Start Date and Refund for IHS

Hi everyone,

I hope you're doing well. I have a couple of questions about my Skilled Worker visa application:

1. My employer has set my start date as 28 July 2025, and I’m applying for the visa this month using the priority service. Since I am applying from within the UK, I plan to travel after I receive the visa. Once I receive my visa by early May, can I travel and return to the UK before the start date (28 July), or do I need to wait until 28 July to re-enter the UK?


2. My previous visa ends on 26 May 2026, and I had already paid the IHS for 3 years. If I switch to the Skilled Worker visa now with an end date of 27 July 2026, will I need to pay additional IHS, and if so, will it be calculated as 1 year or more than 1 year?


3. Will I get the refund for the remaining year since I've paid for 3 years of IHS?



Thanks for your help!