Immigration Applications

HC Deb 08 September 2004 vol 424 cc120-1WS

The Minister for Citizenship and Immigration (Mr. Desmond Browne)

I am publishing today a consultation document setting out options for new fees for immigration applications. As part of the ongoing review of the immigration system, the Home Office has been reviewing the charges for a range of immigration services: leave to remain; leave to remain associated with an immigration employment document; the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, the Sectors Based Scheme, and Travel Documents.

We are seeking the views of the public, businesses, the education sector, legal representatives and our other stakeholders, regarding proposals to include the costs of non-asylum appeals and enforcement activity in the overall charge for an immigration application. We are also consulting on proposals to: introduce new payment methods for customers; introduce fees for applications for the transfer conditions of limited leave to a new passport or travel document; and introduce separate travel documents for children.

We aim to implement new charges from 1 April 2005.

We will be consulting on charges for work permits and for applications to the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme later in the year.

A partial regulatory impact assessment, which estimates the likely cost to business of increasing the fees for applications to the sectors based scheme and applications for leave to remain associated with an immigration employment document, is available by visiting www.homeoffice.gov.uk or www.direct.gov.uk, or by telephoning 0114 279 3422.

An electronic version of the consultation document is available from 8 September on the Home Office website at: www.homeoffice.gov.uk. Hard copies of the consultation document will be available from 15 September, in the Libraries of both Houses or from the Charging Programme Office (telephone: [phone]).

Interested parties are invited to submit their comments and views, by Wednesday 8 December 2004 to: Charging Programme Office, 3 Floor Cunard Building, Water Street, Liverpool, L2 OPP or by e-mail to: [e-mail].

All replies that are received will be made public unless the author explicitly requests that this should not happen.