MoJ retreats on immigration fee hike

The Ministry of Justice has slammed the brakes on plans to hike up fees for asylum and immigration cases, parliament was told today.

In a written ministerial statement, justice minister Sir Oliver Heald said the department had listened to the representations it received on the current fee levels ‘and have decided to take stock and review the immigration and asylum fees’.

In September the ministry announced that it was proceeding with a proposed package of hefty increases. Higher fees were introduced in the first-tier tribunal.

From today, applicants will be charged fees at previous levels. The ministry will reimburse, in all cases where the new fees have been paid, the difference between the new and previous fee.

The ministry will bring forward secondary legislation to formalise its position ‘as soon as possible’. In the meantime, the change will come into force through the use of the lord chancellor’s discretionary power to remit or reduce fees.

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MoJ retreats on immigration fee hike