Call to scrap visa fees dividing Commonwealth military families
SNP MP, Drew Hendry has called on the new Home Secretary, Priti Patel to abolish visa fees for Commonwealth servicemen and women in the British armed forces.
Currently Commonwealth citizens serving in the UK armed forces have the right to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after four years’ service if they choose to stay in the UK.
However application costs have risen considerably in recent years, meaning it would currently cost almost £10,000 in visa fees for a service leaver to settle in the UK with a spouse and two children.
This has created a situation where Commonwealth citizens are often forced to choose between leaving the UK or remaining here and splitting up their family.
The Royal British Legion, which has raised awareness of this issue through their ‘Stop the Service Charge’ campaign, say they provided £36,000 in grants for visa fees last year alone.
The local MP, whose constituency is home to armed forces personnel serving in the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, became aware of the excessive visa charges last year while supporting a local Commonwealth soldier with a different visa issue.
Since then he has been working with a cross party group of MPs calling for an end to these disproportionate fees.
Earlier this year, Mr Hendry led a debate on the issue, calling the fees ‘abhorrent’ and also co-signed a letter, from 130 different MPs from eight different parties, to the previous Home Secretary, Sajid Javid calling on him to recognise those who have served in the UK armed forces by abolishing visa costs for them and their families.
He has now written to new Home Secretary, Priti Patel calling for her to prioritise the abolition of visa fees for Commonwealth servicemen and women in the British armed forces.
Mr Hendry said: “No member of armed forces personnel should be separated from their families because of visa fees. It is a disgraceful policy that must be changed. These men and women sign up to join the UK’s Armed Forces putting their life on the line for our country and the current visa fees charged do not reflect the nations gratitude for their service.”
Charles Byrne, Director General at The Royal British Legion, said, “Charging exorbitant fees to those who have sacrificed so much to serve our country is no way to thank Commonwealth service leavers. We are pleased so many MPs across the House and from different parties agree with our Stop the Service Charge campaign, and that Drew Hendry MP is joining the call to have these fees waived.
"We hope the Government will listen to these serious concerns.”
