Day of Action on the increase in the Visa application fees and Immigration Health surcharge
Event details
Description
Join us for the National Day of Action on visas on 31st October!
There will be a timetable of activities at the Students Union 11.00-16.00. Please join us to learn and discuss and resist.
Find out more about the national day of action here.
Sign the petition against visa application fees and the immigration health surcharge here.
From 4th October at 9am, work and visit visas are going up by 15%, family visas, settlement and citizenship by 20%, and student visas by 35%.
The Immigration Health Surcharge will also be increased, and is set to be increased by 66%. This will mean an increase of £624 to £1,035 per year. In order to do so, the Immigration (Health Charge) Order 2015 will have to be amended. This will require a positive vote in both Houses of Parliament, so will take slightly longer to come into force and has not yet happened.
At Sheffield SU, we will be holding an all-day event, running from 11am-4pm across the Gallery Area. Please see the plan below for session information and timings.
|
GALLERY PRESENTATION AREA |
|
|
11am-12pm |
Launch of the Migrant Voice Day of Action w/Maria J. Lourido (Education Officer) Maria will be kicking us off with a short talk about her journey through the UK immigration system, and the impact that it’s had on her as a person, a student, and an Officer. There will also be a chance to network with students, external speakers, and University & SU staff. Refreshments will be provided. |
|
12pm-1pm |
Chile, 50 Years On w/Maria Vasquez Aguilar Fifty years ago, a violent coup ended one of Latin America’s most stable democracies, brought an abrupt halt to the Chilean military’s tradition of noninvolvement in politics and ushered in 17 years of ruthless dictatorship. Maria Vasquez Aguilar, a PhD student currently working on her thesis (“Exiles in Action: Political activism amongst the Chilean Refugees in the UK, 1973-2013”) will be hosting a Teach-Out to tell us about the horrors that the Chilean people faced during this time, and how they found joy in each other, and in rebuilding their communities. |
|
1pm-2pm |
Game of Life w/ Dr. Patricia Nabuco Martuscelli The Game of Life is a hugely popular board game that people have played for nearly two centuries, simulating life through childhood, up into university, and out the other side. Migrant Voice have reimagined the process, and have created a special edition of the Game of Life to play on the Migrant Voice Day of Action. You’ll have the chance to travel through the UK’s immigration process, mired by unexpected costs, seemingly archaic rules and regulations, and baffling legal jargon. Dr. Patricia Nabuco Martuscelli will be the Game Master. |
|
2pm-3pm |
Teach Out w/ Dr. Patricia Nabuco Martuscelli & Dr. Lucy Mayblin UK visas cost anywhere from £100-£3250, and that doesn’t include notary fees, copies made, postage, travel, or lawyer fees. In short, coming to the UK to better your life is an arduous, financially difficult process. But what if it didn’t have to be? Drs. Patricia Nabuco Martuscelli and Lucy Mayblin will be holding a Teach-Out to tell us more. |
|
GALLERY MAIN AREA |
|
|
12pm-1pm |
Teach Out w/Dr. Rebecca Murray Dr. Rebecca Murray is a member of the Sanctuary advisory group and the Migration Research Group at the University of Sheffield, and will be joining us to host a workshop wherein students will be able to creatively map the journey through Higher Education for an international student. |
|
1pm-2pm |
The Lived Experience of an Immigrant w/Livia Barreira Livia is a journalist, author, and ambassador for migrant communities in Sheffield. She will be joining us to discuss her experience navigating the UK immigration system, and the costs, both financially and emotionally, that this brings. |
|
2pm-3pm |
SYRLJ Drop-In w/SYRLJ South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice (SYRLJ) is a grassroots legal charity offering free immigration advice and representation to those seeking sanctuary in South Yorkshire.They will be hosting a drop-in session to talk about the legality of being a refugee in the UK, and the battle that many people face to live safely. |
|
GALLERY EYE AREA |
|
|
12pm-1pm |
City of Sanctuary Game w/City of Sanctuary City of Sanctuary is an independent charity working in solidarity with people seeking sanctuary in Sheffield. They will be joining us to host a game about being an asylum seeker in the UK. Players will have to make difficult decisions about finance, family, documentation status, and ultimately, their future in this country. |
|
2pm-3pm |
SYMAAG Drop-In w/SYMAAG South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group (SYMAAG) is a group that, at its core, firmly believes in the right of all migrants to live safely and securely in the UK. They will be hosting a workshop discussing the difficult process that almost all those migrating to the UK must go through, and what you, as a campaigner, can do to ease this process. |