User talk:Mohitsuri

UK visas to cost more: The price hike is fair and the popularity of UK as a destination will not affected: Mohit Suri

The UK on March 7th steeply hiked the visa fee for those coming from India and other non-EU countries as tourists, to work, stay or study and settle down. The new fees have come into force on 2nd of April. The joint announcement by the Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office follows the biggest shake up of the UK's immigration system in its history last summer by the Home Secretary. Under the new visa fee which will come into effect from April 1, this year, the basic visitor visa fee would go up from 50 pounds (Rs 4,250 approx) to 63 pounds, student visa fee from 85 pounds to 99 pounds, Long Term Visa (including Work Permit and Highly Skilled Migrant Programme Visa) from 85 to 200 pounds and settlement Visa from 260 to 500 pounds. The transit visa fee would go up from 30 pounds to 44 pounds. Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said "We believe that it is fair that those who benefit most from using our immigration system - those who come here to live and work - should pay more to fund it. “ I personally agree with the minister and feel that as long as the extra cost improves the services and quality of UK immigration system the price hike is fair. Presently the average time taken to schedule an interview for a working holidaymaker is over 1 year. With better resources I feel that the services would improve and the waiting time would come down. For settlement and returning residents, I feel the hike is a bit steep and would affect the applicants adversely as the hike is almost 100%. The fees for student visa have been increased marginally to maintain the competitive edge of the British Education system. Visa Fees Effective From 1st April 2007 Visa Category 	Visa Duration	Visa Fees (in Rupees) Visitor

(Family Visit / Business Visit / Non Family Visit)	6 Months	5,700/- 1 Year	18,000/- 2 Years	18,000/- 5 Years	18,000/- Students,Dependent of Student	 	8,950/- Working Holiday Maker	 	18,000/- Returning Resident	 	18,000/- Visitor in transit	 	4,000/- Direct Airside Transit	 	4,000/- Work Permit Holder, Dependant of Work Permit Holder	Up to 6 Months	18,000/- More than 6 months	18,000/- Overseas Domestic Worker 	Up to 6 Months	18,000/- More than 6 months	18,000/- Ship Crew / Contract Seaman	 	4,000/- Settlement	 	45,000/- Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode	 	18,000/- Other Long Term Entry (see note below)	 	18,000/- Non - EEA Dependant of EEA National 	 	 Nil Overseas Territory (Gibraltar, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cayman Islands & etc)	Telex Fee Entry	1000/- Clearance Fee	4,000/- Call Out Fee (Per Hour) (Is applicable for emergency cases where a visa needs to be issued after working hours of the British High Commission or on a holiday. This fee is in addition to the visa fee)	 	10,900/-

The author of this press release is a leading Immigration Lawyer in Asia