If you are an immigrant in the UK, you probably already know about the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) required for most visa applicants. But what happens when you need to apply for a refund? Who can receive a refund, and what is the process?
It can be confusing, but there are steps that you can take to ensure that you get your IHS fees refunded if you fit certain criteria.
In this blog post, I will discuss what IHS is, when students can qualify for an IHS refund, and how to go about claiming your refund.
What is Immigration Health Surcharge Actually?
The immigration health surcharge (IHS) is a fee that international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) must pay when applying for a visa or immigration status in the UK. All international students who plan to stay in the UK for more than six months must pay this fee before starting their studies.
The fee amount varies depending on factors such as length of stay and the number of dependents included in the application. The funds collected through this fee go towards providing access to healthcare services while students are living in the UK.
Check our Guide Health and Care Worker Visa
Who Can Receive an IHS Refund?
The IHS refund policy only applies to immigrants whose visa applications are refused or terminated. If your visa was granted but revoked at any point, you might be eligible for a partial or full refund of your IHS payment. It is important to note that some visas are exempt from the IHS refund policy.
Here is the list of who can receive an IHS refund:
- If you pay the fee twice, you can apply for a refund, which will be 100% accepted if you have proof.
- If your visa application is rejected, you can apply for a refund.
- You can also get a refund if you withdraw your visa request.
Sometimes, you may not get a full refund, but you can sometimes apply for a partial refund. For example,
- If you applied for a 1-year visa but you’re only allowed to stay for six months, you can apply for a refund for partial payment.
- You can also get a partial refund if the visa of your dependants is refused.
Sometimes, you cannot get a refund. It can be due to the following reasons.
- If your visa is accepted, you don’t move to the UK for any reason. You cannot apply for a refund.
- If you leave the UK before the visa ends, the refund policy prevents you from getting your payment back.
- Suppose the laws of the UK, order you to leave the UK before visa expiry. You can not apply for a refund.
Please remember that the final refund decision may have some terms and conditions. Suppose you don’t get a refund, make sure to ask about the reason.
Immigration Health Surcharge Refund Student Visa
The good news is that certain students may be eligible for an IHS refund if they meet specific criteria.
For example, suppose a student’s visa application is refused, or they leave their course early due to extenuating circumstances. In that case, they may receive a partial or full refund of their IHS fees paid.
Additionally, some courses are exempt from paying the IHS. Hence, it’s important to check with your institution about what qualifies for an exemption before applying for a visa or immigration status.
Eligibility Criteria For Students To Get IHS Refund
Here is a list of rules for IHS refunds for the students of the EU and Switzerland.
- You’ve paid the complete IHS fee.
- You’re studying higher education full-time in the UK.
- You applied for a UK visa after 1st January 2021.
- You’ve got an EHIC certificate.
- You’re living in the UK and have your residential address.
Students Not Eligible for IHS Refund
If you were studying in the UK but at the same time you started a part-time job or working somewhere for the sake of money. Then you may not be eligible to apply for a refund. This is because UK laws don’t allow students that go for a study visa and start jobs there. Hence, they will lose the IHS refund opportunity.
How to Apply for an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) Refund?
The UK Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a fee payable by anyone wishing to stay in the UK for over 6 months. As of 2021, this surcharge applies to all non-EEA nationals who wish to stay longer than 6 months in the UK.
Here is a step-by-step guide on applying for an IHS refund if you have overpaid or paid incorrectly.
Step 1: Determine Eligibility
The first step in applying for an IHS refund is determining if you are eligible. You can be eligible if you have overpaid or paid in error or have had your visa application withdrawn or refused. You can also apply for a refund if you have become exempt from paying the IHS due to changes in the immigration rules since your payment was made.
Step 2: Gather Required Documents
Once you have determined that you are eligible for an IHS refund, you must collect all required documents before submitting them with your application.
These documents may include the following;
- Proof of identity
- Evidence of payment and overpayment, such as bank or credit card statements
- Copies of any relevant immigration letters or emails from the Home Office
- These documents must be up-to-date and accurate.
Step 3: Submit the Application
Once you have all the necessary documents gathered, it’s time to submit your application form online. This form will require basic personal information and detailed information about your visa status and payments made.
Once completed, submit the form online via the website and wait for a response from HMRC within 10 days regarding your eligibility for a refund. If approved, expect a return of funds within six weeks of approval.
Step 4: Refund Is Approved
If the UK Visa and Immigration approve your request for an IHS refund, it should arrive within 30-40 working days after approval in either sterling pounds (£) or euros (€).
It is also important to note that if multiple payments were made towards the same person’s IHS fee, for example, if someone applied for multiple visas. Then all payments must be included in one request for a full refund from UKVI.
