Fees increase 2018

Here they are!
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/691146/Gov_uk_fees_revision_2018_final.pdf

Here they are!
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/691146/Gov_uk_fees_revision_2018_final.pdf

Ohmigosh, 6 of April, as hoped/expected!  I can get in before the increase!  I am so relieved!

hahahahahahahahha!  WHAT?!

Fees Category	Current Fee	New fee	Fee Change
Indefinite leave to remain	£2297	£2389	£92

I was stressed over this?!

Wow!  Lots of surprises but all EXTREMELY positive!!!  They aren't raising the fees by 25% this year like they have for the last many years!!!

Celebrate!

A silver lining!

They’ll probably put them 50% next year when we apply!!

My heart just stopped for a moment there! But that is great news! Fees going up when expected and by less than expected. ... relief! 

Not too bad at all.

A list of the main ones we apply for here, for info:

Fiance/spouse/partner/child visa: £1,523 (was £1,464)
FLR(M): £1,033 (was £993)
ILR: £2,389 (was £2,297)

UK citizenship: £1,330 (was £1,282)

Settlement Priority Service (outside UK): £573 (was £551)
Premium Appointment (inside UK): £610 (was £590)

30-day vignette transfer: £154 (was £169)

They've also published the 'fees transparency data' for 2018, which shows the unit cost of processing vs. the fee charged:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-visa-fees-for-2016-to-2017

They've also published the 'fees transparency data' for 2018, which shows the unit cost of processing vs. the fee charged:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-visa-fees-for-2016-to-2017

A stupid question, but, if they know what the unit cost (estimated) is for each of the services/visas, and some are charged at a loss, whereas ILR, for example is charged at nearly ten-fold the unit cost, why don't they just charge the estimated unit cost, rather than making some of us pay for the other services?  I don't really understand this.  Some of the services charged at a loss would only have to go up a little bit to make them sustainable.  Why not just do that?

A stupid question, but, if they know what the unit cost (estimated) is for each of the services/visas, and some are charged at a loss, whereas ILR, for example is charged at nearly ten-fold the unit cost, why don't they just charge the estimated unit cost, rather than making some of us pay for the other services?  I don't really understand this.  Some of the services charged at a loss would only have to go up a little bit to make them sustainable.  Why not just do that?

We are paying for all the EU applications, they can't put the prices up for those.

A stupid question, but, if they know what the unit cost (estimated) is for each of the services/visas, and some are charged at a loss, whereas ILR, for example is charged at nearly ten-fold the unit cost, why don't they just charge the estimated unit cost, rather than making some of us pay for the other services?  I don't really understand this.  Some of the services charged at a loss would only have to go up a little bit to make them sustainable.  Why not just do that?

Because they're making a massive profit:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/01/home-office-makes-800-profit-on-some-visa-applications

From that article:

The immigration minister Damian Green announced in 2011 that the government would charge fees significantly above cost as part of a deliberate attempt to subsidise cuts to the funding of the immigration system. The Home Office claims the approach is “only right” and says that charging fees above costs is a necessary step to reduce the burden on the taxpayer from the border, immigration and citizenship system from areas not funded by fees.

But as the atmosphere over immigration has soured, the size of the margins has raised concerns that the department, which has suffered 24.9% cuts to its £10.6bn annual budget and has been asked to outline potential additional spending cuts of 6%, has substantial incentives to turn down applicants over minor details, forcing them to pay a second time when reapplying.

They've also published the 'fees transparency data' for 2018, which shows the unit cost of processing vs. the fee charged:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-visa-fees-for-2016-to-2017

Maybe I'm misunderstanding this, but doesn't this make a mockery of the Home Office's claim that the fees are set so high to ensure those who use the system need to fund it...?

We are paying for all the EU applications, they can't put the prices up for those.

That makes sense, even if it doesn't make me particularly happy.  I have money right now.  In about 8 days, I'm going to be poor again.    Stupid Home Office.

Because they're making a massive profit:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/01/home-office-makes-800-profit-on-some-visa-applications

So overall, is there a net profit?  It's not just to offset costs?  Blah.  It doesn't matter.  I'm never going to see a refund.  But I just like to know how much resentment I can appropriately harbour.

Oh this makes me happy. I budgeted for £5500 for ilr and citizenship (with an in person appointment), so unless my maths are wrong, it's only 4329, and only £160 increase. So, £1200 better off......that's a holiday

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Oh this makes me happy. I budgeted for £5500 for ilr and citizenship (with an in person appointment), so unless my maths are wrong, it's only 4329, and only £160 increase. So, £1200 better off......that's a holiday

Nice!  I didn't have a big budget.  I was just hoping to get in before the fee increase.  And now I feel silly for my panic.  Phew!