The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2017

Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2017.

(2) These Regulations, other than the provision cited in paragraph (3), come into force on 6th April 2017.

(3) The entry in Table 18 described as 18.5.2 in column one of that table (email assistance from the international contact service) in Schedule 7 comes into force on 1st June 2017.

(4) These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

(5) Regulations 1, 2, 11 and 15 to 18 and Schedule 9 extend to the Isle of Man, but only for the purpose of issuing entry clearance to enter the Isle of Man.

(6) Regulations 1, 2, 12 and 15 to 18 and Schedule 10 extend to the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey but only for the purpose of issuing entry clearance to enter the bailiwick concerned.

Interpretation

2.  In these Regulations—

“the 1971 Act” means the Immigration Act 1971(1);

“the 1981 Act” means the British Nationality Act 1981(2);

“the 1982 Order” means the British Protectorates, Protected States and Protected Persons Order 1982(3);

“the 1999 Act” means the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999(4);

“the 2002 Act” means the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002(5);

“the 2007 Act” means the UK Borders Act 2007(6);

“the 2008 Regulations” means the Immigration (Biometric Registration) Regulations 2008(7);

“the 2016 Order” means the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Order 2016(8);

“administrative review” has the same meaning as provided in the immigration rules(9);

“approval letter from a designated competent body” means—

(a)

except in relation to Schedule 9 to these Regulations, a letter from a designated competent body, within the meaning of the immigration rules, endorsing a proposed application for leave to enter or leave to remain in the United Kingdom as a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Migrant;

(b)

in Schedule 9 to these Regulations, a letter from a designated competent body, within the meaning of the Isle of Man immigration rules, endorsing a proposed application for leave to enter the Isle of Man as a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Migrant;

“being looked after by a local authority” means being looked after by a local authority (or in Northern Ireland, an authority) under—

(a)

section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989(10);

(b)

section 17(6) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995(11);

(c)

article 25(1) of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995(12); or

(d)

section 74(1) of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014(13);

“biometric immigration document” has the same meaning as provided in section 5 of the 2007 Act(14);

“certificate of sponsorship” means—

(a)

except in relation to Schedule 9, an authorisation, allocated by the Secretary of State to a sponsor and issued to a person by that sponsor, in respect of an application, or potential application, for entry clearance, leave to enter or leave to remain in the United Kingdom as a sponsored worker;

(b)

in Schedule 9, an authorisation allocated by the Lieutenant Governor to a sponsor and issued to a person by that sponsor, in respect of an application, or potential application, for entry clearance to the Isle of Man as a sponsored worker;

“CESC national” means a person who is a national of a state which has ratified the European Social Charter, agreed by the Council of Europe at Turin on 18th October 1961(15);

“child” means a person under the age of 18;

“contractor” means a person with whom the Secretary of State has entered into a contract, by which the person agrees to provide certain services in connection with immigration or nationality to applicants;

“Convention rights” means the rights identified as Convention rights by section 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998(16);

“dependant” in respect of a person means—

(a)

the spouse or civil partner of that person;

(b)

someone who has been living with that person in a relationship akin to a marriage or civil partnership for at least two years; or

(c)

a child of that person;

“EC Association Agreement with Turkey” means the agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and Turkey signed at Ankara on 12th September 1963(17);

“entry clearance”—

(a)

subject to sub-paragraphs (b) to (d) has the same meaning as provided in section 33(1) of the 1971 Act(18);

(b)

in relation to the Isle of Man has the same meaning as provided in section 33(1) of the 1971 Act as extended to the Isle of Man(19);

(c)

in relation to the Bailiwick of Guernsey has the same meaning as provided in section 33(1) of the 1971 Act as extended to the Bailiwick of Guernsey(20);

(d)

in relation to the Bailiwick of Jersey has the same meaning as provided in section 33(1) of the 1971 Act as extended to the Bailiwick of Jersey(21);

“immigration rules” means the rules made under section 3(2) of the 1971 Act;

“indefinite leave” has the same meaning as provided in section 33(1) of the 1971 Act;

“Isle of Man immigration rules” means the rules made under section 3(2) of the 1971 Act as extended to the Isle of Man(22);

“leave to enter the United Kingdom” means leave to enter the United Kingdom given in accordance with the provisions of the 1971 Act or the immigration rules and any subsequent variation of that leave;

“leave to remain in the United Kingdom” means leave to remain in the United Kingdom given in accordance with the provisions of the 1971 Act or the immigration rules and any subsequent variation of that leave;

“Life in the UK Test” means the test referred to as the Life in the UK Test in Appendix KoLL to the immigration rules and regulation 5A of the British Nationality (General) Regulations 2003(23);

