Commonwealth veterans accuse UK of leaving them in immigration limbo (Multiple Sources) (9 March 2020)

The Guardian and The Times report on how a group of ex-soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are taking legal action against the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) over systemic failures. Immigration Director Vinita Templeton is bringing the action on behalf of eight men who claim that the army failed to inform them that they needed to make an immediate application to the Home Office for leave to remain in the UK on discharge. This is despite a clear MoD requirement that the process should be explained to all non-British veterans in the period before they leave the army. The extortionate and unaffordable costs of Home Office application fees have further prolonged their state of limbo. Vinita comments: “I have seen unimaginable suffering by servicemen. Their state of limbo since learning that their immigration status is actually unresolved, sometimes years later, has brought about loss of jobs, fear of accessing public services, and for, some homelessness.”