CHARGES INTRODUCED FOR IMMIGRATION APPLICATIONS (August 2003)

From 1 August, foreign nationals living in the UK will be charged the costs of the immigration services.

The new charges will mean that people applying for permission to extend their stay in the UK will pay a charge for processing their applications from 1 August 2003. Postal applications will cost £155, with a premium 'same day' service for personal callers costing £250.

The charges will apply to:

• applications for an extension of stay in the UK,
• applications for settlement,and
• permanent residency stamps being put in new passports

Exceptions - The charge will not be applied to:

• family members of European Economic Area nationals,
• applications for leave to remain under the European Community Association Agreement,
• European Union citizens. (This will also apply to nationals of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia once they become full members of the European Union on 1 May 2004),
• people applying for indefinite leave to remain on the grounds of domestic violence who provide evidence that they are destitute, and
• applications for asylum, Discretionary Leave or Humanitarian Protection.
• holders of work permits, and
• participants in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme or the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme

The Home Office already charges for nationality applications, work permits and the issue of Travel Documents (for example to refugees or those with exceptional leave to remain).