Home Office fee has been waived for Afghan interpreters

Home Secretary Sajid Javid has confirmed that Afghan interpreters, who worked with British troops fighting the Taliban, will be able to stay in the UK for free. More than 150 interpreters who served in Helmand Province were given five-year residency permits as a part of Relocation Scheme in the UK in 2012. In order to apply for ILR they were required to pay £2,389 Home Office fees. Afghan interpreters wrote a letter of complained about “shameful immigration rules” addressed to Sajid Javid and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamso. Sajid Javid decided to waive this fees to make the process fair for the Afghan interpreters.

Now another problem aroused in connection to interpreters family members, as they are not allowed to reside in the UK unless they travelled at the same time as the interpreters. Mr Javid promised to look into the available options to make the process easier for the family members of the interpreters in Afghanistan to reunite with their families in the UK.