The Home Office has been accused of trapping people in abusive relationships after hiking its visa fees for domestic abuse survivors applying to stay in the UK, openDemocracy can reveal.
From February, foreign-born domestic abuse survivors will have to pay £2,885 to apply for leave to remain in the UK – an increase of £481 on the previous rate. Those with dependent children will also have to pay an additional £2,885 for each child.
The Home Office says it costs £646 to process a leave to remain application, so the department will make a 77% net profit margin on every domestic abuse survivor’s application.
