The Home Office’s annual Budget, released yesterday, will institute an increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge from the current level of £400 per year to £624 per year. Students, their dependants and those on the Youth Mobility Scheme also face an increase in the IHS fee from £300 to £470. Children under the age of 18 will also be charged £470 per year. This is, therefore, an increase for every applicant.
The fee hike will be implemented from October 2020 and from January 2021 onwards will include future temporary EEA migrants.
Migrants, like British citizens, already pay for the NHS through taxation and national insurance contributions. What the surcharge, in fact represents, is an additional levy on immigration. There is no doubt that this increase in fees will place an additional burden on migrants who already face hefty visa application fees.
If you would like more information on how this could affect you or advice on whether you are eligible to make an application before October 2020, please contact Wesley Gryk Solicitors at contact@gryklaw.com.
