IMPORTANT: IHS & Biometric Issue

Hello All -

I submitted my online application this evening and realized a bit of a problem.

Once I was taken to the IHS payment site, all of my details were correct EXCEPT my passport number. It had my old passport (in my maiden name) number instead of my new passport (in my married name) number. And it would not let me edit the information whatsoever. How do I fix this?

I also received a biometrics appointment confirmation via email which also has my OLD passport number on it.

I have already submitted everything because it said I could not go back. Can I contact UKVI to change this?

I don't want this to be an issue when sending my documents to Sheffield.

Can anyone please help?

Just cross it out on the printed form and biometrics confirmation and write the correct passport number in pen next to it.

Then when you get to the biometrics appointment, you can ask if they will correct it in their system.

That's what you do if your name is wrong on the form (because the name in the system must match your passport exactly) so I assume it's the same for passport number.


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What about the IHS account? That too is under the old passport number.

No idea, I'm afraid.

Sorry, I misread your first post (I was on my phone) and thought you meant it was just wrong on the online application.

The online application has my correct passport number, but the biometrics and IHS has my old passport number.

I don't know what to do. It seems like the biometrics is easy to change, but I can't figure out what to do about IHS.

If there's nothing on the IHS website about correcting errors, then the only thing I can think of is to make a note of the mistake in a cover letter and explain that you could see it was the wrong passport number but that you were unable to change it in the system.

Do you have a link for the IHS site? I was looking for it last night and couldn't find it anywhere. Probably because I was panicking. I was on the government site and couldn't find anything there either.

Here: https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/pay (I just googled UKVI IHS)

If you click 'Pay Now' it takes you to the IHS site where you can either register or log in.

Well that link was helpful, however it won't let me log in!

I was never given any log in information and then if I create a new account, there is no where I can find to link my IHS reference number.

What a nightmare.

Well that link was helpful, however it won't let me log in!

I was never given any log in information and then if I create a new account, there is no where I can find to link my IHS reference number.

What a nightmare.

That's annoying - I thought it might work, but guess if you didn't have to create an account when you paid, it won't help now.

Honestly, I wouldn't panic about it - I would just explain what happened in a cover letter and I'm assuming they will sort it out when they process the application.

I guess the only other option would be to send an email to the immigration enquiry service, but they generally don't seem to know what they are talking about (they are basically just a call centre in India), so I'm not sure if they would actually be able to help or not.

That's annoying - I thought it might work, but guess if you didn't have to create an account when you paid, it won't help now.

Honestly, I wouldn't panic about it - I would just explain what happened in a cover letter and I'm assuming they will sort it out when they process the application.

I guess the only other option would be to send an email to the immigration enquiry service, but they generally don't seem to know what they are talking about (they are basically just a call centre in India), so I'm not sure if they would actually be able to help or not.

Yeah see that's the thing, with the application being all integrated now, it did not have me create a login for IHS. So now I feel completely stuck. I know I can get the biometrics changed when I go to the appointment Monday.

I don't even know how to contact UKVI. I tried the general email inquiry on the gov site and they sent me an email back with literally NO information regarding my question. So that was completely unhelpful.

I would think that the IHS payment is still linked to my GWF number right? There is no information on the payment emails either. Such a flawed system. I couldn't believe they wouldn't allow me to edit the details on the IHS page last night. Unbelievable.

I don't even know how to contact UKVI. I tried the general email inquiry on the gov site and they sent me an email back with literally NO information regarding my question. So that was completely unhelpful.

The only way to contact them is here: https://ukvi-international.faq-help.com/

If you tried that and they were no help, then there's not really anything else you can do.

I would think that the IHS payment is still linked to my GWF number right? There is no information on the payment emails either. Such a flawed system. I couldn't believe they wouldn't allow me to edit the details on the IHS page last night. Unbelievable.

Yeah, the IHS number should be on your printed online application form (or you have to include it, I'm not sure which) so it will be linked to your application.

I've found other systems are bad for this as well - I recently noticed that my address on one of my utility bills was incorrect, but when I logged into my online account to correct it, it wouldn't let me. So I called them to ask them to do it, and they had the same problem on their system! Eventually I got put through to a different department... and they cut me off. I just gave up in the end :S.

The only way to contact them is here: https://ukvi-international.faq-help.com/

If you tried that and they were no help, then there's not really anything else you can do.

Yeah, the IHS number should be on your printed online application form (or you have to include it, I'm not sure which) so it will be linked to your application.

I've found other systems are bad for this as well - I recently noticed that my address on one of my utility bills was incorrect, but when I logged into my online account to correct it, it wouldn't let me. So I called them to ask them to do it, and they had the same problem on their system! Eventually I got put through to a different department... and they cut me off. I just gave up in the end :S.

Yeah, I am just not sure what the heck to do. I mean how are other people logging in to view the IHS site if we are all using the same application process?

There must be a way to find out what the information is or how to create and then link the reference number somehow?

Yeah, I am just not sure what the heck to do. I mean how are other people logging in to view the IHS site if we are all using the same application process?

Because you may not all be using the same process - the process is different in different countries and is different if you apply by post vs. online. If you're applying by post, then you go to that site and create an account to pay it, but if you're applying online, you pay it during the online application process.

Alternatively, if you are exempt from paying it you will still need to generate an IHS number online even if you don't pay, while some visas don't require an IHS number at all (i.e. visitor visas, fiance visas etc.).

If you're applying in Bangladesh, Myanmar or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, you have to pay the IHS in cash at a visa application centre, while in Nepal you can either do it in cash or online.

There must be a way to find out what the information is or how to create and then link the reference number somehow?

Seriously, stop worrying about it - you should already have the IHS reference number on your application.

Just explain what happened in a cover letter and send it to Sheffield with your documents. If there's an issue with it, I'm sure UKVI will contact you.

Alrighty, thanks.