civilservant

Subsequently changing your mind is different than having preconceived intent. It's the same for VWP entries. If you decide to get married and adjust in country your fine, but if you enter with the intent to adjust it isn't.

robin1234

scrubbedexpat099

Well both require mind reading to know what the intent was.

Lion in Winter

I believe there is a provision for NHS services if you plan to make the UK your permanent home and give up your residence abroad, and presumably people are asked for some sort of demonstration of that intent when looking for NHS services (NOT when entering the country). It did not appear that this was the intent of the OP and spouse. Of course they are entitled to change their minds, as is anyone, but that is different from pretending to be ordinarily resident when you are not. Deception is different form changing your mind. I would like to be ordinarliy resident in the UK more than anything, but am not yet in a position to do that. I'm not comfortable faking it to get services towards which I have contributed little to nothing. I know of people who have used relatives' addresses etc to fake UK residence to get their students the home fees rate at uni, too. Not comfortable doing that either, and I view it as much the same thing.Having said that, if you speak English with any of the British accents as opposed to any other and you have a UK address and are it may well be that nobody ever asks.

These are the types of proof of being ordinarily resident that apparently you might be asked for.

https://www.leicestershospitals.nhs....i-am-entitled/

And here is more useful language from elsewhere on that site:

"NHS hospital treatment is not free for everyone. If you are visiting the United Kingdom (UK) and require treatment in our hospitals, you may have to pay for your treatment.

Anyone of any nationality who is not ordinarily resident in the UK at the time of treatment is regarded as an ‘Overseas Visitor’. This means that they may be charged for the treatment they receive at any of our hospitals.

In order to ascertain a person's eligibility, we apply baseline questions to all patients. These include, but are not exclusive to,

• "Where have you lived in the last 12 months?"
• "Can you provide evidence to show where you live?"

Anybody who can demonstrate that they lawfully reside in the UK is unlikely to incur treatment charges."

scrubbedexpat099

I do not know anybody who has done this, I have read various stories, very occasionally you come across somebody who was refused, seems that they were the ones who were not deceptive. Normally it seems nothing is asked.

Lion in Winter

I wouldn't be surprised, especially if your English sounds like someone born in the UK.

scrubbedexpat099

From what I can gather if your register at your local Surgery they want to see whatever to go through the process, Hospital seems to be different, might ask questions if you arrive by Ambulance form Heathrow.

scrubbedexpat097

I am still more concerned about the lack of consideration for the risks to the OP's wife and new born by traveling. Flying at 7 months on a long haul trip is seriously wrong, and could end up hugely expensive. Then after the birth both mother and baby need more than a month to return in my opinion. So many exposures to germs and sickness on a flight. I just think the risks outweigh letting the family be with the newborn.

BritInParis

If that’s what happened then no problem. However they are clearly stating their preconceived intent to visit the UK in order to give birth on the cheap and then return home to the US as soon as possible. They are a textbook example of healthcare tourism.

Pollyana

DaveLovesDee

And I think the OP took exception to being told this was inadvisable.

The general thought was that the OP and family are under-insured in the US. Though as the OP hasn't posted anywhere in the last few days, I suspect they've gone elsewhere to try and get the answer they want to hear.

Pollyana

durham_lad

These days hospitals are no different, at least in our Trust in NE England. When I first went to the hospital here, a year or so after registering at the GP office and getting my new NHS number I was specifically asked if I had been resident in the UK for at least 6 months. A year later when I went in for day surgery on my heart I was instructed to bring proof that I was eligible to live in the country and proof that I was actually resident here. In my case I took along my British passport and a utility bill. I do have a strong NE accent so that was not a qualifying criteria

scrubbedexpat099

If we take the Passport as a given that leaves a utility bill and they said they had property in the UK.

BritInParis

They “had residence” in the UK. Not necessarily the same thing. Even if they did then the whole thing falls apart as soon as they are asked for their medical records.