Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1354333

registered interest
date	09/09/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Fees and Charges
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to provide financial support for visa fees to people in receipt of personal independence payments and universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Ilford South
tabling member printed	Sam Tarry
uin	45944
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2021 answer text <p>The Home Office provides exceptions to the need to pay application fees in a number of specific circumstances to ensure the Home Office’s immigration and nationality fee structure complies with international obligations and wider government policy.</p><p>Fee waivers are available on affordability grounds where the payment of a fee would be incompatible with an applicant’s rights under the European Convention on Human Rights. Detailed guidance can be found via the following link:</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/977916/fee-waiver-v5.0.pdf" target="_blank">Fee waiver - casework guidance (publishing.service.gov.uk)</a></p><p> </p><p>The Home Office keeps fees for immigration and nationality applications under review and ensures they are within the parameters agreed with HM Treasury and Parliament.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 16/09/2021 16:58:10 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4829 label Biography information for Sam Tarry

1348151

registered interest
date	19/07/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Fees and Charges
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the prevalence of VFS Global, the operator of her Department's online visa application system, charging for emails received from service users.
tabling member constituency	Enfield, Southgate
tabling member printed	Bambos Charalambous
uin	35845
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2021 answer text <p>VFS Global (VFS) and TLS contact run the network of overseas Visa Application Centres (VACs) on behalf of UKVI.</p><p>VFS provide services at the VACs to enable individuals to upload supporting evidence and biometric information, such as a photo, for visa applications and also coordinate the return of travel documents to customers.</p><p>VFS do not charge for emails received from customers.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 22/07/2021 15:26:51 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4610 label Biography information for Bambos Charalambous

1329531

registered interest
date	04/06/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Fees and Charges
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of adopting the proposals on costs of visa processes recommended by the report entitled We Are Here: Routes To Regularisation For The UK’s Undocumented Population, published by The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants in April 2021.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Ms Lyn Brown
uin	10288
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/06/2021 answer text <p>When setting visa, immigration and citizenship fees the Home Office takes into account a number of factors set by Section 68(9) of the Immigration Act 2014. Full details of which can be reviewed at:</p><p><a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/22/section/68" target="_blank">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/22/section/68</a>.</p><p>These include the cost of processing the application, the wider cost of running the migration, borders and citizenship system, international comparisons and the benefits which are likely to accrue from a successful application.</p><p>The Home Office provides exceptions to the need to pay application fees in several specific circumstances to ensure the Home Office’s immigration and nationality fee structure complies with international obligations and wider government policy. Fee waivers are available on affordability grounds where the payment of a fee would be incompatible with an applicant’s Convention, (ECHR) rights. Where the immigration application fee is waived on affordability grounds, the requirement to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge may also be waived. The detailed guidance can be found via the following link:</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file967231/Revised_fee_waiver_guidance%20-%20FINAL.PDF" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment­data/file967231/Revised_fee­_waiver_guidance - FINAL.PDF</a></p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 14/06/2021 14:58:22 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1180530

registered interest
date	25/02/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Fees and Charges
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost will be of the visa application process for migrants seeking to enter the UK after January 2021.
tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
uin	20632
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2020 answer text <p>The UK’s Points-Based Immigration System Policy Statement published on 19 February sets out how we will fulfil our commitment to the British public and take back control of our borders.</p><p>People coming to the UK from any country in the world for the purpose of work or study, other than some short-term business visitors and short-term students, will need to obtain a visa for which they will pay a fee. A list of current fees can be found via the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-fees-transparency-data" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-fees-transparency-data</a></p><p>The Borders, Immigration and Citizenship System (BICS) is predominately funded by its users. It is right those who use it contribute to its cost, thereby reducing the burden on the UK taxpayer.</p><p>We keep our fees for immigration and nationality applications under review and ensure they are within the parameters agreed with HM Treasury and Parliament, as set out in Section 68 (9) of the Immigration Act 2014<em>. </em></p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 04/03/2020 17:12:55 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1179534

