Controversy Surrounds Unlawful Fees for UK Visa Language Tests
The UK Home Office has been charging visa applicants unlawful fees for language tests, which were facilitated by Ecctis Ltd without legal authority since 2008. Despite acknowledging this, the Home Office continues demanding these fees, emphasizing financial necessity, while working on legislation to legalize future charges. Ministers consider options for restitution or retroactive law to address the issue, amid criticism from legal experts and the House of Lords for their handling of current charges.
The UK Home Office continues to demand fees for language tests applied to visa applicants, despite discovering these charges have been made without legal authority.
This admission was made by Home Office minister Seema Malhotra to a House of Lords committee.
Ecctis Ltd, a company facilitating these fees since 2008, charges individuals seeking UK visas without proper legal grounding, prompting potential legal challenges.
The government became aware of this issue when aiming to renew Ecctis' contract this year.
In response, the Home Office is attempting to pass legislation allowing them to charge up to four hundred pounds legally while also contemplating a 'restitution' scheme or retroactive law to handle past overcharges.
The Lords committee expressed shock over continued billing practices despite legal questions, and Malhotra emphasized the financial necessity of maintaining these charges.
Ecctis has reportedly earned fifty million pounds from these fees in the past three years.
The Home Office's lack of clarity and transparency has garnered criticism, with implications for a multitude of visa applicants, charged one hundred forty pounds plus VAT for language tests and two hundred ten pounds plus VAT for qualification assessments.
Criticism comes from various quarters, including Naga Kandiah from MTC Solicitors, who highlights the injustice, especially amid financial crises.
A Home Office spokesperson acknowledged the issue and stated that discussions are underway to rectify the legal inconsistencies.
This admission was made by Home Office minister Seema Malhotra to a House of Lords committee.
Ecctis Ltd, a company facilitating these fees since 2008, charges individuals seeking UK visas without proper legal grounding, prompting potential legal challenges.
The government became aware of this issue when aiming to renew Ecctis' contract this year.
In response, the Home Office is attempting to pass legislation allowing them to charge up to four hundred pounds legally while also contemplating a 'restitution' scheme or retroactive law to handle past overcharges.
The Lords committee expressed shock over continued billing practices despite legal questions, and Malhotra emphasized the financial necessity of maintaining these charges.
Ecctis has reportedly earned fifty million pounds from these fees in the past three years.
The Home Office's lack of clarity and transparency has garnered criticism, with implications for a multitude of visa applicants, charged one hundred forty pounds plus VAT for language tests and two hundred ten pounds plus VAT for qualification assessments.
Criticism comes from various quarters, including Naga Kandiah from MTC Solicitors, who highlights the injustice, especially amid financial crises.
A Home Office spokesperson acknowledged the issue and stated that discussions are underway to rectify the legal inconsistencies.
