Monitor July 1, 2005
Britain raises visa fees
Simon Kasyate & Agencies
KAMPALA
THE Foreign Affairs and Common Wealth committee of the British Parliament has announced worldwide changes in Visa fees with effect from July 1. This followed an approval by the Privy Council.
The changes, according to a statement posted on the official UK visas website, will ensure that the full cost of providing services at home and overseas are fully recovered without any claim on public funds and to meet the increasing demand, while maintaining high standards of service.
"The changes to visa fees follow a wide-ranging review of our cost base," read the statement in part.
"The new fees have been set to ensure that UK visas continue to meet the full cost of the worldwide visa operation, which receives no subsidy from the UK taxpayer. Without these changes, the visa operation would incur a deficit over the course of this financial year."
Lynda St. Cooke, the
Information officer at the British High Commission in Kampala could not agree further with the statement. "Fees for visa services are set to recover the cost of providing them in accordance with Her Majesty's Treasury guidelines on Fees and Charges," she said in a statement e-mailed to Daily Monitor yesterday.
"We have reviewed the costs associated with all categories of fees and the new fees will ensure we continue to meet these costs," said St. Cooke.
The changes
The changes represent an average increase of 21 percent across all visa categories, with settlement visas staying the same.
Whereas previously one paid 36-Pound Sterling for a single, double or multiple entry visitors' visa valid for six months, this has been increased to 50-Pound Sterling.
Longer term validity visit visa of one and two years multiple entries have been increased from 36 and 60 respectively to 85-Pound Sterling.
The general category consisting of Student, Au Pair, Short Term Employment, Academic Visitor, Working Holiday maker and Returning Resident has been increased from 36-pound sterling to 85-Pound sterling.
Those seeking an employment visa exceeding 6 months previously paid 75-pound sterling which has been increased by 10-Pound sterling.
The only reductions made were in five and ten year multiple entry visitors' visa which have been reduced from 88 and 150-Pound Sterling respectively to 85 Pound Sterling.
Other reductions were made in the Certificate of Entitlement from 110 to 85 pound sterling.
The settlement and or marriage visa remains unchanged at 260-Pound sterling.
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