International Students May Claim Visa Fee Refunds

Leeds University Union highlights potential overcharges on Student Visa fees

International students who applied for a UK Student Visa between October 2023 and April 2025 could be eligible for a refund due to possible overcharging by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). Leeds University Union has provided guidance for students who may have paid more than the legally permitted fee during this period.

Details of the potential overcharge

It is suggested that UKVI may have charged some international students higher fees than allowed by law when applying for a Student Visa. The overcharge amount differs depending on when the fee was paid:

• £127 overcharge for fees paid between October 2023 and March 2025
• £161 overcharge for fees paid from March 2025 onwards

Not all international students are affected; only those who held a Student Visa during this timeframe and paid the application fee may be eligible to request a refund.

Applying for a refund

Students who believe they have been overcharged are advised to submit a refund request. Leeds University Union has made available a draft letter template to assist with this process. Refund claims must be submitted within five years of the payment date.

Once completed, the refund request letter should be sent to the address provided in the original UKVI visa correspondence. While submitting a refund request does not affect visa status or immigration conditions, there is no guarantee that all requests will be successful.

Next steps if a refund request is rejected

Some students may receive a response from the Home Office acknowledging an error but stating that the fees were legally valid, resulting in no automatic refunds. In such cases, students are encouraged to lodge a formal complaint of maladministration.

This complaint can be made through their local Member of Parliament (MP), who can refer the matter to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. The Ombudsman may recommend repayment and possibly a consolatory payment. However, students should be aware that the current waiting time for this process is approximately seven months.

Additional support

• Students unsure of where to send their refund request can consult UKVI correspondence or seek guidance from Leeds University Union.
• Information about local MPs can be found through official parliamentary resources.

International students affected by this issue are advised to review their visa fee payments and consider submitting a refund request if applicable.