“limited leave” has the same meaning as provided in section 33(1) of the 1971 Act;

“main applicant” means the person who has made an application or claim in connection with immigration, as distinct from a person applying as the dependant of such a person;

“Points-Based System” means—

(a)

except in relation to Schedule 9 to these Regulations, those categories set out in Part 6A of the immigration rules;

(b)

in Schedule 9 to these Regulations, those categories set out in Part 6A of the Isle of Man immigration rules;

“private medical treatment” means treatment provided outside of the National Health Service and paid for by the applicant;

“process used to take a record of a person’s biometric information” means the process, or combination of processes, to which a person may be required to submit in order to enable a record to be taken of that person’s biometric information, where the person is required by regulations made under section 41 of the 1981 Act(24), section 126 of the 2002 Act(25) or section 5 of the 2007 Act to provide such information for the purposes of an application or claim in connection with immigration or nationality;

“shortage occupation certificate of sponsorship” means—

(a)

except in relation to Schedule 9, a certificate of sponsorship issued in respect of employment in an occupation listed in the Shortage Occupation List set out in Appendix K to the immigration rules;

(b)

in relation to Schedule 9, a certificate of sponsorship issued in respect of employment in an occupation listed in the Shortage Occupation List set out in Appendix K to the Isle of Man immigration rules;

“sponsor” means a sponsor under Part 6A of the immigration rules, except in relation to entry 5.6.1 in Table 5 in Schedule 1;

“sponsor licence” means a licence granted by the Secretary of State to a person who, by virtue of such a grant, is licensed as a sponsor;

“Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Migrant”, “Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Migrant”, “Tier 1 (General) Migrant”, “Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Migrant”, “Tier 1 (Investor) Migrant”, and “Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) Migrant”—

(a)

subject to sub-paragraph (b) have the same meaning as provided in the immigration rules;

(b)

in relation to the Isle of Man have the same meaning as provided in the Isle of Man immigration rules;

“Tier 2 Migrant”, “Tier 2 (General) Migrant”, “Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Long Term Staff Migrant”, “Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Short Term Staff Migrant”, “Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Graduate Trainee Migrant”, “Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Skills Transfer Migrant”, “Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) Migrant”, and “Tier 2 (Sportsperson) Migrant”—

(a)

subject to sub-paragraph (b) have the same meaning as provided in the immigration rules;

(b)

in relation to the Isle of Man have the same meaning as provided in the Isle of Man immigration rules;

“Tier 4 Migrant”—

(a)

subject to sub-paragraph (b) has the same meaning as provided in the immigration rules;

(b)

in relation to the Isle of Man has the same meaning as provided in the Isle of Man immigration rules;

“Tier 5 Migrant”, “Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) Migrant” and “Tier 5 (Youth Mobility) Temporary Migrant”—

(a)

subject to sub-paragraph (b) have the same meaning as provided in the immigration rules;

(b)

in relation to the Isle of Man have the same meaning as provided in the Isle of Man immigration rules;

“travel document” means a document which is not a passport, allowing a person (or, if the person has died, the body of that person) to travel outside the United Kingdom, and is issued by the Home Office to persons who are either refugees or stateless, or cannot obtain or use a passport issued by their own country;

“User-Pays Application Centre” means an office at which applicants can access services in connection with immigration or nationality specifically in relation to entry clearance, leave to enter or leave to remain in the United Kingdom.

Fees for applications, processes and services in connection with immigration and nationality

3.  Schedule 1 (applications for entry clearance to enter, and leave to enter, the United Kingdom) has effect to specify—

(a) the amount of the fees for—

(i) specified applications for entry clearance to enter the United Kingdom and variation of such leave for the purposes of article 4 of the 2016 Order;

(ii) specified applications for entry clearance to enter and leave to enter the United Kingdom and variation of such leave to enter for the purposes of article 5 of the 2016 Order;

(iii) specified applications for a transit visit visa and an approval letter from a designated competent body for the purposes of article 6 of the 2016 Order; and

(b) exceptions to the requirement to pay the fees referred to in paragraph (a), and the circumstances in which such fees may be waived or reduced.

4.  Schedule 2 (applications for leave to remain in the United Kingdom) has effect to specify—

(a) the amount of the fees for—

(i) specified applications for leave to remain in the United Kingdom for the purposes of articles 4 and 5 of the 2016 Order;

(ii) applications for an approval letter from a designated competent body for the purposes of article 6 of the 2016 Order; and

(b) exceptions to the requirement to pay the fees referred to in paragraph (a), and the circumstances in which such fees may be reduced.

