Policy which denied Commonwealth veterans visas could be scrapped

A policy which forces Commonwealth troops to pay thousands of pounds to stay in the UK after their service could change following the launch of a public consultation on 26 May. But some say the proposed measures don’t go far enough. The visa scandal has been ongoing for several years now. And it even led to some Fijian veterans being effectively denied the right to stay in the UK.

Currently personnel affected by this policy must pay the £2,389 visa application themselves. The government is reportedly proposing to waive the fee in a new measure which would come into force in the 2021/2022 financial year.

The UK military has thousands of members from former colonies. These include people from Fiji, Nepal, some African nations, and countries like Jamaica and Trinidad.

New consultation

The consultation will last six weeks. It’s hoped new legislation may allow troops automatic citizenship after 12 years.

Watch as @BWallaceMP and @pritipatel visit non-UK service personnel who could be offered indefinite leave to remain in the UK for free under a new public consultation launched today 👇

Find out more here: https://t.co/D14jB4oVcW pic.twitter.com/VUtEN9AHnj

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) May 26, 2021

The MOD acknowledged the scheme in a Twitter video. It showed defence secretary Ben Wallace and home secretary Priti Patel visiting Commonwealth soldiers.

Ben Wallace said:

We owe those who showed us loyal service, our loyalty in return.

It is right that we recognise their contribution by not only smoothing the pathway to residency and citizenship, but also by lifting the financial cost of doing so after 12 years of service.

Patel said:

I am immensely proud that brave servicemen and women from around the world want to continue to call the UK their home after their service.

It is only right that those who continue to do extraordinary work on behalf of our country are recognised and rewarded, and I am determined to support them settle in our wonderful communities right across the UK.

Frankly insulting

It’s not clear that the new scheme will address the problem. Labour’s Stephen Morgan, the Liberal Democrats, and the British Legion all criticised the proposal according to a BBC defence correspondent.

Labour says Gov plans to waive visa fees for #Commonwealth soldiers AFTER 12 years service would only help 1 in 10 – with average length of service in military 4 – 11 years. @StephenMorganMP says proposals are "frankly insulting". Also criticised by LibDems and @PoppyLegion .

— Jonathan Beale (@bealejonathan) May 27, 2021

Labour warned that a 12 year starting point for automatic citizenship doesn’t go far enough. It pointed out that the usual length of service is between four and eleven years.

Featured image via Wikimedia Commons/Cpl Alex Morris