Originally Posted by
satchuk
My girlfriend got a visitor visa before she got pregnant, and IHS is not available for Visitor visa. She just recently got pregnant and now we are planning to go to UK.
From what I understood, the baby is considered as an Ordinary citizen if one of the the parent is British. I'm currently working in Thailand but working as expat, employed by a British company. Therefore, I believe she and the baby should be eligible for free NHS if I register the baby as mine at the hospital.
Please refer to page 2 of the following document: birthrights.org.uk/library/factsheets/Foreign-Nationals-and-Maternity-Care.pdf
Please correct me if I misunderstood something. Thanks.
Reading the very first paragraph answers your question.
Like NHS treatment generally, maternity care is free of charge to those who are ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK. This can include foreign nationals. It may exclude British citizens if they do not ordinarily reside in the UK. If you are not ordinarily resident, you may be charged for your care under the National Health Service Act 2006 and the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2011. However, maternity care, even in early pregnancy, must not be withheld or delayed if a pregnant woman is unable to pay in advance because of the health risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth. You should be informed if charges apply
She is not an ordinary resident and neither are you. So there should be no free NHS care for either of you. Not sure where you are getting she has free care. The baby will get immediate care as required but from the document you posted no one will be eligible for free care. Technically when you return to the UK you should declare that you are back as a permanent resident and pay an NHS surcharge to get back into the system. This is rarely enforced for British citizens that have lived in the UK before but can be enforced.
Just because it says care will not be withheld, that does not mean it will be free. there will be a charge.
If you will declare you are a full time resident of the UK during the pregnancy and after the baby is born you can probably have it assigned as an ordinary resident. If you go back to work overseas then no one is an ordinary resident and no one will qualify for free NHS care. remember they will not deny care, but there will be a cost.
I suggest you talk to the British embassy to get the true answer. Of course they may revoke your girlfriends visa if they suspect she it trying to get free obstetric care, They can even deny her entry of she looks pregnant. The airlines also have regulations for pregnant women.