Post
by sakura » Tue Jun 12, 2007 12:19 pm
I personally think there are various factors, one notably being the EU. Since many more migrants can enter the UK market/educational system free of charge or a lot cheaper than non-EU migrants, with nowt but a passport, it means the HO is trying to at least regulate other potential migrants by increasing fees, maybe to offset the lost money or visibility of the newer EU migrants in the UK (for example, free applications for EEA permits, for one - albeit minor - thing). Think of, for example, when the 10 countries joined in 2004, a year or two later there was a whole buzz about 600,000 or so who entered (although I'm sure many were already here). So to calm public outcry, fees go up to deter slow down the non-EU applications, the same reason why rules change. I mean £600+ for ILR is a hefty cost, having to take tests, stay here one additional year, pass tests and maybe, just maybe, do some volunteer work....build the Olympics stadia!!
Or, the government thinks people should pay their way to ILR/BC, since it is a highly valued thing. For one thing, it allows you access to about 30 other national markets/jobs, allows you to fly to at least half the world without a requiring visa, allows you to apply for certain restricted jobs, and gives you more respect. So, for them, all these things should cost money, at least not TOO high for people to complain, but high enough so that you see just how important it is. I mean, they always bang on about 'being British' the value of 'Britishness', the higher number of immigrants, etc. It's like, if you pay money, you'll try harder to integrate! "I spend £350 renewing my visa, I damn well better make use of it!"
Or something like that. So it's a way to weed out the undesirables and to also force people to make an effort in understanding that BC isn't a right but an entitlement that you earn, by paying your way, and to prove you have done so, give us £2,000+! By the way, I'm writing from my opinion of what the HO thinks, not what I think. What do I think? I think the costs are extremely high and a pain, for many people have had to pay enough already. But, there is little one can do, you can't complain about this change, no one has argued it. If they increase the fees again, then one can complain, challenge, but if one wins, it would still be the current (high) costs!
I do think BC is taken for granted; some people just apply for the sake of having a better passport, but not even thinking they are British. This is a lot of murky water, I personally don't think there is a clear meaning of what 'British' means anyway. They always say 'valuing democracy, rule of law' blah blah blah. France does, too. So does Japan. So does Australia...are they all British? So I don't think any 'pledge of allegiance' for new BCs helps at all. So all their value-added is simply another way of showing to the public how tough the immigration system is, or how these people earn their right to BC. Their consultation paper notes how many organisations/institutions agreed with hiring the fees to deter wrong applicants and the like.
But - what else can they do? I think most of us support the English language requirement. But what would you guys think would help? I don't mean amnesty...please not that again! But in terms of general immigration rules/policy.
