Will My UK Hospital Bill Prevent Me From Getting a Student Visa?

Question:

Dear Jon,

I’ve been to UK in 2013 and was admitted in a hospital which had a bill. At that time I was young I didn’t know what was going on.

Now I’ve started an application for student Visa

Will the debt affect my application

Ismaila

Answer:

Ismaila,

Your question of having a bill when you were treated in a hospital here in the UK, was it for an emergency? Did you go to the A&E?

I ask as there are private hospitals and doctors here in the UK, which do bill for their services, but anything accident related or an emergency goes to an NHS hospital. They rarely send out bills. In fact, I do not even know of a billing service for the NHS. I have been told some non-UK citizens if treated here can be asked to pay, but there is no process to collect or follow-up on these.

Have you had any contact with anyone trying to collect any medical bills?

The application for a student Visa to my knowledge does not ask about any bills or money owed in the UK. Your being treated, and possibly owing a medical bill, especially if there even would be one to the NHS, should in no way affect your student Visa.

If a person has other debts in the UK non-medical related, such as a credit card or a loan, even these do not affect getting a Visa, even if in arrears or defaults, as long as a payment plan has been in place and is being adhered to.

Regards,

Jon