The UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has announced that visa fees and health surcharges paid by visa applicants, including Indians, will see a significant rise. This increase is intended to meet the country’s public sector wage growth. Sunak confirmed a hike of 5 to 7 percent across the board for teachers, police, junior doctors, and other public sector workers.
Sunak emphasized that the government would not rely on higher borrowing or increased taxes to fund the wage increase, as it could worsen inflation. Instead, the additional costs will be met by increasing charges for migrants applying for visas and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) to access the National Health Service (NHS).
According to Sunak, the increased fees and surcharges will generate over GBP 1 billion. The visa application fees and IHS charges will be raised significantly, considering the rising costs since the last fee adjustment.
The government’s second action to address the higher wage bill involves asking government departments to reprioritize their spending. Sunak clarified that this does not entail job cuts or reductions in services but rather a re-focusing of priorities.
The IHS applies to long-term migrants, including students, and the fees start at approximately GBP 470 per year, escalating to higher amounts for multi-year visa applications. The specific details of the visa categories affected by the fee hikes and the implementation timeline will be announced by the UK Home Office in the coming months.
The Conservative Party-led government has faced significant pressure due to disputes over public sector pay, leading to strikes in schools and hospitals. Junior doctors in England have initiated another five-day strike following the rejection of their demand for a 35 percent pay increase.
Sunak made it clear that the government’s wage offer is final, and further industrial action will not change the decision. He expressed satisfaction with the support from teachers’ unions and stated that the government’s offer provides a fair resolution, allowing teachers and school leaders to call off their strike actions and resume normal operations.
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