IHS paid already but need repaying for FLR

[hsmpguy1234]

Hello All,

I paid IHS for 5 years at the time for entry clearance for my wife, back in 2022. Now as part of her FLR application online application requires paying IHS again.

Has anyone else experienced this situation, and do you get a refund? Is there a way to specify that IHS is already paid for 5 years?

Appreciate any help. Thanks.

Regards,

[CR001]

Is it a spouse settlement visa or a a Skilled worker dependant visa she had as entry clearance?

You cannot pay 5 years for a spouse settlement visa, ihs is calculated for the visa duration of either 2.5 years or 2 year 9 months.

[hsmpguy1234]

It is a spouse settlement visa.

Spouse of British Citizen.
I was on Tier 1 visa before naturalisation.

[CR001]

It is impossible that you paid 5 years IHS in 2022 as the form calculates the IHS payable based on the visa applied for.

How much IHS did you pay exactly in 2022?

For any new application, you have to pay again for 2.5 years.

[hsmpguy1234]

I think it was £1700 or something around that

[CR001]

Which was for 2.5 years or 2 years 9 months, not for 5 years.

If you don't pay the IHS when applying for an extension, it will either be delayed and you will be requested to pay or refused if you do not pay IHS.

[secret.simon]

The Immigration Health Surcharge first came into being through the Immigration (Health Charge) Order 2015, a statutory instrument made under powers conferred by section 38 of the Immigration Act 2014. The charge, then £200, was applied to all eligible applications made on or after 6 April 2015. The Order was updated in 2018, doubling the standard fee to £400, and again in 2020 to reach £624. In 2024 it was increased to £1,035.

So, at the time of the first application, the IHS was £625 per year or part thereof. The first visa is normally issued for two years and nine months and your spouse would have got charged an IHS for three years. So £625 * 3 or £1875.

Note that the IHS is paid for the period of the visa. So, even though it was charged for three years, it would only be valid for the 2.75 years life of the visa.

You will now need to pay a further IHS of £1035 * 3 years for the next extension.