Getting a NI number

Hello all. I am filling out paperwork for my school/job that I'm supposed to register with as soon as I arrive in the UK (I'm in USA now, will be in UK in a few weeks). So how do i get an NI number? Can I just pick and go to a GP when I arrive? I am UKC and my partner is USC on a Spousal Visa. Will they give me a number immediately? Or will I/both of us have to go through the phone/mail/jobcenter/etc.?

To get a national Insurance (tax) number, you contact your local Jobcentre Plus office.

To register with a GP, you just go to one in your area and ask to register.  If you're a student you may find it easiest to register with the student health service at your university.

Ok, do tell me. NIN and NHS are independent of each other, correct?
NHS is health insurance, NI is like unemployment or worker disability insurance?

and if you know, my partner on a spousal visa is eligible for NHS but not NI, right?

Ok also to get NIN I have to go to a meeting at the jobcentre in person and they send me a card/number in the mail even as a UK passport holder? I can't just call or apply w/out a permanent address or get a number on the phone or right at the meeting.

Your NHS number is just a registration number. Sometimes when you register with a new GP they send you a card with it on, sometimes not. You don't really need to worry about the number.

The NI number is the one you need to give your employer for paying tax and national insurance. The NHS is funded out of NI contributions, which is probably where people get confused. 

Your partner is eligible to use the NHS on a spouse visa and will need a NI number if he working.

Details here of how to apply for a NI number.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/BeginnersGuideToBenefits/DG_10014073

Just to reiterate what Shahbanou has already said because I have recently gone through all of this. 

To get a NHS number you would register with a GP.  There are many stories on here, some people have found it hard to register, others (like myself)- easy.  I did receive a card a couple weeks after registering with my NHS number on it.

To get a National Insurance Number you need to call Jobcentre Plus (phone number 0845 600 0643).  You must have the spousal visa before you apply for the National Insurance number and you must be in the UK (they will only mail the application to UK addresses).  They will then send you an application which you must mail back to them in order to get the National Insurance number.  This number determines your tax rate.  You are able to start working on a Spousal Visa without the National Insurance number, however you will be taxed at a higher tax rate until obtaining it.

Good luck.

Cool, thank you. Do you have any idea how long it takes. We both need NIN numbers UKC and Spousal Visa, but I (UKC) need it asap so I can register for my teaching at university.

Cool, thank you. Do you have any idea how long it takes. We both need NIN numbers UKC and Spousal Visa, but I (UKC) need it asap so I can register for my teaching at university.

It takes about 2 weeks to get the letter with the number on it, but then another 6ish weeks to get the actual card.

Most UKC's were issued an NI number automatically at age 16, you may want to contact HMRC to see if you don't already have a number as once you have been issued a number that's your number you don't get a new one.

Actually, I applied for mine at the beginning of November and am still waiting for the number...

Jobcentre overlooked mailing my application- it takes on average about a week to receive the application once you have contacted them.  It took 10 days to get mine.

They are also currently experiencing a backlog in processing applications.  Jobcentre received my application November 16th, however wouldn't start processing it until November 23.  So it's almost been a month since I initially called...

x-posted with WebyJ

Yah I definitely don't have one, as I had to register as a UKC. I hope I'll just be able to fill out the paperswork that I can at the uni and just give them the number whenever I get it. Nothing seems to be as urgent as I make it, so I'm sure it will be fine.

Like I said, you can start working without the NI number (granted as long as you can show you have the right to work) however, you'll just be taxed at the emergency tax rate.  Once you have the NI number then you will be able to have the taxes adjusted and be reimbursed for the overspend in taxes.

The NHS is funded out of NI contributions, which is probably where people get confused. 

That may once have been the case, but today most NHS funding comes from general taxation.

Yes I know but since some of it still comes from NI I thought it was worth mentioning as this seems to be where people get the NHS/NI number confused.