New Member - Health Surcharge Question

Hello All,

I've been checking out the UK Yankee site recently and joined today....this looks like a great forum and exchange of info.

Quick bio:  Originally from PA but have lived in Silicon Valley, CA for many years.
Recently retired.  My wife (dual UK-US citizen) and I plan to move to Scotland in October, since we don't have any family here in CA.  We lived and worked in the UK for ~2 years many years ago and have some idea of what we're getting into, but the immigration rules have changed a lot since then.  Tighter and more expensive now.

I'm about to submit my visa application and will have to pay the Health Surcharge (I must pay for three years worth) immediately, even though we won't be in the UK until October.

Question:  Does anyone know if the clock starts ticking on my health coverage as soon as I pay, or will it start when I enter the UK.  Hopefully it will start when I enter the UK in October, otherwise I'd be paying for healthcare now, but not using it.

Thanks - and I look forward to participating in the various discussions.

Joe   

Welcome to the forum .

If you're not planning to move until October, it's way too early to apply now - so don't submit or pay for your application yet!

You can only apply a maximum of 3 months ahead of the date you wish to move... so if you will not be moving until October, you cannot submit your online application or pay for the visa (or the surcharge) until July.

The application form asks for your intended travel date... which cannot be more than 3 months in the future... and then your visa sticker will be valid for 30 days from that date.

So, if you apply today, the latest travel date you can put on the application form is 11th August and your visa will be valid from 11th August to 10th September. You must enter the UK within those dates and then you have 10 days within which to pick up your BRP card (your actual visa) from a local UK post office.

Your NHS surcharge will come into effect from the start date on your visa and will cover the 33 months that the visa is valid.