Wesley Gryk Solicitors LLP

Specialists in UK immigration and nationality law

Call 020 7401 6887
contact@gryklaw.com

  • Home
  • Our work
    • Adoption, Surrogacy, and Children
    • Asylum
    • British Citizenship
    • Challenging Home Office Decisions
    • Couples & Families
    • Europeans
    • Global Talent
    • Private Life
    • Settlement (Indefinite Leave)
    • Sponsored Work
    • Students
    • Visitors
    • Other Categories
  • Our team
  • Our fees
  • News and updates
  • Contact us
    • Map and directions
    • Make an enquiry
    • Complaints
    • Vacancies

Increase to the Immigration Health Surcharge

Alison Hunter

8th February 2018 By Alison Hunter

The government has recently announced that the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which is payable by nationals of countries outside the European Economic Area who stay in the United Kingdom for six months or longer, will soon rise from £200 to £400 a year. The discounted rate for students and those on the Youth Mobility Scheme will go up from £150 to £300.

While a huge increase, it is below the tripling of the charge which was proposed in the Conservative Party’s Manifesto of 2017, and there is therefore concern that the amounts could increase further in the future. The IHS already represents a significant financial burden for many applicants and the increase will only worsen the impact: a spouse applying to join their partner in the UK will face an outlay of £1200 in addition to the expensive Home Office application fees.

The government say the rise will provide “an extra £220 million a year to support the NHS”. Quite how far an extra £220m will stretch against an annual budget of £122 billion remains to be seen.

We think that this change will come into force at the beginning of April 2018. Therefore if you are in a position to make an application before then, you may want to consider doing so. Equally, for those who are part-way through their five year route to settlement, we would expect the higher amount to be due on the extension application and you will need to plan accordingly. In most cases, this means that you will need to find another £500 to make a successful application.

If you have questions about the increase, or would like to book an initial consultation for tailored, individual advice, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Filed Under: News and Updates


The Legal 500 - The Clients Guide to Law Firms
Top Ranked Chambers UK 2021
Listed as one of The Times’ 200 Leading UK Law Firms 2020
Tweets by @WesleyGrykLLP
Wesley Gryk Solicitors LLP
140 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7AE
Tel 020 7401 6887
Email contact@gryklaw.com

Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy

Wesley Gryk Solicitors LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with number OC317684. Our registered office is at 140 Lower Marsh, London, SE1 7AE. We are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA ID 446311.

Copyright © 2021 · Wesley Gryk Solicitors LLP · Website by Culpepper & Co

.