MV submits to ICI call for evidence
MV submits to ICI call for evidence
THURSDAY 25 NOVEMBER, 2021
Migrant Voice has submitted to a call for evidence by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration on the Home Office’s processing of applications for indefinite leave to remain in the UK as a partner of a person or parent of a child already settled in the UK.
Over the past few years, we have had an increasing number of migrants sharing with us their experiences of struggling with the effect of paying high visa fees for an extended period of time. Migrants on the ten-year route to settlement are particularly struggling and they see the process as unjust and unfair, creating unnecessary stress and hardship and setting them up to fail.
We need a drastic reduction of visa fees, more in line with the actual admin cost, so they are more affordable. We also need a reduction of the ten-year route to settlement to five years as the length of time of uncertainty, paying high fees every 2.5 years and being in limbo cause unnecessary hardship for those who will eventually settle permanently in the UK, and adds cost to the Local Authority and the government