Written question asked by Maria Fyfe (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 12 November 1996. It was answered by Liam Fox (Conservative) on Tuesday, 12 November 1996 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: What is the range of charges for applications for visas; what is the average cost of processing each application; what is the reason for the policy of making no refunds, in whole or in part, in the event of an application being refused; and what was the difference between the income from visa applications and the expenditure in processing them in the last year for which figures are available. - Includes figures.

Answer: Mrs. Fyfe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the range of charges for applications for visas; what is the average cost of processing each application; what is the reason for the policy of making no refunds, in whole or in part, in the event of an application being refused; and what was the difference between the income from visa applications and the expenditure in processing them in the last year for which figures are available. [2035] Dr. Liam Fox: Details of the fees for receiving applications for entry clearance for the United Kingdom are given in the Consular Fees Order 1996, SI 1996 No. 1915. The average cost of processing an application ranges from £25 for a direct airside transit visa to £230 for a settlement visa. Application fees are not refundable because it is Government policy to recover the full cost of processing an application irrespective of the outcome. However, if at a preliminary assessment stage the entry clearance officer believes that an application probably will not succeed, the applicant is informed and given the opportunity to decide not to make a formal application. In that case, no fee is paid. In 1995-96 the income from fees was £42 million; the global entry clearance operation cost £48 million.

Secondary information