The AFF Foreign & Commonwealth team receives many enquiries from soldiers trying to navigate the immigration process and apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK.
Wesley Grant Nell, who served in the British Army for ten years, tells us how AFF supported his journey…
TELL US ABOUT YOUR MILITARY CAREER
I served for ten years, initially in the Royal Green Jackets and then I re-enlisted with 2 RIFLES.
I completed operational deployments to Iraq, Kosovo, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan, including Operation Herrick 10, which was among the more intense tours of the campaign.
I also served in Belize and was stationed across the UK. It was a full and demanding service; one I remain immensely proud of. The work was challenging, the camaraderie second to none, and the operational tempo ensured that there was rarely a dull moment.
WHAT WERE YOU TOLD ON DISCHARGE?
At the time of my discharge in 2006, the battalion was in a period of transition and amalgamation, while also preparing for a return deployment to Iraq.
The unit was running at full tilt, focused on operational commitments. My own late-stage deployment meant there wasn’t time to tie up all the loose ends on the administrative front.
When I left the army the first time, I wasn’t provided with any formal guidance on my immigration status. I returned to Zimbabwe and contacted the British Embassy in Harare.
They told me I needed my Certificate of Service to proceed. I was relocating to a remote part of Mozambique and the documents never arrived, so I couldn’t begin the process.
WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU EXPERIENCE TRYING TO RETURN TO THE UK?
Despite having completed a full engagement and being willing to continue serving, I couldn’t obtain legal residency due to the lack of documentation.
What began as a simple admin issue turned into something much larger. I was invited to return to service with The Rifles; I accepted.
Over the following four years, I undertook further deployments. After leaving the army a second time in 2012, I applied for British citizenship.
However, the application was refused because my initial service didn’t count, as I had not held ILR at the time. It was frustrating. Ten years of service, multiple combat deployments, and still no closer to citizenship.
I never expected my battalion to provide immigration advice, their role was to train and deploy soldiers, not brief them on Home Office requirements. But the wider system did lack the structure and support that Commonwealth veterans needed during transition.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR THOSE ON A SIMILAR PATH?
Make sure you have your Certificate of Service before you leave. Keep your passport handy and seek legal or immigration advice before your last day in uniform.
HOW DID AFF HELP YOU?
AFF F&C Specialist Katherine Houlston was outstanding. She brought both professional expertise and a great deal of empathy to my case.
She helped me retrieve key documents, make sense of legal complexities, and navigate each step with clarity and confidence. Most importantly, she treated me as a person, not just a case file. Her support made a real difference, and I remain incredibly grateful.
This year, I’ll be reapplying for British citizenship. I remain hopeful that it will finally be granted, 24 years after I first put on the uniform.
AFF F&C Specialist Katherine says, “This case set a precedent. It paved the way for many more veterans, who had left the UK on discharge more than two years previously, to return. There are still large numbers of veterans overseas who were not administered correctly on discharge and who didn’t realise they could remain. Many have a right to return to the UK. They should contact fcsupport@aff.org.uk and we can advise them.”
If you are applying for ILR and need help completing the form, go to the self-help videos on aff.org.uk or contact fcsupport@aff.org.uk