Huge hospital bill/write off/ any consequences

[amaukresident]

My son born on 2020 June

His BRP expired 2022 Nov

I applied naturalization Jan 03 2023

He got granted naturalization 2023 March

In December 2022, he got admitted hospital

In January 2023, he got admitted hospital.

Hospital sent us a huge bill now.

After lot of discussion, they told us they are happy to write off the bill. With a note that, after 3 months they will inform about the non payment. So they told, it may affect future visa application. I just wish to know how it will affect.

[zimba]

You posted this under the ILR forum. What is the actual query regarding an ILR application ??

[amaukresident]

Because we have ILR now. Child has british passport. The note from hospital is that it will affect our future ILR related or any other sort of visa applications.

[zimba]

Because we have ILR now. Child has british passport. The note from hospital is that it will affect our future ILR related or any other sort of visa applications.

NHS debt affects ILR application but if they agreed to write it off, then you should face no issues

[amaukresident]

Hello

We are unable to accept the offer of 50.00 per month. If you are unable to pay the requested amount of 75.00 per month we will write off this debt but please be aware this may affect any future or ongoing visa applications.

Please contact us in two years when your circumstances have changed and we can review your offer

Thanks

Above is their response


So I wish to reply them OK, please write off and I am happy to take the consequences OR, I will have to pay 75£ monthly.

Actually my son admitted twice. In December 2022, then I had not applied the naturalization.
In january 18 2023, my naturalization applicaton was applied but not granted. They charged for both and is 2218£

[amaukresident]

We have no BRITISH PASSPORT YET for my elder son, for me, for my wife as well. So when I am going to apply for it, will it affect my application?

[amaukresident]

@zimba...?

[zimba]

We have no BRITISH PASSPORT YET for my elder son, for me, for my wife as well. So when I am going to apply for it, will it affect my application?

The British passport is only given to British citizens, I guess you probably mean when you guys want to apply for British citizenship ?
Again, you asked this in the ILR forum, so who is applying for ILR ?

[amaukresident]

Brother, I opt this forum because I am an ILR holder. I won't apply for ILR again, correct. But, my next step is to apply for British passport. But my query is general. Like I need to apply for British passport, I will need to apply for visiting visa for my parents. Etc.

My query is if the hospital is saying, " IT MAY AFFECT YOUR FUTURE OR CURRENT VISA APPLICATIONS", I got panic. And also they are saying they are happy to write off. I am really stressed.

I called home office. Very confusing lines.They told me to call this number that number etc. I tried 4-5 times, not got any info. One office told to contact an immigrtion advisor, I did they say said they don't know. My final hope is this forum.

[zimba]

NHS debt will affect both immigration and nationality applications.

If you are NOT British, then you cannot get a British passport, this should be obvious !
Again, a British passport application is NOT a nationality application, you must first apply for British citizenship and become British (via naturalisation) and THEN apply for a British passport

The nationality guide tells you that NHS debt without a plan to pay it back leads to problems:

NHS debt
A foreign national may have an NHS debt if they have received free secondary
healthcare, which is healthcare provided to the person by a hospital, to which they
were not entitled. NHS bodies use their own internal processes to recover the
monies owed and will only notify the Home Office once the debt has been
outstanding for 2 months and there is no agreement to pay by instalments.
Where a foreign national has an NHS debt of more than £500 this is a ground for
refusal under Part 9 of the Immigration Rules. A person will not normally be
considered to be of good character if they have outstanding debts to the NHS in
accordance with the relevant NHS regulations on charges to overseas visitors.

You must write to the applicant in all cases where checks have identified there is an
outstanding NHS debt and ask them to demonstrate they have paid their debt.
Evidence of payment must be in the form of receipts from the healthcare provider
who charged for the treatment.
Once an NHS debt has been cleared you must not count it when assessing whether
an applicant is of good character. However, even if an individual has paid previous
debts, they may have incurred further charges. They may also have previously
gained entry to the UK with the true intention of receiving NHS treatment to which
they were not entitled.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... racter.pdf

[amaukresident]

OK I will pay the bill then.

[THO]

Is that a sad face because you have to pay the bill that you owe because you used the service, but thought you could get away without paying, leaving the NHS to pick up the tab?

[amaukresident]

Of course not. I had no intention to escape without paying a bill. I didn't realize about I had to pay if that was the case, I could have settle in 2022 itself. The sad face is because, it is a huge amount that I have no clue how to settle with my present situation

Try to understand people and don't feel everyone are fraud! OK?

[MrGamgee]

I'm confused as to why you had a hospital bill if your son had permission to stay in the UK which eventually led to citizenship? I thought the NHS is free?

