CASE NOTES : Foreign & Commonwealth issues

OCTOBER brings another  Foreign & Commonwealth veteran to our door. After leaving the Army Nigerian 'B', his pregnant wife and British-born daughter had nowhere to go. He ended up sleeping in a garage while they slept in a cupboard. VA immediately arranged hotel accommodation - at a cost of £800 per week - but it's a temporary solution and on the 21st they will become homeless.

"At last have spoken with Social Worker - the B’s case has been allocated to her.

Again made it clear that from Monday the family are homeless and that to date Mrs B has still not sought medical attention.

Mr B came to the office today, gave him a further £100 for food."

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Just days later a letter arrives from the distraught father of a Fijian soldier 'L' - beset by a catalogue of misfortunes his application for Leave to Remain in the UK has foundered and he has been sent to an Immigration Removal Centre pending deportation. His father writes that he served for 10 years . . . .in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan (two tours) , Belize, Bosnia and the Falkland Islands.


" My son is desperate to stay in Britain after serving your country . . . three of our family members served in the British Army.

"With respect, he is not an 'asylum seeker'. It may be true that he is an 'overstayer' . . . what his lawyer should have done is inform my son of the closure of his law firm . . . "

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Now here's an odd one: 'X' is a Kenyan 'overstayer' whose passport is being held by  UKBA. He has no official status or means of support  and has been told to return to his own country. . .