NHS Surcharge

I just completed my application for FLR under a spouse visa and was subject to the £500 NHS surcharge (which you must pay before you can even make an appointment at a Premium Service Centre). 

Does anyone know how this works when you are employed in the UK and national insurance contributions are coming directly out of your paycheck?  This seems like double taxation, but before I started chasing home office for an explanation, I wanted to check if anyone knows if there's good reason for those on a visa to have to pay regardless of their working situation?

Does anyone know how this works when you are employed in the UK and national insurance contributions are coming directly out of your paycheck?  This seems like double taxation, but before I started chasing home office for an explanation, I wanted to check if anyone knows if there's good reason for those on a visa to have to pay regardless of their working situation?

Unfortunately, you have to pay both the IHS surcharge AND your tax/NI contributions.

It's a deliberate decision made by UKVI to generate more money. They don't care that you are already contributing to your healthcare... they are making visa holders pay even more than everyone else.

Personally, I don't think it's fair on those who are already paying into the system, but unfortunately, there's nothing you can do about it. You have to pay your taxes, and you also have to pay the IHS surcharge... your visa will be refused if you don't pay it.

This article from the UKVI website talks about the reason for the IHS surcharge, though it doesn't really mention the fact that visa holders who work will also be paying towards healthcare anyway:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/migrant-health-surcharge-to-raise-200-million-a-year

I just completed my application for FLR under a spouse visa and was subject to the £500 NHS surcharge (which you must pay before you can even make an appointment at a Premium Service Centre). 

Does anyone know how this works when you are employed in the UK and national insurance contributions are coming directly out of your paycheck?  This seems like double taxation, but before I started chasing home office for an explanation, I wanted to check if anyone knows if there's good reason for those on a visa to have to pay regardless of their working situation?

Don't let me get on my soapbox!

The Conservative party intends to raise it to £600 a year according to their manifesto!

And I like to remind people that National Insurance contributions also go towards other things like maternity benefits and your state pension, it's not a straight NHS payment. 

National Insurance contributions help to build your entitlement to certain state benefits, such as the State Pension and Maternity Allowance.

What do National Insurance payments pay for?

Your National Insurance payments go towards state benefits and services, including:

    The NHS
    The State Pension
    Unemployment benefits
    Sickness and disability allowances
 

https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/income-tax-and-national-insurance

Don't let me get on my soapbox!

The Conservative party intends to raise it to £600 a year according to their manifesto!

 

£200 a year is ridiculous enough. £600 a year is beyond bananas.

I'm so glad that I'm finally British. I've finally got a vote to use and as an immigrant, I use it as best I can! No way would I vote for any party wanting to make it harder or more expensive for anyone to join their family.