UK Visas and Immigration is improving how applicants pay the health surcharge
Here is letter info dated 28June 2015 from UK Visas and Immigration on how applicants pay the health surcharge.
CHANGES TO THE HEALTH SURCHARGE – CUSTOMER Q&A
1. What is changing?
UK Visas and Immigration is improving how applicants pay the health surcharge.
The Home office new integrated surcharge payment process uses information from the immigration application or Premium Service Centre (PSC) appointment to decide whether a customer needs to pay the surcharge and how much they must pay.
When completing their immigration application or booking a PSC appointment, if a health surcharge reference is needed, applicants will now be automatically directed to a new surcharge payment web site. Also, applicants will now only need to input personal details once, making the overall process quicker, easier and with fewer errors.
Postal applications made from within the UK are unchanged and these customers will continue to use the existing web site to pay the health surcharge.
2. When is this happening?
On 5 July for online UK applications, for Premium Service Centre appointments booked from within the UK and for overseas applications.
Customers applying from within the UK will have to start a new online application if they have not paid the surcharge and submitted their application by 06:59 (BST) on 4 July. Overseas customers will have to start a new online application if they have not paid the surcharge and submitted their application by 17:59 (BST) on 4 July.
3. Why is the change needed?
The new integrated system means applications are quicker and errors less likely.
4. Are applicants overseas affected by the changes?
Yes. All overseas applicants will pay the health surcharge as part of their online visa application without the need to access a separate web site. Applicants who are exempt from paying the surcharge but still require a reference number will also use the new integrated system.
5. Are applicants within the UK affected by the changes?
Yes, some will be. UK applicants who apply online will pay the health surcharge as part of their visa application without the need to access a separate web site. Premium Service Centre applicants will also pay as part of their appointment booking. There are no changes for applicants using postal applications, who will continue to use the existing web site to pay the health surcharge.
6. Are there particular immigration categories affected by the changes?
The vast majority of application routes are affected. The only routes not affected are those made by postal application from within the UK. For example, family routes.
7. I am applying from overseas. I paid the surcharge but did not complete my immigration application by 17:59 on 4 July.
Your immigration application will not recognise that you have already paid the surcharge and you will be asked to pay it again. To avoid this happening, if you have already paid the surcharge, you must have completed your immigration application no later than 17:59 (BST) on 4 July.
8. I am applying from overseas. I have started my immigration application but did not pay the surcharge by 17:59 on 4 July.
You will need to start a new immigration application. To avoid this happening, if you have already started your application, you must pay the surcharge and have completed your immigration application no later than 17:59 (BST) on 4 July.
9. I am applying online from within the UK. I have paid the surcharge but did not submit my immigration application by 06:59 on 4 July?
Your immigration application will not recognise that you have already paid the surcharge and will ask you to pay it again. To avoid this happening, if you have already paid the surcharge, you must have completed your immigration application no later than 06:59 (BST) on 4 July.
10. I am applying online from within the UK. I have started my immigration application but did not pay the surcharge by 06:59 on 4 July.
You may need to start a new immigration application. To avoid this happening, if you have already started your application, you must pay the surcharge and have completed your immigration application no later than 06:59 (BST) on 4 July.
11. I have paid the surcharge twice. How do I get a refund?
Customers who think they may have paid the surcharge twice should first check to see if they have two separate payment confirmations. For applications made from within the UK customers should log on to the health surcharge payment web site and request a refund.
For applications made overseas please notify the visa application centre when you attend your biometric appointment and they will process your refund.
12. Are there any other changes?
The customer guidance at www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application will be updated to reflect the improved process. There are no other changes to the health surcharge.
13. I am applying from overseas. Will I be able to use the web site that was previously used to pay the surcharge?
No. From 5 July, the surcharge payment will be made as part of the immigration application process.
14. I am applying by post from within the UK. Will I be able to use the web site that was previously used to pay the surcharge?
Yes. There is no change to the process for these applications.
15. I am applying online from within the UK. Will I be able to use the web site that was previously used to pay the surcharge?
No. From 5 July, the surcharge payment will be made as part of the immigration application process.
16. How will I keep track of my client’s surcharge payments?
There should be no need to re-visit or monitor health surcharge payments. Each surcharge reference number is now directly linked to an immigration application. This will make the process more streamlined and efficient for customers and reduce the possibility of making errors which result in delays or refusals.
17. What do the changes mean for sponsors?
The new linked process will make it easier for applicants to pay the correct surcharge first time. This will help reduce the number of immigration applications which are refused on the grounds of failure to pay the surcharge.
18. Where can I get further help and advice?
• Customer guidance is available at www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application
• Contact UKVI from outside the UK www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-outside-uk
• From UKVI from inside the UK www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi
We have developed a new integrated process which uses information from an immigration application (or Premium Service Centre booking) to decide whether a customer needs to pay the surcharge and how much they must pay.
If a surcharge reference is needed, applicants will now be directed through the surcharge payment process as part of their online application. They will only need to input personal details once, making the overall process quicker, easier and errors less likely.
These changes will come into effect on 5 July for applications within the UK, (including PSC appointments) and for overseas applications.
Applications started before these dates, but not yet submitted:
• Tier 4 customers applying from within the UK will have to start a new online application if they have not paid the surcharge and submitted their application by 06:59 (BST) on 4 July.
