Immigration fees and online applications

Some immigration fees have increased as of 1st April 2022. Applying for status under s.20B (i.e., for people who came here before 1st August 1989) will now cost $600, up from $315.

Naturalisation as a British Overseas Territories citizen is almost doubling to $1000 from $525. Although a steep increase, I had always viewed the fee for this as particularly low in context, so the new fee of $1000 is hopefully still seen as being worthwhile. If anybody is unable to afford the new fee, there may be scope to ask for a reduction.

I attended a webinar today re Immigration moving to a fully online application process, eliminating almost all paper submissions. Instead, certified documents will be uploaded onto the application portal, along with scans of supporting letters. Apparently, digital certificates will be issued by Immigration too.

It remains to be seen how smoothly this will go, but it has the potential to simplify the application process. One benefit they are claiming, is that people will be able to track in real time the progress of their applications, which would indeed be a dramatic improvement on the current system based on repeat emails and calls until somebody eventually provides a vague update.