Introduction

If you have applied for a visa to the UK, you may have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fee. However, if you did not use the visa or your visa application was refused, you may be eligible for a refund of the IHS fee. In this article, we will discuss the process for obtaining an IHS refund in the UK.

The IHS refund eligibility criteria

To be eligible for an IHS refund, you must meet one of the following conditions:

? Your visa application was refused by the UK government

? You withdrew your visa application before a decision was made

? You were issued a visa but did not use it to enter the UK

Additionally, you must not have used any part of the NHS service during your time in the UK. If you have used the NHS, you will not be eligible for a refund of the IHS fee.

The process for obtaining an IHS refund

If you believe you are entitled to a refund, you can apply for it online using the IHS refund request form. To complete the form, you will need the following information:

? Your name

? Your nationality

? Your date of birth

? Your IHS reference number

? Your visa application reference number or your visa number

? The date you paid the IHS fee

? The reason why you are requesting a refund

You will also need to provide evidence to support your refund request, including a copy of your visa refusal letter (if your visa application was refused) or a copy of your withdrawn visa application (if you withdrew your application).

When you have completed the form, you should submit it online. You will receive an acknowledgement email confirming receipt of your request.

Processing of the IHS refund

If your refund request is approved, you will receive a refund of the IHS fee to the original payment method used. The refund will be made in pounds sterling and it may take up to six weeks to process.

In some cases, the UK government may contact you to request additional information or evidence to support your refund request. If this happens, you should respond promptly to avoid delay in processing your request.

If your refund request is denied, you can appeal the decision by contacting the IHS refund team. You should provide any additional evidence or information that supports your claim.

Conclusion

The IHS fee is a mandatory fee that some visa applicants must pay to use the NHS service in the UK. If you are eligible for a refund of the IHS fee, you should apply for it online using the IHS refund request form and provide the necessary evidence to support your claim. If your refund request is approved, you will receive a refund of the IHS fee to the original payment method used.