registered interest
date	21/02/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Fees and Charges
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the (a) amount accrued to the public purse from (i) fees and (ii) charges applied by the UK Visa Application Centre; and (b) date on which each category of (A) fees and (B) charges were introduced.
tabling member constituency	Nottingham East
tabling member printed	Nadia Whittome
uin	19054
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2020 answer text <p>All visa and migration fees are paid directly by the applicant to the Home Office and not routed through UKVCAS. The amounts collected are published in the Home Office accounts. The amounts collected for 2018-19 are shown here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/807126/6.5571_HO_Annual_Report_201920_WEB.PDF" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/807126/6.5571_HO_Annual_Report_201920_WEB.PDF</a> at page 137.</p><p>The fees levels approved by Parliament are published here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-fees-transparency-data" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-fees-transparency-data</a></p><p>However, customers using UKVCAS may elect to pay for additional premium services over and above the visa/migration fee. These premium charges are retained by the commercial operator of UKVCAS. Details of the additional, optional services can be found here at: <a href="http://www.ukvcas.co.uk/additional-services" target="_blank">http://www.ukvcas.co.uk/additional-services</a>.</p><p>Information on the UKVCAS contract is published here: <a href="https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ec5031ea-021e-471a-86cf-af540e8d8efa?p=@xUlRRPT0=NjJNT08=UFQ" target="_blank">https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ec5031ea-021e-471a-86cf-af540e8d8efa?p=@xUlRRPT0=NjJNT08=UFQ</a>. However, the commencement of service and premium charge price change dates are not disclosed separately.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 11/03/2020 19:45:27 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4869 label Biography information for Nadia Whittome

1137538

registered interest
date	08/07/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Fees and Charges
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps he has taken to ensure that the UK’s visa charges remain competitive with those of other countries.
tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
tabling member printed	Tom Brake
uin	274428
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2019 answer text <p>The Home Office keeps all visa fees under regular review. A constituent part of this analysis includes a review of fees charged in comparison with other countries.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 11/07/2019 15:21:45 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1134037

registered interest
date	24/06/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Fees and Charges
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason his Department decided to charge visa applicants £5.48 for email inquiries.
tabling member constituency	Arfon
tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
uin	268417
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The £5.48 email charge is levied to fund the UKVI contact centre commercial contract as the UK government believes it is right that those who use and benefit directly from the UK immigration system make an appropriate contribution towards meeting the costs of it. This email charge includes the initial e-mail enquiry plus any follow-up e-mails to and from the contact centre relating to the same enquiry.</p><p>The international charge (£5.48 per email enquiry) was introduced on 1st June 2017 as part of the UKVI Contact Centre operations contract awarded to SITEL UK Ltd</p><p>Those who use the services are predominantly from outside the UK. Our web site <a href="http://www.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.gov.uk</a> is the main source of information and advice and is free of charge.</p><p>Further details of the financial arrangement in place between the Home Office and SITEL UK Ltd for the provision of Contact Centre Services (UK and International) is not available due to it being commercially sensitive.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 02/07/2019 15:52:38 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1134038

registered interest
date	24/06/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Fees and Charges
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much money in cash terms his Department raised from levying a £5.48 charge on email visa enquiries in 2018.
tabling member constituency	Arfon
tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
uin	268418
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>Details of the financial arrangement in place between the Home Office and SITEL UK Ltd for the provision of Contact Centre Services (UK and International) is not available due to it being commercially sensitive.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 02/07/2019 15:53:36 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1134039

registered interest
date	24/06/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Fees and Charges
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much money in cash terms his Department raised from levying an additional £1.37 per minute on top of the standard network charge on telephone visa enquiries in 2018.
tabling member constituency	Arfon
tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
uin	268419
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>Details of the financial arrangement in place between the Home Office and SITEL UK Ltd for the provision of Contact Centre Services (UK and Interna-tional) is not available due to it being commercially sensitive.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 02/07/2019 15:54:34 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1134040

registered interest
date	24/06/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Fees and Charges
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visa or settlement applicants paid for the priority service in 2018; and how many of those applicants received a response within one working day.
tabling member constituency	Arfon
tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
uin	268420
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>Home Office published information on in-country applications performance is available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/in-country-migration-data-may-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/in-country-migration-data-may-2019</a></p><p>The Home Office does not publish information on the out of country Priority and Super Priority visa service. Published information on the international visa operation is available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-operations-transparency-data-may-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-operations-transparency-data-may-2019</a></p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 02/07/2019 15:32:10 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams