Some asylum seekers in the United Kingdom could be required to pay more than £13,000 before becoming eligible to apply for permanent settlement under proposed immigration reforms, sparking debate over the future cost of rebuilding a life in Britain.
The proposals, unveiled as part of the government's new Immigration and Asylum Bill, would require certain asylum seekers to repay up to £10,000 for state-funded accommodation and living support before they can apply for settled status. The repayment would come in addition to existing settlement application fees, which currently exceed £3,000, taking the potential total cost above £13,000 for some applicants.