5.  Schedule 3 (documents and administration) has effect to specify—

(a) the amount of the fees for specified applications and requests for the purposes of article 6 of the 2016 Order; and

(b) exceptions to the requirement to pay the fees referred to in paragraph (a), and the circumstances in which such fees may be waived or reduced.

6.  Schedule 4 (sponsorship) has effect to specify the amount of the fees for specified applications, processes, services and premium services for sponsors in relation to sponsorship for the purposes of article 7 of the 2016 Order.

7.  Schedule 5 (consular functions) has effect to specify—

(a) the amount of fees for specified consular functions for the purposes of article 8 of the 2016 Order; and

(b) the circumstances in which such fees may be waived.

8.  Schedule 6 (premium services (in the United Kingdom)) has effect to specify—

(a) the amount of the fees for specified premium services offered in the United Kingdom for the purposes of article 9 of the 2016 Order(26); and

(b) the circumstances in which such fees may be waived or reduced.

9.  Schedule 7 (premium services (outside the United Kingdom)) has effect to specify—

(a) the amount of the fees for specified premium services offered outside the United Kingdom for the purposes of article 9 of the 2016 Order; and

(b) the circumstances in which such fees may be waived or reduced.

10.  Schedule 8 (nationality) has effect to specify—

(a) the amount of the fees for—

(i) specified applications, processes and services in connection with nationality for the purposes of article 10 of the 2016 Order;

(ii) specified applications for certain documents, specified applications for the review of certain applications, or the process of taking a record of an applicant’s biometric information for the purposes of article 6 of the 2016 Order; and

(b) the circumstances in which the fee for arrangement of a citizenship ceremony must be refunded.

11.  Schedule 9 (applications for entry clearance to enter the Isle of Man) has effect to specify—

(a) the amount of the fees for specified applications relating to entry clearance to enter the Isle of Man for the purposes of articles 4, 5 and 5A of the 2016 Order(27); and

(b) an exception to the requirement to pay the fees referred to in paragraph (a), and the circumstances in which such fees may be waived or reduced.

12.  Schedule 10 (applications for entry clearance to enter the Bailiwick of Guernsey or the Bailiwick of Jersey) has effect to specify—

(a) the amount of the fees for specified applications for entry clearance to enter the Bailiwick of Guernsey or the Bailiwick of Jersey for the purposes of articles 4 and 5 of the 2016 Order(28); and

(b) the circumstances in which such fees may be waived.

13.  Schedule 11 (miscellaneous fees) has effect to specify—

(a) the amount of the fees for—

(i) the administration of the Life in the UK test, for the purpose of fee 3.2.1 in the table in article 6 of the 2016 Order; and

(ii) an administrative review of a decision for the purpose of article 6 of the 2016 Order; and

(b) exceptions to the requirement to pay the fee referred to in (a)(ii), and the circumstances in which such a fee may be waived or reduced.

Amendment of the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) Fees Order 2011

14.  Schedule 12 (amendment of the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) Fees Order 2011) has effect.

Rate of exchange

15.  Where a person seeks to pay any fee specified in these Regulations in a currency other than sterling (“the foreign currency”), the fee payable in the foreign currency is determined by reference to the Consular Rate of Exchange applying on the date that the payment is made.

Consequences of failing to pay the specified fee

16.—(1) Where a person is required to pay a fee specified in these Regulations, but fails to pay that fee, the Secretary of State may—

(a) reject the application as invalid; or

(b) request the person to pay the outstanding amount.

(2) Where paragraph (1)(b) applies—

(a) the person must pay the outstanding amount within 10 working days beginning with the day on which the request for payment was made;

(b) if the outstanding amount is not paid within the period mentioned in sub-paragraph (a), the Secretary of State must reject the application as invalid.

(3) Where the request for payment is made—

(a) in writing, the period of 10 working days referred to in paragraph (2)(a) begins on the day that the request is sent;

(b) by telephone or in person, on the day that the request is made.

Payments for in person applications

17.—(1) Where—

(a) an application is made in person; and

(b) the applicant pays the fee in relation to such an application prior to the date that the application is made,

the fee payable is that in relation to the relevant application on the date of payment.

(2) In this regulation, the date of payment means the date on which the payment is made by the applicant, unless it is made by post, in which case it means the date that the payment is posted.

Revocations

18.—(1) The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2015(29) are revoked for all remaining purposes.

(2) The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2016(30) are revoked.

Robert Goodwill

Minister of State

Home Office

30th March 2017

We consent

Andrew Griffiths

Guto Bebb

Two of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury

30th March 2017