Visas for British Commonwealth Soldiers

kingascona

Dear All,
I have been offered employment in the British Army as a Commonwealth soldier in Royal Artillery; and my chosen trade is Artillery Logistics. I will start the phase 1 army training (basic training) at Pirbright in Surrey, on the 10th October 2008 and I am looking forward to it. I want to sign 5 or 6 years contract for now and if I enjoy the job, I will sign more years.
Currently, I am on 6 months visa and I know the Army will sort it out for me but I would like to know what kind of visa will I get and the duration? Is it indefinite visa(I mean settlement)?
Please, I would be most grateful if you could kindly advise me more. Thank you very much.

superjax01

If the army sorts out your visa you'll most definitely get an "Excempt" Visa... which means you aren't subject to immigration rules and regulations for your duration of service. But when you leave the army (sign off after 4 years) then you would need to go about getting your visa like the rest of the commonwealth members do.
But if your in the UK for 5 years (or in the army for 5 years) you would be able to apply for your British Passport... only after paying a lot of money and writing a test.

Hope this helps

Cat695

superjax is right on this....jus6t because you have joined the british army does not mean you are getting permenant residence....if you leave the army you will have to leave the country (i know this because of one the lads in my unit left the army and had to return home as they took his passport off him)

some say unfair but its stops people from joining the army for a short time just to get a easy way into the country