Brand

Immigration Solicitors London

Est. 2002

+44 (0)20 7038 3980

info@rlegal.com

RLegal Solicitors, 162-168 Regent Street London W1B 5TG

RLegal is regulated by the SRA, Reg No: 00380691

The Home Office has at 19.06 on Friday 4th January 2019, stated by email circular that the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fee will double on Tuesday 8 January 2019 – as follows the announcement of the increase on 8th October 2018 by the Minister of State for Immigration, details of which can be read here.

A reminder for those unfamiliar – the increase is due to a review by the Department of Health and Social Care last year that the average cost to the NHS of an immigrant payer was £470 and by doubling the fees the NHS would receive a boost of £220 million per year, which the Minister of State commented:

‘The proposed amount is still below full average cost recovery level and remains a good deal for those seeking to live in the UK temporarily’.

Applicants, have until Monday to submit visa applications in order to avoid the increase – given the IHS fees will increase from £200 to £400 per year for most immigration categories, and from £150 to £300 per year for those who qualify for discounted rates, such as Tier 4 and Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme migrants – submission of an application by Tuesday will result in significant savings.

Perhaps there is some delayed festive cheer as the increase was due in December, but with a sense of irony the Home Office, has turned this into a New Year greeting! Happy - perhaps not!

RLegal is a specialist firm of immigration solicitors located in central London and can be contacted online through our website, by sending an email to info@rlegal.com or by telephone on +44 207 038 3982.