By Muhammad Mamman
The United Kingdom is set to increase visa fees for people seeking to visit, study, work or settle in the country, with new charges rising by as much as £222 from April.
The fee adjustments will affect a wide range of applicants, including tourists, international students and foreign workers, as the government moves to boost revenue from the immigration system.
Officials say the increase is part of broader efforts to ensure that the cost of running the visa and border system is funded by applicants rather than taxpayers. Critics, however, warn that the higher fees could discourage travel, study and skilled migration to the UK at a time when key sectors depend on overseas talent.
The new visa charges are expected to take effect in April.
