Visa Fee Increase

 

Some Visa fees will be increasing from 9th April 2025; a full list of the increases can be found here.

A summary of the increases that may affect our Service Community are in the image.

AFF Non-UK National Questionnaire

The Army Families Federation has launched its Questionnaire for SP exempt from immigration control and veterans and family members who require a UK visa. The Questionnaire will close on 14 December 2024. Please circulate across AoRs. The link to the Questionnaire is https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Non-UK_Questionnaire

Reminder: Set up your eVisa Account

You can now set up your eVisa account.

An eVisa is an online record of a your immigration permission in the UK,www.gov.uk/get-access-evisa​ and any conditions which apply. It can be viewed by logging into the online 

‘View and prove your immigration status’ service using your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

For more information on getting an eVisa, 

New launch of The Foreign and Commonwealth 'Recruit For Spouses' support

A brand new programme has been launch to help Non UK spouses in British military families find employment and training in the UK.

A year of planning and preparation, Recruit for Spouses  have launched a programme where spouses can receive help with:

• Study
• Access to employment 
• Transfer of qualifications to UK equivalents
• Professional registration

The highly acclaimed Career Academy will cover the costs of obtaining a Statement of Comparability and facilitate the application process.

Working with trusted service providers to ensure qualifications meet UK standards, they will provide support so users can feel confident and bolstered as they prepare to take advantage of their hard-earned qualifications in a new country!

We are proud to be the first company to offer such comprehensive support to the Foreign and Commonwealth community and look forward to continuing our ongoing support and collaboration to make a lasting impact.

We are privileged to have the trust of the Foreign and Commonwealth community in delivering this service and consider it an honour to serve individuals who possess so much strength, skill, grit, and determination.

People often underestimate the challenges of moving from one's home country to a new one, especially when doing so with children. Whether moving alone or with family, the additional challenges faced by the Foreign and Commonwealth community are significant. These challenges highlight the indomitable character and capacity of the people we support and work alongside.

Eligibility to receive support:

• Must be a partner of a Foreign or Commonwealth national serving as a member in paid service in HM Forces (Royal Navy, British Army, or Royal Air Force)
• Must be over 18 years of age
• Partners include spouses, civil partners, fiancés(e), or individuals living with serving personnel in a relationship akin to marriage/civil partnership for at least two years

Application Requirements:

• Partner’s service number
• Date of entry to the UK
• Visa status (if applicable)

How to Apply:

Members of the Foreign and Commonwealth community can apply for this programme by registering on our portal and clicking 'Programmes' on the upper left-hand side. The link to do so is below:

Apply Here

For organisations looking to sponsor our programme and enhance their social impact, please reach out to us at cerise.upham@recruitforspouses.co.uk. Together, we can support and uplift this incredible community!

Unit Support Guide for Non-UK Nationals and AGAI 50 Update

Both AGAI 50 and the Guide for Non-UK Nationals and Unit Support have been republished. 

The AGAI may be found here, while the Guide is available on both the Personal Services SharePoint site and Defence Connect. 

The SharePoint site also contains copies of the unit letters featured in the AGAI and Guide and a version of the PowerPoint presentation for annual briefings.

​Please note that these links are only accessible via MODnet/Defence Gateway.  Please contact HIVE if assistance is required.

Contact your local hive for links and printouts of the documents. 

Visa and Immigration changes for non-UK nationals

If you or your family hold a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) which expires on 31 December 2024, you will need to replace it by registering for a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.

UKVI will be contacting customers by email to advise them to register for a UKVI account, but you do not need to wait to be contacted to take action. 

If you or family members have changed your email address since your last application for leave, or used someone else’s email address, you may not receive this email, but you can still register for an account.

Non-UK Nationals: Lower Minimum Income Requirement Agreed for the Armed Forces

On 4 December 2023, the Government announced that the MIR would be increased to align with the new minimum general salary threshold for skilled workers, which is currently £38,700, with an initial increase to £29,000 in Spring 2024. 

This will no longer include an additional income requirement where a child is included in the application. 

The Ministry of Defence has worked with the Home Office on options to mitigate the potential impact on recruitment and retention the increase may have, and it has been agreed that the MIR will be aligned with the salary threshold for Other Ranks on completion of training, which is currently £23,496. 

Officers earn £31,304 until completion of Initial Officer Training when their pay increases to £37,425. The MIR for HM Armed Forces will be reviewed in line with the annual pay award. 

The Government introduced the MIR in July 2012 for partners and children of British and settled persons, and in December 2013 for a partner and child(ren) of HM Armed Forces, including the Brigade of Gurkhas, under Appendix HM Armed Forces to the Immigration Rules.

The full Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules can be found at: HC 590 – Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (publishing.service.gov.uk)​

A Q&A document has been prepared and can be accessed at this LINK

Army HIVE Non-UK National Support: New Email Address for Enquiries

RC-Pers-HIVE-NonUKNat-0mailbox@mod.gov.uk​

Sennelager NON UK Awareness Briefing Event

 

Sennelager Non UK SP and their families are invited to Brydon House on the 19th March. HIVE expert Rebecca Weatherstone will cover topics from Visas and income requirements to the call forward process. 

Please contact the HIVE at Brydon House if you would like to book one to one support with Rebecca.