigration cap is damaging British industry

This week a cabinet minister, UK Business Secretary Vince Cable, unusually spoke out against official government policy.

Labour trafficking suspects arrested

The UK Border Agency reports that three Indian men have been arrested by immigration officers, in conjunction with Northamptonshire Police, in Kettering as part of an investigation into suspected labour trafficking.

Pope Benedict XVI arrives in Britain

Pope Benedict XVI arrived this morning in Edinburgh at the start of the first papal visit to the UK for 28 years.

Lord Bingham ‘the greatest judge of our time’ dies aged 76

Britain lost one of its greatest judges this week when Lord Bingham past away.

Sham marriage fixer guilty

A Portuguese man admitted acting as a ‘fixer’ in a sham marriage at a Bristol church, The UK Border Agency reports.

Former Immigration Minister Phil Woolas campaign ‘to make white folk angry’

The BBC reports that the former immigration minister Phil Woolas set out to “make the white folk angry” in his election campaign, a specially convened court heard.

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

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UK Border Agency to increase fees for immigration and nationality cases

The UK Border Agency has announced plans to increase immigration and nationality application fees for all those applying to visit, study, work or stay in the UK from autumn 2010.

In line with, the agency blamed the fee increases on ‘budgetary pressures’ and government cuts in public spending, and said the ‘proposals for in-year fees increase will help to offset some of these pressures alongside efficiency savings’.

The implementation date of the fees hike will be published shortly.

Examples of the fee increases include:

• Settlement visas from £644 to £750 (apparently they "offer an extremely generous package of benefits to applicants", which sounds like Time Share speak to me)
• Tier 1 visa from £690 to 750
• Tier 1 in-country from £840 to £850
• Tier 2 visa from £270 to £350
• Tier 2 in-country from £475 to £500
• Tier 4 visa from £199 to £220
• Tier 4 in-country held at £357
• Tier 5 from £128 to £130
• Short term visit visas from £68 to £70
• 2, 5 and 10 year visit visas to £245, £450 and £650 respectively
• Increase in dependent fees to 20-30% of the principal applicant fee

The agency said that the ‘proposals to increase fees continue to strike the right balance between maintaining secure and effective border controls and ensuring that our fees structure does not inhibit the UK's ability to attract migrants and visitors who make a valued contribution’.

Immigration adviser Evelie Padadac was surprised by the mid-year increase saying:

“They normally increase fees once a year in April and this is the first time I have seen a second increase in the same year.

“However, the increases are quite small, as little as two pounds in some cases, and the in country Tier 4 student visa will remain at £357.”

See also:

Minister to announce crackdown on student visa numbers today

Smarter immigration controls needed says Minister Damian Green

Government adviser says dependant visas must be cut as part of immigration cap

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship or an appeal against a refusal please email:

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk