Cost of biometrics appointment included in Citizenship application cost?

[kamoe]

Hello

Just double checking if this has been everyone else's experience:

When paying for my partner's citizenship application, it showed me the cost to be £1349.2 (roughly, don't remember the exact amount, but I think it is £1330+19.20), saying the cost of a £19.20 biometrics appointment was included. There was no other option to tick, so I went ahead and paid.

But then when the time came of booking the biometrics appointment, it goes back to the old game of £££. Some appointments are free, some are worth £175, etc. WTF? Then why is the HO making us pay £19.20? I was banking on all appointments free after that. Luckily I managed to find a free appointment, but, what a joke.

Is this standard, or have I found a funny online form???

[alterhase58]

There's the biometrics fee charged by the Home Office of £19.20, as part of the application.
Then there's the appointment fee charged by UKVCAS (private contractor) ranging from £0 - £100s ... everone takes their cut. You may be able to book a free one early in the morning. BTW, biometrics have to be taken new at every application even if done for a previous application.

[kamoe]

Thanks for your answer. Good to know I haven't done anything silly.

There's the biometrics fee charged by the Home Office of £19.20, as part of the application.

I thought that was the fee of the Post Office, back in the day, when biometrics were done by them. Affordable and convenient, and you didn't pay it as part of the application; it was separate. You paid at the Post Office at the time of your appointment. So it's strange to me that's amalgamated now into the same fee given the HO doesn't really manage biometrics and never has.

Then there's the appointment fee charged by UKVCAS (private contractor) ranging from £0 - £100s ... everone takes their cut. You may be able to book a free one early in the morning. BTW, biometrics have to be taken new at every application even if done for a previous application.

Yeap. I have found it is good to browse just after 9:00 AM, and you'll find free appointments. Mind you, you have to be open to wait a few weeks for your appointment, but compared to paying close to £200, I think it's worth the wait.

End of rant.