In a report published by The Guardian, the Home Office has been accused of rejecting UK visa applications on technicalities in order to increase their profits.
The report revealed that the Home Office is receiving an additional 800 per cent profit from some applications as applicants are expected to pay the UK visa fees each time they reapply.
Following analysis of the data, the report alleged that the fees charged by the Home Office were significantly inflated when compared to the cost incurred by the government to process the application.
For those hoping to migrate to the UK using a UK Tier 2 work permit, which would allow them to work for an employer with a Tier 2 Sponsorship License, visa costs have increased significantly thanks to the £1,000 per year UK immigration skills charge introduced in April 2017.
Those who file an application to be granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK face even greater fees, with those supporting a vulnerable adult dependent set to pay £3,250.
Despite this high figure, the report found that the application costs the government a total of £423 to process the application.
However, the Home Office has argued that the inflated fees are necessary in order to reduce the costs to the taxpayer and over the costs of running the system that aren’t already covered by government funding.
“The approach is only right and fair. It ensures that those who benefit directly from the UK visa system contribute to it appropriately,” a spokesperson added. “Fee levels aim to strike a balance between generating income and maintaining global competitiveness.”