Prince Harry backs plan to remove visa fees for Commonwealth military veterans

PRINCE Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has supported a campaign to remove visa fees for Commonwealth veterans who fought in the British Military.

Johnny Mercer, a former parliamentary under-secretary of state for defence people and veterans, on Tuesday (7) told the Commons that he spoke to Prince Harry on the matter over phone earlier this week.

According to a report in The Telegraph, the UK, former overseas personnel, who want to reside in Britain and use public services such as National Health Service after serving in the UK armed forces, currently must pay £2,389 to regularise their immigration status.

Mercer and Labour Party parliamentarian Dan Jarvis tabled earlier this week an amendment to the Nationality and Borders Bill that would scrap fees for veterans who have served a minimum period of five years.

Mercer, a Conservative member of parliament, said scrapping the fees for the Commonwealth veterans and their immediate families was an “almost effortless change” and that could cost less than £1 million yearly. He also said the plan had the backing of veterans groups and others from across the UK.

“I speak to all sorts of people in the veterans community. Last night I had a conversation with Prince Harry about this,” Mercer was quoted as saying by The Telegraph. He said the Duke of Sussex told him that it was “morally right”.

“He has contributed hugely to the veterans’ debate and I wanted his view. He said to me, ‘It’s not only morally right, but would mean so much to those who’ve given so much’.”

Harry’s spokesperson confirmed to the daily that the former had spoken to Mercer and supports plans to back servicemen and women who have made sacrifices for their countries.

The Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes have also supported the plan, which would benefit 500-odd Commonwealth personnel who leave the UK services every year and want to stay in Britain.

If the proposal becomes effective, it would also reduce charges for the immediate family of the army veterans. Under the current rule, a family of four can face visa fees of more than £10,000.

The Telegraph report said that ahead of a likely vote on the amendment, a number of senior Tory leaders also pledged to go against the government to support it.

Conservative select committee chairmen Tom Tugendhat, Tobias Ellwood and William Wragg were in support of the proposal, alongside former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith and ex-Cabinet minister David Davis.

Other Tory parliamentarians, including Simon Hoare, Adam Holloway and Anne Marie Morris signed the amendment, which has also been backed by the opposition parties.