RISHI SUNAK’S BUDGET TO MAKE UK VISAS COSTLIER
The UK Budget, tabled by Indianorigin Finance Minister Rishi Sunak, is set to make the cost of long-term visas to Britain higher with a major hike in the compulsory health fee charged on migrants.
Sunak announced that the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) would be hiked from £400. “Migrants benefit from our National Health Service (NHS). And we all want them to do so — but it’s right that what people get out, they also put in,” he said. “There is a surcharge already, but it doesn’t properly reflect the benefits people receive. So, we are increasing the Immigration Health Surcharge to £624, with a discounted rate for children.”
A discounted rate of £470 has been incorporated for children aged under 18 but the lower rate for international students is also set for a rise
— from £300 to £470. The IHS was introduced in April 2015 and from December 2018 it was hiked from £200 to £400 per year. It is imposed on anyone in the UK on a work, study or family visa for longer than six months in order to raise additional funds for the country's state-funded NHS.
The hike was expected as it was in the election manifesto of the Boris Johnson-led government. The UK'S largest representative body for Indianorigin doctors has been lobbying for a rethink over the charge as it would have an adverse impact on their attempt to recruit more from India to meet staff shortages in the NHS.
Baroness Usha Prashar, Chair of the UK Council of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci), said: “The increase will add to the already expensive visa fees for overseas skilled workers. This will be an additional burden on Indian businesses operating in the UK.”
Chandrajit Banerjee, Confederation of Indian Industry director-general, said: “As Indian industry, we had hoped that in recognition of the contribution our companies make, there would be relaxations and incentives but saw very little.”