Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she made of the affordability of armed forces dependents' leave to remain visa applications for armed forces service personnel and their families prior to publishing the proposed 5 October 2020 Immigration and Nationality Fees.

The Government highly values the service of all members of HM Forces,

Given this we explicitly provide for non-UK veterans discharged from HM Forces to obtain settlement in the UK after having served for four years or more or having been discharged for medical reasons due to their service.

The Ministry of Defence makes clear to foreign and Commonwealth recruits into the Forces the process by which they and their families can attain settlement in the UK and the costs involved.

Additionally, fee waivers are available for Leave to Remain applications for those making Article 8 claims, based on Family and Private Life, if an applicant is destitute or could be rendered destitute in paying the fee, or where there are exceptional financial circumstances which mean the fees and charges cannot be afforded without detriment to the applicant or their family. This provides for an individual or family to remain here lawfully and to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain and pay the fees, when the funds become available.

Discussions continue between the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence about how we can build on the provisions which already exist in our immigration and nationality system for foreign and Commonwealth nationals serving in the Armed Forces and will confirm further news in due course.