People from outside the EU moving to the UK to work or study will have to pay £50 extra for visas to help areas struggling to cope with immigration.

The £70m raised by the two-year scheme, announced by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, will help fund more police support and translators.

Many councils have warned of the strain that new arrivals have put on services.

But critics say the cash will not have much effect and also warn that the move could stir anti-immigrant sentiments.

Ms Blears said it meant people coming to the UK to work or study would pay a levy on top of the basic cost of a visa.
She acknowledged that economic migrants already contributed to services through their taxes, but said the visa fund would provide extra money to "ease the transition" for areas which had seen a big influx in short periods of time.

"Where there are impacts as a result of migrants coming in on the local community, we think it's fair that the migrants themselves should be asked to pay a contribution towards those impacts to make sure that local people don't feel that they're really under strain," she said.

Ms Blears said the money would be allocated on a regional basis and that local councils, police forces and health authorities would be expected to work together to spend the funds for their area wisely.

One example was making sure people registered with their GP, to stop them using casualty departments for minor health issues.

Pressures

The exact charge has not been confirmed but the department says it is expected to be about £50.

Initially it will be charged for two years only, as it is aimed at contributing towards the start-up costs of schemes which are expected to become "self sustaining".

These could include joint translation services for public authorities like the police and NHS bodies - which might currently be offering individual translation.

Fleecing Brits are at it again!

This just another tax on people who already to much in educational , visa  and fees.  I would recommend people start to protest and look for other destinations to go.   If Nigeria were better one will not be subjected to nonsense.

Come to think about-   Due to the worldwide financial meltdown as tax revenue is down.  This is simply an avenue to raise more money for the state. Trust Nigerians since they want to ESCAPE i am sure £50 is a small change.

That sounds good to me. Why?  Boris (Mayor of London) has been talking about Amnesty. If immigrants pay more taxes then there would be more weight behind the Amnesty debate. In this country a lot of people pay taxes but without papers their progress is limited. To Nigerians sending their children here for studies £50 is a KFC fee,

Thiefy-Thiefy people!

BAC:

That sounds good to me. Why?  Boris (Mayor of London) has been talking about Amnesty. If immigrants pay more taxes then there would be more weight behind the Amnesty debate. In this country a lot of people pay taxes but without papers their progress is limited. To Nigerians sending their children here for studies £50 is a KFC fee,

so true.

babycool:

Thiefy-Thiefy people!

UK a sovereign state why cant it make her rules without some people talking.

This is good news! However I don't think the amount is enough of a dererrent to stop Nigerians from coming to our shores.

JJYOU:

so true. UK a sovereign state why cant it make her rules without some people talking.

Sovereignity indeed, its not enough that they keep increasing visa fees, was that not meant to cope with the strain? Anyway, at least they got you guys.

AngieFan:

This is good news! However I don't think the amount is enough of a dererrent to stop Nigerians from coming to our shores.

You remind me of people you burn their ladders after getting to the top!

interesting

Treetop20:

interesting

What part is, lol


TO NO ONE IN PARTICULAR - Dang someone's left the cage open again, have to go ring Tpia and Felifeli to remind them to bring the mouthguard and the tranquiliser on their way down

big_bumper:

What part is, lol


TO NO ONE IN PARTICULAR - Dang someone's left the cage open again, have to go ring Tpia and Felifeli to remind them to bring the mouthguard and the tranquiliser on their way down

everyone's bit