Migrant charities have praised the Government’s decision to waive “heartless” fees charged of “destitute” bereaved migrants who want to remain in the UK.
Currently people who wish to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK following the death of their British partner are required to pay a £2,885 fee.
According to the Guardian, it costs the Home Office approximately £491 to process a visa granting a widow or widower settlement.
Yet grieving spouses are being charged an extra £2,404 on top of this figure, despite many of them being thrown into financial uncertainty following the loss of their partners.
It has left many people facing either destitution or being deported from the UK, the Guardian reported.
But the Labour Government on Tuesday laid out new rules that will see the £2,885 application fee for settlement waived for those “facing financial hardship”.
Nick Beales of Refugee & Migrant Forum of Essex and London welcomed the move.
“Nothing perhaps best evidences how dysfunctional and heartless the UK immigration system had become than the Conservatives charging grieving women thousands of pounds to protect their immigration status,” said Mr Beales.
“We are aware of five people right now who have lost their spouse and are eligible for indefinite leave to remain. All are, though, being priced out of the status to which they’re entitled.
“Thankfully, they will now be able to secure their status, and hopefully this fee waiver will benefit many others in their hour of need.”
Mr Beales urged the Government to carry out a wider review of visa fees.
“The new Government needs to review visa fees more broadly, with many other people, including UK born children, young adults who’ve lived the vast majority of their lives in the UK and people with serious health conditions, eligible for but priced out of permanent immigration status.
“Nobody benefits from keeping these people in immigration limbo and a fee waiver for all indefinite leave applications should be introduced without delay.”
Under the new rules, people dealing with the death of their partner and facing financial hardship will be able to apply to have the application fee for settlement waived from October 9.
Those who qualify for the fee exemption include partners on a family visa who meet the criteria for destitution; if their partner either had been a British citizen, had indefinite leave to remain in the UK, or had been from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and had pre-settled status.
Bereaved partners of members of HM Armed Forces, Gurkhas or Hong Kong military unit veterans (discharged before 1 July 1997) may also benefit from this fee waiver.
Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Seema Malhotra MP, said the policy change is a “fairer and more compassionate” way of dealing with bereaved families.
“Losing a loved one is a deep and unimaginable pain, all too often compounded by the immense financial strain faced by those left behind,” said Ms Malhotra.
“Widows, widowers, and their dependent children who had become integral parts of our communities can now apply for a fee waiver if facing destitution, in order to settle and keep the life they have built.
“This marks a fairer and more compassionate approach to those unable to afford the settlement fees, but who have often worked, paid their taxes and contributed to life here in the UK, including the partners of our military veterans.”
