Thousands of young people who have lived in the UK for all or most of their lives are required to pay Home Office fees of £1012 to secure their citizenship. Children born to non-citizens are often legally entitled to citizenship, but rather than being charged the standard £75 for a passport, they are required to make a lengthy submission to the Home Office, accompanied by a £1012 fee.
These young people are denied the benefits their peers automatically have access to, such as student loans and lower domestic student university fees. Young people with irregular status also feel their life is in limbo and experience frustration born of prolonged periods of uncertainty, in which it is not possible to take steps to build a more secure future.
The economic divide between citizens and non-citizens has been shown in various studies, with access to education and financial services being particularly pronounced. We know families are turning to high interest lenders, loan sharks or borrowing from their families and communities.
Our initiative provides an alternative – a 12 month interest free payment plan that allows families to pay the fee in 12 equal monthly instalments. The scheme is designed to meet the needs of a group often excluded from mainstream financial products, providing a payment plan that avoids expensive, unethical debt or borrowing in a way that may strain support network relationships. Our ambition is to move families away from high-interest borrowing, build their credibility as borrowers and grow their financial confidence.