The Home Office announced the Immigration Visa fees for its existing UK visas and also the proposed new ones. 

The Good News first

The new Immigration Visa Fees came into force from the 1 December 2020.  You will all be happy to know that the fees, thank fully have not gone up in price. 

The Bad News

With this last year of lockdown due to Covid 19, many of us have faced financial challenges.  The closing and reduction of business(es) has meant a financial strain on most families. 

On top of this there was a record number of redundancies between August and October 2020.  This has added further stress for those with Immigration matters, whether that was a visa due to expire or applying for a new visa.  The disruption to travel and restrictions on marrying has also had a big impact on couples and families and even businesses. 

Many of my own clients or those making enquiries have found it extremely difficult to juggle making the payments for UK Visa Applications and the NHS payment when it has come to applying for a visa extension.  The payments for both the UK Visa Application and the NHS tend to be made very close together if not at the same time. 

NHS Immigration Surcharge Payment

As many of you will know the NHS Immigration Surcharge Payment was doubled overnight and since October 2020 is now £624 per year.  This means that a visa for 2 and a half years is £1560, and a 5 years visa would attract an NHS payment of £3,10.  A payment to the NHS Immigration Surcharge is made regardless of the fact that you are employment and make NI (national Insurance) contributions. 

Immigration Visa Fees

I have listed below some of the common applications made and the current fee. 

UK Visa Applications from the UK

• Spouse Visa – £1,523
• Dependent Relative Visa – £3,250
• Tier 1 Entrepreneur – 31,021
• Tier 1 Investor – £1,623
• Skilled worker – 3 years – £704
• Skilled worker – over 3 years – £1408
• Shortage Occupation – 3 years – £464
• Shortage Occupation – over 3 years – £928
• Health & Care Visa – 3 years – £232
• Health & Care Visa – over 3 years – £464
• Tier 2 Intra Company Transfer – Sportsman or Minister of Religion – 3 years – £704
• Seasonal worker – £244
• Student Visa – £475

Also, an administrative review is £80, and the cost of the Life in the UK test is £50.   Applications for nationality have also remained the same, naturalisation being £1330. 

UK Visa applications from outside the UK

• 6 months visit visa – £95
• Representatives of an overseas business – £610
• Spouse Visa – £1,523
• Dependent Relative Visa – £3,250
• Tier 1 Entrepreneur – 31,021
• Tier 1 Investor – £1,623
• Skilled worker – 3 years – £610
• Skilled worker – over 3 years – £1220
• Shortage Occupation – 3 years – £464
• Shortage Occupation – over 3 years – £928
• Health & Care Visa – 3 years – £232
• Health & Care Visa – over 3 years – £464
• Tier 2 Intra Company Transfer – Sportsman or Minister of Religion – 3 years – £610
• Seasonal worker – £244
• Student Visa – £348

There is a full list of fees on the Home Office website including all the nationality applications and fees for Sponsor license and all the other visas too.