Mohammed Jama - a British citizen of Somali heritage, has criticised United Kingdom’s (UK) Home Office after it withheld the £3,105 Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) he paid for his late wife - Ubah Abdi Mohamed, despite her dying before entering the UK.
25-year-old Kenyan national - Ubah, was granted a spouse visa to join Jama in London following a cancer diagnosis. They paid a total of £5,043 - £1,938 in visa fees and £3,105 for the IHS.
While undergoing treatment for Oesophageal Cancer in India, Ubah passed away on 11 June 2024, before boarding to the UK. Jama immediately informed the Home Office and requested a refund of the unused IHS.
Photo: Mohamed Jama
Mohamed Jama and Ubah Abdi Mohamed with their daughter - Ikran
Mohamed Jama and Ubah Abdi Mohamed with their daughter - Ikran
He received a generic and impersonal reply from the Home Office -incorrectly addressed to Ubah, that insisted under policy the surcharge is non-refundable unless a visa is refused or withdrawn. Jama’s appeal went unheeded.
Mohammed Jama described the move as “very cruel”, stating there's "no common sense" in retaining funds for NHS care Ubah never used. He hopes public attention will spark policy change.
Under current regulations, only visa refusals or withdrawals trigger IHS refunds. The policy does not provide exceptions for tragic, out-of-country deaths. Home Office officials declined comment on the individual case but cited the longstanding nature of the policy.
This case has ignited a wider conversation about the compassion and flexibility of immigration policies. Critics argue that the rigid adherence to rules, even in deeply personal situations, reflects poorly on the UK government's treatment of bereaved families.
Mohammed Jama hopes his public stance will prompt the Home Office to examine and amend its policies, allowing refunds in similar grievous circumstances to avoid further anguish for other families.