Asked by: George Galloway (Workers Party of Britain - Rochdale)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons there are differential rates for visas for dependents of British citizens coming from non-EU countries and visas for dependents of EU non-British citizens domiciled in Britain.
Answered by James Brokenshire
Dependants of British citizens from non-EU countries who wish to enter the UK
are required to apply for entry under the Immigration Rules. In line with its
legislative powers, the Home Office sets immigration and nationality fees to
reflect the administrative cost of processing an application as well as
benefits and entitlements that may accrue if an applicant is successful. These
fees apply to foreign national family members of British citizens applying for
entry under the Immigration Rules. The Home Office believes that it is right
that those who use and benefit most from the immigration system contribute to
its running costs.
The rights of EU nationals to live and work in other European Union Member
States, and to be accompanied by their non-EU family members, are set out in
European Union law, in Directive 2004/38/EC ("the Free Movement Directive"), by
which all EU Member States are bound. The Free Movement Directive does not
cover the rights of EU citizens living in their country of nationality, so it
does not apply to British nationals living in the UK. The Free Movement
Directive requires Member States to issue entry clearance visas to non-EU
family members of EU nationals free of charge.
Asked by: George Galloway (Workers Party of Britain - Rochdale)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will abolish the differential rates for visas paid by British and EU non-British citizens living in the UK for dependents outside the EU and make the cost of all such visas the same as the EU rate.
Answered by James Brokenshire
Dependants of British citizens from non-EU countries who wish to enter the UK
are required to apply for entry under the Immigration Rules. In line with its
legislative powers, the Home Office sets immigration and nationality fees to
reflect the administrative cost of processing an application as well as
benefits and entitlements that may accrue if an applicant is successful. These
fees apply to foreign national family members of British citizens applying for
entry under the Immigration Rules. The Home Office believes that it is right
that those who use and benefit most from the immigration system contribute to
its running costs.
The rights of EU nationals to live and work in other European Union Member
States, and to be accompanied by their non-EU family members, are set out in
European Union law, in Directive 2004/38/EC ("the Free Movement Directive"), by
which all EU Member States are bound. The Free Movement Directive does not
cover the rights of EU citizens living in their country of nationality, so it
does not apply to British nationals living in the UK. The Free Movement
Directive requires Member States to issue entry clearance visas to non-EU
family members of EU nationals free of charge.