This report gives an insight into an aspect of migrants’ lives in the UK that affects hundreds of thousands, but is not well known: the cost and impact of visa renewal applications.

Migrant Voice carried out a survey, organised five focus groups, and conducted a handful of interviews to examine qualitative and quantitative aspects of the issue. Anyone who had or was paying for visa fees for themselves or for their family was eligible to take part.

The bulk of the report examines how much respondents have been paying for visas, how they manage to raise the funds for them, and how the process puts many aspects of people’s lives under intense strain as a result. It also covers the changes migrants would like to see to make the system fairer.

Published in April 2022 by Migrant Voice.