A quick question on fees. Sorry if its a silly one

[Liberal Immigrant]

Am applying for citizenship as spouse of a British Citizen.

According to BIA, the current fees is £720 --->http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... 060409.pdf

But, according to the new fees list (as of 6th April 2010), the cost will be £655 --->http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/siteco ... t-services

So is it actually going down from £720 to £655. If so, I need to delay my nationality checking service by a week and benefit from the discount.

Is the BIA really reducing the fees?

[Casa]

There is no discount. The £720 includes the mandatory fee for the ceremony.

[R-]

There is no discount. The £720 includes the mandatory fee for the ceremony.

So does that mean that people would have to pay £655 for the application and £65 for the ceremony then?

[Casa]

I believe the ceremony fee is now £80...but wait for others to confirm this.

[f2k]

Current Fees

Please note this is the form you complete as part of your application

[newyorker123]

I had a related question. If someone wants a private ceremony and the local council charges something like £100 for that, do we still pay the Home Office the £80 ceremony fee, or is the £100 council fee typically on top of the standard £80 fee?

[newperson]

I had a related question. If someone wants a private ceremony and the local council charges something like £100 for that, do we still pay the Home Office the £80 ceremony fee, or is the £100 council fee typically on top of the standard £80 fee?

Yes, it is on top. That extra £100 or so is a money spinner for the council and is in addition to any amount that is paid for a public ceremony.

So to recap:

£735 for naturalisation with a public ceremony (£655 + £80)
£835-£885 for naturalisation with a private ceremony (£655 + £80 + another £100 or so)