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Visa Application Costs

Discussion in 'UK Visa and Immigration Help' started by Stevembe, Sep 10, 2018.

  1. Mattecube
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    Mattecube face the sunshine so shadows fall behind you Trusted Member

    No twice outside UK in 2015 and 2017 and once inside the UK this year
  2. PorkAdobo
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    PorkAdobo Active Member

    I paid for the first FLR a few days ago (12th November). Followed the link to pay the NHS charge (paid with UK issued Visa debit), and it appeared on my statement as £500 on the nose.
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  3. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    what did you think of the online flr form ?
  4. PorkAdobo
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    PorkAdobo Active Member

    I thought it was relatively straight forward. I'd prefer it if there was an option for people who think they have a bog standard application which so I didn't have to bother looking at bits about refugees or non UK/EU partners, but that might be adding to confusion for other applicants (and not in line with current immigration policy).

    I also think the whole thing is a bit unnecessary having completed the first settlement application in the past 6 months. If the government wants to screw me for more money, fine. Come and take it. But completing another bloody application is a waste of my time.

    Other than that, no real issue. It wasn't overly complex.
  5. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    did it have the banner announcement about applications after 5th nov---no need to send in photos and documents can be copies or originals ?
  6. PorkAdobo
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    PorkAdobo Active Member

    Yes, I recall seeing something like that. I don't remember if it was a banner, but I definitely read that no photos were needed and copies were OK.

    I also read that copy bank statements were OK, but only if stamped by the issuing bank to confirm authenticity. This would be fine, except 2 branches of HSBC flat out refused to do this (first time when doing the settlement visa in March/April time, and another branch refused last week for the same reasons). My print outs were accepted first time around, so hopefully no drama this time.

    As I'll have no need for it over the next few months, I'm planning on including my own passport in the document bundle that is shortly going to the post office rather than a certified copy.
  7. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    in my case--my savings are in a building society passbook. no way was i sending that in. i asked the b. soc to lock the account so no one could draw on it till i got it back--but they couldnt do that--??

    the counter clerk was happy to photo copy it--including the transaction page--stamp and sign as a true copy.

    heres hoping that will do the job.
  8. Br28016
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    Br28016 Active Member Trusted Member

    As I understand it your situation is slightly different. Based on your posts your wife would have come over on 6 month fiance visa. The flr that you are applying for will be a 30 month flr therefore 2.5 years exactly and not rounded up to the 3 years - you are charged for every part of s six month period. Likewise you are applying from within the UK so get cost in GBP.

    Sher is applying from the philippines for a spouse visa so gets an additional 3 months to cover moving. That is why it will count as 2.75 years and why they round up the £600 figure. Likewise she is applying from the philippines so system will try and charge IHS in $ and charge the visa fee in $.
  9. PorkAdobo
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    PorkAdobo Active Member

    Apologies, but haven't read (or remembered) all the posts. Was payment made with a British credit/debit card, or a Filipino (or other) registered card? I'm quite surprised if the IHS payment portal is sophisticated enough to deal with different locations.

    In a previous life, my employer ( world known company) served customers around the world and charged in the currency of originating city. We dealt with Euros, Aussie cannuck and Yankee dollars, Egyptian pound etc. There was one card issuer (American) which always charged a foreign transaction fee, even though payment had gone through a server in Florida. It just viewed our company as overseas, therefore their customers got an unexpected sting afterwards. Never got to the bottom of this and had a steady stream of complaints all because of that card issuer.
  10. Mattecube
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    Mattecube face the sunshine so shadows fall behind you Trusted Member

    Likewise my wife was in the Philippines when we paid way back in 2015 paid in Stirling then in 2017 daughter was in the Philippines paid in Stirling.;);)
  11. Br28016
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    Br28016 Active Member Trusted Member

    Doesnt matter whether paying using uk or overseas credit or debit card. Dollar rate is not the interbank rate either so dont bother trying to work out why the charge is $810 when interbank rate would make it about $774 at present assumjng rate of $1.29 to pound.

    You declare where you are applying from when applying for the visa and this drives the currency the system charges you in. For IHS mattecube has identified a way of meeting requirement which is outside of their preferred way of getting you to pay in usd from philippines. Dont believe his methodology will work for visa fee itself.

    Suffice to say if you follow the route the process directs you down you end up paying in dollars. If you know how to work round the system then can pay in pounds which would save you between 27 and about 60 pounds for IHS. Double that saving when the IHS charge increases. If applying physically from within the UK then you pay in pounds for both visa and IHS.
  12. Schy13
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    Schy13 New Member

    Hi,

    Just a question, we are going to apply for spouse visa in the Philippines , do you pay online? The same as the IHS surcharge?

    Thanks in advance :)
  13. virgolady
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    virgolady New Member

    Yes, we paid online.
  14. Heathen
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    Heathen Active Member

    • Informative Informative x 1
  15. Schy13
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    Schy13 New Member

    Thanks! :)
  16. Schy13
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    Schy13 New Member

  17. UKDJ
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    UKDJ Active Member

    Not really expecting an answer, but WHY do we - as UK citizens - allow our own government to simply 'bleed us dry'???

    Surely it is not unreasonable, having budgeted from Day 1 of this lengthy process for expected costs throughout, to expect only 'modest' increases (e.g. linked to inflation). Sure, a person who applies tomorrow could pay a different 'price' for the privilege from someone applying today, but - to use an analogy - having started the journey I feel it is completely unacceptable to suddenly be told your 'destination' has changed!!! :mad:
  18. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    they do--because they can. we are an easy target.. it hurt like hell when the ihs surcharge first started. my wife works 50 hours a week and pays a fortune in NI.

    but then no one forced us to fall for a foreign national.
  19. Br28016
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    Br28016 Active Member Trusted Member

    Cheap way to raise funds and appear tough on immigration. Also encourages less people to come. Has added advantage that applicants cant vote against them.

    Supporting paper for the order was clear that the primary aim was to raise as much money as possible and tried to analyse risk of lose of income if reduced numbers. For family applications line taken was that can safely do it as they have no option but to pay.
  20. Heathen
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    Heathen Active Member

    The whole process for me "Stinks" as a UK citizen married to a none EU citizen that has worked all my working life, paid into the system, i am required to now pay further, Arghhhhhhhh dont start me off :frust:.

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