Your GSU Officers have written to Mike Tapp MP, the Minister for Migration and Citizenship to express concerns around immigration fee charges and the impact on students. You can view the letter that they have sent below. 

Subject: Concern Regarding Immigration Fee Charges and Student Impact

To: Mike Tapp MP, Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Home Office

Dear Minister,

We are writing collectively in our capacities as Sabbatical Officers at Greenwich Students’ Union to express our serious concern regarding the issues raised in relation to the Immigration, Nationality and Passports (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.

It is deeply concerning to note that, due to a recognised drafting error in previous legislation (2023 and 2025), international students were charged visa fees at levels that were not accurately reflected in the statutory framework at the time. While we acknowledge the Home Office’s position that the intention behind the fee increases was clear, it remains the case that students paid higher fees during a period in which the legal basis for those charges was flawed.

From a student perspective, this raises significant concerns around fairness, transparency, and accountability.

International students already face considerable financial pressures when choosing to study in the UK. They engage with immigration systems in good faith, trusting that all charges are fully compliant with the law. Where an error is acknowledged particularly one that persisted over multiple years, it is reasonable for students to expect clarity, openness, and due consideration of redress.

While we note the department’s reliance on legal principles concerning the correction of “obvious drafting errors,” we believe this interpretation does not sufficiently reflect the lived experience and financial burden placed on affected students. The absence of any remedial action risks undermining confidence in the system and may contribute to perceptions of inequity in how international students are treated.

In light of this, we respectfully call for:

1. Greater transparency regarding the scale of the issue, including the number of students affected and the total amount of fees collected during this period.
2. A clear and accessible public explanation for students, outlining why no compensatory measures are being considered.
3. A review of potential remedies, including partial refunds, fee waivers, or future concessions, particularly for those most impacted.
4. Strengthened safeguards in legislative drafting and implementation processes to ensure similar situations do not arise in future.

International students make a vital contribution to the UK’s academic community, economy, and global reputation. It is essential that policies affecting them are not only legally sound but also perceived as fair and just.

We would welcome the opportunity to engage further with the Home Office on this matter and to contribute to discussions on how student interests can be better protected moving forward.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Abdulmumin, Chirag, Hari, Saif,

Sabbatical Officers, Greenwich Students’ Union