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Home Office

Answer

Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost of processing a visa extension application made by an international student studying at a UK university; how the cost was assessed; and on what data he based his calculation of the cost. [213284] Mr. Browne: On 1 August 2003 the Home Office introduced charges for leave to remain applications, including those from international students. Fees were calculated to recover the full administrative costs (including staffing and overhead costs) of processing applications to the point of conveying a decision. We have recently consulted stakeholders on proposals to extend the principle of cost recovery charging, to include the costs of providing an appeal function and the costs of delivering enforcement activity. The consultation closed on 8 December 2004. The outcome of the consultation and the final fee levels will be announced in February 2005. The fee ranges have been calculated using the full cost recovery formula approved by HM Treasury. A full explanation of how the costs are calculated will be laid before Parliament when the Fees Regulations are amended. The fee ranges have been calculated using the full cost recovery formula approved by HM Treasury. A full explanation of how the costs are calculated will be laid before Parliament when the Fees Regulations are amended.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

430 c1148W; 213284

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Applications Costs Fees and charges Immigration Higher education Overseas students Visas Levels Per capita costs

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk