Foreigners dealing with the death of a partner and facing financial hardship will soon be able to apply to have the application fee for settlement in the UK waived, under new rules laid out in Parliament this week.
From October 9, those who qualify include partners on a family visa who meet the criteria for destitution, if their partner either had:
· been a British citizen
· indefinite leave to remain in the UK
· been from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and had pre-settled status
Currently, people who wish to apply for settlement in the UK following the death of their British citizen partner are required to pay a £2,885 fee, irrespective of a change in financial circumstances following a loss. Indian-origin migration and citizenship minister Seema Malhotra told Parliament that this fee will now be waived as part of a "fairer and more compassionate approach" to those wishing to stay in the UK and facing acute financial vulnerability during times of grief.
Malhotra said: “Losing a loved one is a deep and unimaginable pain, all too often compounded by the immense financial strain faced by those left behind.
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“Widows, widowers, and their dependent children who had become integral parts of our communities can now apply for a fee waiver if facing destitution, in order to settle and keep the life they have built. This marks a fairer and more compassionate approach to those unable to afford the settlement fees, but who have often worked, paid their taxes and contributed to life here in the UK, including the partners of our military veterans.”
Those who qualify include partners on a family visa who meet the criteria for destitution, if their partner had either been a British citizen, had indefinite leave to remain in the UK, or was from the European Union (EU), Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and had pre-settled status. Bereaved partners of members of the Armed Forces, Gurkhas or Hong Kong military unit veterans – discharged before July 1997, may also benefit from such a fee waiver.
In her written statement in the House of Commons, Malhotra also announced the introduction of a new diplomatic visitor visa process as part of the UK border being transformed to include digital pre-travel checks. Under this, the current Diplomatic Visa Waivers (DVWs) will be phased out in favour of a “Diplomatic Visa Arrangement”.
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“DVAs will ensure diplomatic passport holders from countries that have benefited from DVW, who are nominated by their governments through a note verbale, will continue to benefit from smooth and efficient access to the UK,” reads the minister’s written parliamentary statement (WMS).
The WMS also unveiled the launch of a VIP Delegate Visa, a bespoke visa product targeted at delegations accompanying foreign Heads of State and serving government ministers on official visits to the UK.
