Did you know over 5,000 soldiers in the British army are originally from the Commonwealth?
And after four years of service, having put their lives on the line they have to pay visa fees to remain in the UK?
Soldiers, activists and politicians have called these fees ‘exorbitant’ and work is underway to get rid of them.
Risking their lives for the Union Jack
The Royal British Legion estimates that over 12 per cent of Britain’s Armed troops are either foreign or from Commonwealth nations.
Some have served multiple tours and even risked their lives wearing the Union Jack.
The Royal British Legion has found visa fees have risen by 127% in five years to £2,389 per person, amounting to almost £10,000 for a family of four. Credit: Ellie Clifford.
However, there are many cases of Commonwealth veterans who’re being refused citizenship or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
There are multiple reasons why current and former armed forces personnel are at threat of being deported:
They cannot afford the Visa fees
Those who have served more than four years are eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain.
But there are some who fell short of four years and face a greater struggle to remain.
The Royal British Legion has found visa fees have risen by 127% in five years to £2,389 per person, amounting to almost £10,000 for a family of four.
Furthermore, since their introduction in 2003, the fees have risen by 1,441%. If veterans cannot pay, or their application fails, they can face deportation.
They have committed an offence
For example, Ismeli Baleiwai’s application for a visa was denied for a military offence, not a criminal one.
The Home Office deemed he had not a good enough character, despite serving in five tours. He eventually won his fight to remain in Britain.
While Sapper Poloko Hiri, having committed a speeding offence, was once threatened with deportation back to Botswana.
Despite charging thousands of pounds to Commonwealth veterans who want to live in the UK, the government plan to recruit potentially record numbers of Commonwealth citizens in the next few years, into the army. Credit: Ellie Clifford.
They are not deemed part of the armed forces
Trevor Rene’ came to Britain from Dominica over ten years ago.
In childhood, he had a blue British passport and remembered stories of his grandparents moving to Britain as part of the Windrush generation.
Originally he wanted to join the army, but at 39, he was deemed too old, so joined the army reserves.
Having served in the reserves for multiple years, having trained abroad with the British Army several times, Trevor was serene.
But one day, a phone call from his commander changed everything. Watch the video to learn more.
‘This is a national shame’
With the rising cost of Visa fees for Commonwealth soldiers, one veteran is now campaigning on the issue.
Tamba Konte, now 33, served in the Royal Logistics Corps. Originally from Sierra Leone, he served well over the four years required for foreign soldiers to gain ILR.
But to this day, there are elements of Tamba’s experience in the British Armed forces that make him feel hard done by.
“I had to pay… between seven-hundred to eight-hundred pounds. It was a painful experience for me,” explained Tamba.
“I never felt good that sacrificing for this country, laying down my life, that I had to pay to be a citizen of this nation.”
And on top of having to pay for naturalisation, Tamba still received a letter from the Home Office after leaving the army. Watch the video to find out more.
What happens next?
And now Tamba is doing something to campaign against what he calls “unjust” fees.
He’s already reached out to several senior politicians, including the now-former Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson.
Since the making of this City Investigates programme, Gavin Williamson was sacked and replaced by Penny Mordaunt.
“We are not happy with what is going on and I believe that we are not being treated fairly,” Tamba declared.
“I believe that it’s his responsibility to ensure that we feel valued and treated in a more human manner and to understand that this is actually a national shame.”
Despite the issue of expensive Visa fees affecting Commonwealth personnel and their families, it has been hidden from public view.
Now several politicians, including Liberal Democrat Sir Edward Davey and Conservative Richard Graham are shining a spotlight on the fees.
They hope to see them abolished, but before the government acts upon the fees, how many more lives are the fees going to affect?
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HeadlineCity Investigates: Meet the ‘part-time patriots’, the Commonwealth soldiers battling to be British
Short HeadlineBritain's Part-Time Patriots
StandfirstCity Investigates: Meet the Commonwealth veterans who're battling the Government for survival
Did you know over 5,000 soldiers in the British army are originally from the Commonwealth?
And after four years of service, having put their lives on the line they have to pay visa fees to remain in the UK?
Soldiers, activists and politicians have called these fees ‘exorbitant’ and work is underway to get rid of them.
Risking their lives for the Union Jack
The Royal British Legion estimates that over 12 per cent of Britain’s Armed troops are either foreign or from Commonwealth nations.
Some have served multiple tours and even risked their lives wearing the Union Jack.
The Royal British Legion has found visa fees have risen by 127% in five years to £2,389 per person, amounting to almost £10,000 for a family of four. Credit: Ellie Clifford.
However, there are many cases of Commonwealth veterans who’re being refused citizenship or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
There are multiple reasons why current and former armed forces personnel are at threat of being deported:
They cannot afford the Visa fees
Those who have served more than four years are eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain.
But there are some who fell short of four years and face a greater struggle to remain.
The Royal British Legion has found visa fees have risen by 127% in five years to £2,389 per person, amounting to almost £10,000 for a family of four.
Furthermore, since their introduction in 2003, the fees have risen by 1,441%. If veterans cannot pay, or their application fails, they can face deportation.
They have committed an offence
For example, Ismeli Baleiwai’s application for a visa was denied for a military offence, not a criminal one.
The Home Office deemed he had not a good enough character, despite serving in five tours. He eventually won his fight to remain in Britain.
While Sapper Poloko Hiri, having committed a speeding offence, was once threatened with deportation back to Botswana.
Despite charging thousands of pounds to Commonwealth veterans who want to live in the UK, the government plan to recruit potentially record numbers of Commonwealth citizens in the next few years, into the army. Credit: Ellie Clifford.
They are not deemed part of the armed forces
Trevor Rene’ came to Britain from Dominica over ten years ago.
In childhood, he had a blue British passport and remembered stories of his grandparents moving to Britain as part of the Windrush generation.
Originally he wanted to join the army, but at 39, he was deemed too old, so joined the army reserves.
Having served in the reserves for multiple years, having trained abroad with the British Army several times, Trevor was serene.
But one day, a phone call from his commander changed everything. Watch the video to learn more.
‘This is a national shame’
With the rising cost of Visa fees for Commonwealth soldiers, one veteran is now campaigning on the issue.
Tamba Konte, now 33, served in the Royal Logistics Corps. Originally from Sierra Leone, he served well over the four years required for foreign soldiers to gain ILR.
But to this day, there are elements of Tamba’s experience in the British Armed forces that make him feel hard done by.
“I had to pay… between seven-hundred to eight-hundred pounds. It was a painful experience for me,” explained Tamba.
“I never felt good that sacrificing for this country, laying down my life, that I had to pay to be a citizen of this nation.”
And on top of having to pay for naturalisation, Tamba still received a letter from the Home Office after leaving the army. Watch the video to find out more.
What happens next?
And now Tamba is doing something to campaign against what he calls “unjust” fees.
He’s already reached out to several senior politicians, including the now-former Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson.
Since the making of this City Investigates programme, Gavin Williamson was sacked and replaced by Penny Mordaunt.
“We are not happy with what is going on and I believe that we are not being treated fairly,” Tamba declared.
“I believe that it’s his responsibility to ensure that we feel valued and treated in a more human manner and to understand that this is actually a national shame.”
Despite the issue of expensive Visa fees affecting Commonwealth personnel and their families, it has been hidden from public view.
Now several politicians, including Liberal Democrat Sir Edward Davey and Conservative Richard Graham are shining a spotlight on the fees.
They hope to see them abolished, but before the government acts upon the fees, how many more lives are the fees going to affect?
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