Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson will tomorrow [Tuesday 12th March] table a
bill to exempt members of the British Armed Forces and their
families from “exorbitant” immigration fees.
There are several thousand Foreign and Commonwealth
nationals serving in our Armed Forces. Under the Immigration Rules,
those who have served for four years or more are entitled to apply
for indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK upon discharge,
and to sponsor applications for their partners and
children.
However, the fees for these applications have more than
doubled since 2015, and now stand at £2,389 per person. This means
that the cost of applying for a family of four is
£9,556.
’s Immigration (Armed Forces) Bill,
to be presented in the House of Commons today, would remove
financial requirements and fees for applications for indefinite
leave to remain from Foreign or Commonwealth members of the Armed
Forces and their families.
Mr Davey has also tabled an Early Day Motion calling on the
Government to waive the application fees, and is encouraging MPs
from all parties to support it.
Ahead of the presentation of his bill, said:
“Thousands of men and women from Commonwealth nations risk
their lives in service of our country as members of Britain’s Armed
Forces. They have the right to live here with their families once
their service ends, but the Home Office’s exorbitant application
fees are preventing them from taking up that right.
“These fees have forced some veterans to leave the UK, others
to live here undocumented and unable to work, and many others to
take out big loans that they cannot afford. This is clearly an
unfair burden on those who have contributed so much to our
country.
“Our veterans deserve better, and the Liberal Democrats
demand better for them. My bill would exempt all members of the
Armed Forces and their families from immigration fees, in
recognition of the enormous debt we owe them.
“As with the campaign for the rights of Gurkhas a decade ago,
I believe that this is an issue on which members of all parties can
come together to ensure that the UK upholds its obligations to our
veterans.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
Full text of ’s presentation bill:
Immigration (Armed Forces) Bill
A Bill to remove financial requirements and fees for
applications for indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom
from foreign or Commonwealth members of the armed forces on
discharge and their families; and for connected purposes.