• All overseas customers will have to start a new online application if they have not paid the surcharge and submitted their application by 17:59 (BST) on 4 July.
Customers who have started but not submitted their applications by the above dates will either have to pay the surcharge again, or their immigration application may be rejected. These customers are strongly advised to start a new online application after the above dates to avoid their applications being delayed or rejected.
For the latest information on this service visit www.visa4Uk (overseas applications) and www.gov.uk/visas-immigration (applications from within the UK).
Postal applications from within the UK are unchanged and these customers will continue to use the existing web site to pay the health surcharge.
These improvements are informed by feedback from applicants since the surcharge was launched in April. They are also part of our ongoing commitment to improve the customer experience and enhance our online services.
We appreciate that you may be familiar with the previous process for paying the surcharge and that the previous system had some advantages, however we are confident that the new system provides an enhanced customer journey to the vast majority of applicants.
Please use the attached factsheet and Q&A and share with your clients as appropriate. For questions or enquiries, refer to the contact list below or visit www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application
� Contact UKVI from outside the UK www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-outside-uk
� Contact UKVI from inside the UK www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi
Regards
UK Visas and Immigration
Tier 2 Non-EU skilled migrants cap reached for first time
The cap for the United Kingdom Non-EU Skilled Migrants (Tier 2) visa category has been met for the first time since it was introduced in 2011.
As part of the ongoing focus on reducing migration the Government has asked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review some key aspects of the Tier 2 system. This follows hot on the heels of the monthly cap on non-EEA nationals entering the UK from overseas being reached in June for the first time since the imposition of the annual quota in 2010. This has meant that UK employers seeking to hire non-EEA nationals not already in the UK have been unable to do so unless their annual salary is £46,000 or more.
There are two stages to the MAC reviews. The first addresses the issue of the minimum salary thresholds which govern Tier 2, in particular the new hire and experienced rates in the Standard Occupation Codes. The MAC are seeking views on the impact of raising many of the minimum rates substantially. The deadline for submissions is very tight; all responses must be received by 3rd July 2015. The consultation document can be accessed by clicking here. It is vital that all employers who use Tier 2 review the questions and inform the MAC of any issues prior to the deadline so that they can be reflected in the output of the consultation.
The second stage, published in the summer of this year, will be a wider review of Tier 2 to include proposals to introduce further restrictions on the Tier 2 intra-company transfer route, the shortage occupation list, and removing the ability for dependants to work. What is the Tier-2 General Category?
The Tier-2 visa is split into four categories, including General, Intra-Company Transfers, Sports People and Ministers of Religion. The cap has been met for the “General” category. In order to apply for this Tier-2 visa category, applicants must be from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, have a certificate of sponsorship from a UK employer, meet English language and funding requirements and have at least 70 points under the points-based immigration system. The applicant must have been offered a job with a salary of at least £20,800 but less than £155,300; must have had at least £945 in savings for at least 90 days; and is required to pay a surcharge to cover healthcare.
What is the Cap and How are visas Distributed?
The cap is set at 20,700 visas annually, split into monthly allocations of around 1,650. Each application is awarded a number of points based on sponsorship, offered salary, academic qualifications and English language requirements and the minimum score to qualify is 70. For example, applicants meeting the English language requirements earn 10 points. Applicants can score up to 15 points based on the level of education completed (up to 15 points for Ph.D.) Prospective salaries between £32k and £45k are awarded 45 points; salaries between £46k and £75k are awarded 50 points.
Who is Affected by This Cap?
Applications affected are those made under Tier 2 General non-EU only. There are no reports on how many applications were rejected; however, applications with lower points will be the first to be rejected. Applications can be resubmitted in July, but applications with lower salaries may not make the cut as the cap is likely to be met again in July.
However, there is a higher number of allocations for July (2,049) as once the monthly cap is reached, all applicants with less than the minimum number of points are refused certificates, even if that means the allocation for that month has not fully been used. As all applicants with salaries under £46,000 were refused in June, approximately 300 unused certificates will roll over to July.
Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfers (ICTs), graduates switching to Tier 2 and Tier 2 Changes of Employment are not affected.
Migration Advisory Committee to consult on new proposals to reduce demand for migrant labour
No doubt,in lasr few months the UK immigration policy has been dramaticaly taking new turn! Every week since the elections, the Govermmnet and the Home office announce new changes, proposals, restrictions..all of them have the same purpose: to ban, restrict and control immigrants in the UK.
Migration Advisory Committee to consult on new proposals to reduce
United Kingdom, June 10 2015
The Prime Minister has unveiled tough new proposals to significantly reduce the scale of UK migration from outside the EU. This will include a commission for the Migration Advisory Committee to advise on the following:
Restricting work visas to “genuine skill shortages and specialists”
Putting a time limit on how long a sector can claim to have a skills shortage
A new “skills levy” on businesses who recruit foreign workers, to be spent on UK apprenticeships
Increasing the salary threshold for a skilled worker’s visa*
Restrictions on the automatic right of Tier 2 dependants to work
Tightening up on the intra company transferee (ICT) route, including applying the immigration health surcharge to ICTs
*With the latest April 2015 Immigration Rule changes, the minimum salary for a Tier 2 General migrant was raised from £20,500 to £20,800. The government’s stated aim is to increase this again by the autumn.
The government can expect forceful lobbying from UK businesses against these proposals, who have already stated their objection to measures designed to restrict the flow of skilled migrants to the UK.