Furthermore, if two people applied together under one family application, in that case, each person must submit individual refund requests to receive their money back separately instead of combined into one lump sum.
IHS Refunds for Healthcare Workers
UK Visa and Immigration rules are very kind to healthcare workers. According to the UK Government, those candidates who work in healthcare departments can get 100% money back if they pay for the Immigration Health Surcharge.
However, getting money back may differ according to the situation. Here are two criteria for IHS refund for health care workers.
- You’re a Tier 2 (General) visa and a medical professional.
- You don’t have a Tier 2 (General) visa, and you’re not a medical professional but work in another healthcare role.
Let’s learn about these two cases in detail.
1. If you have got a Tier 2 (General) Visa
The UKIV laws are extremely fair to medical professionals. They are eligible to apply for a refund if:
- They have a Tier 2 General Visa
- Employed on an eligible job
Here is a list of medical departments that can apply for an IHS refund.
- Professional doctor (any department)
- Nurse
- Midwife
- Psychologist
- Biochemist
- Biological scientist
- Speech and language therapist
Criteria of IHS Refund
- You’re only eligible for a refund if you paid after the 31st of March 2020.
- In contrast, you may get a partial refund if you paid before this date. That means you’re not eligible to claim a full refund, but you may get some amount back.
- You’ll get paid back in the active account you attached with the IHS.
How to Apply?
- Go to the official UK Visa and Immigration website. Contact the support team.
- Provide them with the following details.
- Your IHS reference number
- Mention the date you paid the IHS
- Attach the Certificate of Sponsorship
- Write the name of your employer
The best way to contact them is via call. However, you may be charged a call fee for this service.
2. You Don’t Have a Tier 2 Visa
If you work in another role in the healthcare department or don’t have a tier 2 visa, you can still apply for an IHS refund.
Here are the eligibility criteria in this situation.
- You paid the full IHS amount.
- You’re an employee at an eligible company. For example, NHS or CQC.
- You’ve spent 6 months on the job.
Please remember you’ll not be eligible for a refund if you were unemployed for 28 days in the last six months.
How to Apply Online?
- Go to the page IHS Reimbursement.
- Answer the given questions, and keep following the prompts.
- Here are a few things that are required to complete the process.
- 12-digits IHS number.
- National Insurance number
- Email address where you’ll get the information.
- Your employer’s name
- Last six months’ payslip copies.
The support team will analyze your request. If your request is accepted, you’ll get your money back within six weeks. However, time can vary depending on the situation.
Rules for IHS Refund Tier 4
Studying in the UK can be a life-changing experience, but it can also be expensive. International students must pay a healthcare surcharge for their visa application process. This surcharge is known as the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). It allows international students to access the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) during their stay.
However, not all students use the NHS and may be eligible for an IHS refund. Here are some rules for IHS refund Tier 4.
- You paid the complete IHS fee.
- Ensure that the fee was paid more than your stay in the UK.
- You must apply for a refund within 6 months of leaving the UK.
- You cannot apply for a refund without a pending immigration application or appeal.
- Your visa must have been issued for more than 6 months.
- You must have paid for IHS as part of a Tier 4 student visa application.
How to Cancel Your UK Visa Application and Get a Refund?
To get a refund for your canceled UK visa application, you must inform the Home Office in writing or via email before completing your biometrics appointment.
If you already had your biometrics taken, you are no longer eligible for a refund. You should also include evidence that you meet the eligibility requirements for a refund, such as proof that you applied for 28 days or proof of exceptional circumstances.
After receiving your request, the Home Office will review it within 10 working days and provide you with an update on whether they approve or deny your request.
What Happens if I Withdraw My Visa Application?
If you withdraw your visa application after it has been submitted but before it has been processed, the Home Office will reject it. They will not refund any fees paid towards the application, and you cannot appeal the decision.
However, if you provide a valid reason, the situation may differ. Furthermore, the Visa Embassy will have your record if you do so, and you may face penalties next time. In some cases, you may also get fines and legal punishments for doing the activity.
Therefore, it’s recommended to take correct decisions and follow the legal rules to avoid any problems.
Conclusion
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fee is another cost associated with applying for visas in the UK. Luckily, an option is available to those who have had their applications refused or terminated, the right to ask for an IHS fee refund.
To receive a successful outcome, it is important to understand which situations qualify and how and when to submit an IHS fee request form correctly to ensure the timely receiving of funds owed back from UKVI.
As long as all necessary documents are submitted along with clear evidence of both refusal and termination of visas, you will receive refunds within 30-40 working days after approval from UKVI.
