UK Immigration Health Surcharge increase delayed to 27 October

Comments by Sanwar Ali:

The Immigration Health Surcharge is an unfair fee as most migrants and their employers are in effect paying twice for the National Health Service (NHS).  Money is already beein allocated from income tax and national insurance contributions towards the NHS.   It also seems odd that suddenly there is a 26 day delay to the increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge.  Anyway, one bit of good news for once!

If you wish to apply for a UK visa try and apply before 27 October 2020!

The UK Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) increase planned for 1 October, 2020 has been delayed. The delay comes after the Immigration Health Charge Amendment Order 2020 was filed late on 6 October, 2020, which means it will only come into effect 21 days later.

The current fee, set at £400, was due to increase to £624 on 1 October, but the delay means that the increased fee won’t come into effect until 27 October, 2020. Those looking to apply for a UK visa and subject to the charge are now being urged to file their immigration application prior to the price increase toward the end of the month.

New Immigration Health Surcharge fees

As of 27 October, the following Immigration Health Surcharge fees will apply:

• £624 for adults - per applicant, per year
• £470 for international students applying for Tier 4 visas and individuals applying for the Tier 5 Youth Mobility visa – per applicant, per year
• £470 for children under the age of 18 – per child, per year

The UK IHS only applies to people applying for a UK visa that’s valid for longer than six months. Those applying for a UK visit visa are exempt from the IHS.

Exemptions to Immigration Health Surcharge (HIS)

Other exemptions from the IHS include individuals applying for UK indefinite leave to remain and British Citizenship.

Anyone applying for the new, Tier 2 Health and Care visa is also exempt from the surcharge, while specific exemptions apply to dependents of people serving in the British Armed Forces.

An exemption is also available under a concession known as the ‘destitute domestic violence concession.’

IHS controversy

Since its introduction over five years ago in April 2015, the IHS has been shrouded in controversy, described as an additional tax on migrants already paying some of the highest visa fees in the world.

Amid the coronavirus, the government has been urged to scrap the controversial fee, particularly for NHS staff, many of whom have risked their lives serving on the frontline in the battle against COVID-19.

Under pressure from health chiefs and the public, the government did agree to scrap the IHS in May 2020 and reimburse anyone who had paid the surcharge from 31 March. However, it took the government a further four months to unveil its IHS reimbursement scheme, and even then, some questionable conditions were applied to issuing refunds.

Shameful broken promise to NHS workers

With the government dragging its feet, the Labour Party accused the Tory Party of breaking its promise over the IHS, calling it ‘shameful.’

Just a week after coming under fire, the government launched its reimbursement scheme. However, the IHS remains active, with migrants still having to pay the fee and claim it back through the reimbursement scheme.

Labour’s shadow immigration minister, Holly Lynch, described the setup as ‘borrowing from families’ without ever telling them when they’re likely to get their money back. She said: “For many, the IHS will be impossible to pay.”

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