[CR001]

I'm confused as to why you had a hospital bill if your son had permission to stay in the UK which eventually led to citizenship? I thought the NHS is free?

If you read the first post, it has clearly been stated that the child's visa expired in Nov 2022 and rhe child only got citizenship in March 2023. So the child had no legal status for the period in between when admitted to hospital twice, when NHS would not be free.

[MrGamgee]

I'm confused as to why you had a hospital bill if your son had permission to stay in the UK which eventually led to citizenship? I thought the NHS is free?

If you read the first post, it has clearly been stated that the child's visa expired in Nov 2022 and rhe child only got citizenship in March 2023. So the child had no legal status for the period in between when admitted to hospital twice, when NHS would not be free.

I did read the post. It makes no sense as to why they would have been eligible for British citizenship if they had no legal status? The only way to acquire British citizenship is to have a legal status in the first place?

[CR001]

I'm confused as to why you had a hospital bill if your son had permission to stay in the UK which eventually led to citizenship? I thought the NHS is free?

If you read the first post, it has clearly been stated that the child's visa expired in Nov 2022 and rhe child only got citizenship in March 2023. So the child had no legal status for the period in between when admitted to hospital twice, when NHS would not be free.

I did read the post. It makes no sense as to why they would have been eligible for British citizenship if they had no legal status? The only way to acquire British citizenship is to have a legal status in the first place?

If the child isn't born, they do not need a valid visa or ilr to be able to apply for citizenship. There are many different paths to citizenship, it is not a one size fits all.

That doesn't mean NHS is free though if they have no legal status.

[secret.simon]

The only way to acquire British citizenship is to have a legal status in the first place?

Not necessarily. It would probably help if you don't assume that each piece of legislation or the law makes perfect sense with another. For a start, immigration law and nationality laws are separate and it is possible to have an immigration status, but not qualify for citizenship. And the reverse is possible too, to acquire citizenship without going through the immigration process.

Then NHS funding, council tax funding, TV licensing, etc and their requirements are all separate from each other and from the two laws I mentioned above. It is perfectly possible for a person not to be a parent of a child for the purpose of nationality law, but still have all the responsibilities of a parent for the purpose of child protection law.

The UK's legal system and its laws are organic and different laws came into being at different times and with different requirements. They are not systematised with each other.

[MrGamgee]

The only way to acquire British citizenship is to have a legal status in the first place?

Not necessarily. It would probably help if you don't assume that each piece of legislation or the law makes perfect sense with another. For a start, immigration law and nationality laws are separate and it is possible to have an immigration status, but not qualify for citizenship. And the reverse is possible too, to acquire citizenship without going through the immigration process.

Then NHS funding, council tax funding, TV licensing, etc and their requirements are all separate from each other and from the two laws I mentioned above. It is perfectly possible for a person not to be a parent of a child for the purpose of nationality law, but still have all the responsibilities of a parent for the purpose of child protection law.

The UK's legal system and its laws are organic and different laws came into being at different times and with different requirements. They are not systematised with each other.

I stand corrected. Thank you for explaining.

[amaukresident]

Because of our financial situation was tight at that time after 3 people's ILR process, I had to wait for raise money for my son's naturalization application. Visa expired in 2022 Nov and I applied for naturalization in 2023 January 03. So his second admission to hospital was January 18.

Will I win an appeal to get leave from the second admission hospital bill atleast?

[AmazonianX]

Because of our financial situation was tight at that time after 3 people's ILR process, I had to wait for raise money for my son's naturalization application. Visa expired in 2022 Nov and I applied for naturalization in 2023 January 03. So his second admission to hospital was January 18.

Will I win an appeal to get leave from the second admission hospital bill atleast?

Your child used the service under a situation that warranted the service probably to keep them alive or prevent deterioration to worse situation.
This forum deals with immigration, naturalisation matters. For NHS, health appeal etc consult a solicitor or find an appropriate forum for it.

[amaukresident]

My question is only about naturalization and british citizenship only. I have not requested about appeal result or asking for financial support.

Hospital said, they are happy to write off the bills considering my financial situation, with a clause that " it may affect my future visa applications including naturalization". The advise I expect here is, how it will affect Or will it affect? if yes, how can I contact home office by letter or by email etc. Some people treat me as a fraud here or a person who try to take NHS benefits. But it's not! Please try to understand.

[contorted_svy]

We can only advise based on guidance, and that is what has been discussed so far - see zimba's post. If you have unpaid NHS debt your nationality/visa applications could be refused, as stated in the guidance, and as you have been advised by the NHS. if you are planning to apply for citizenship, you need to figure out a plan to repay the debt at £75 per month as they have asked, or risk not getting your citizenship ever approved.

[amaukresident]

yeah sure. I will do the same. Thanks. Please close the post!