Pashto & Dari interpreters UK immigration fee waived

Afghan interpreters, interpreting in Pashto and Dari who served with British troops fighting against the Taliban will be able to stay in the UK for free, the home secretary has said.

The BBC website has the following news story: Afghan interpreters who served with British troops fighting against the Taliban will be able to stay in the UK for free, the home secretary has said.

More than 150 Afghans who acted as Dari and Pashto interpreters and given five-year residency permits, said they faced being sent back to Afghanistan when they expire, unless they paid £2,389 to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

Sajid Javid said the fees had been waived

A spokesman for the interpreters said they were “delighted” with the news.

But the group asked that their families be allowed to join them.

Currently, the interpreters’ wives and children are not allowed to live in the UK unless they travelled at the same time as those given permits.

The group called this a “miserable injustice” because it was not possible for many families to gain the necessary documents to travel at the time.

The group of Dari and Pashto interpreters also said they were having to pay more than £1,000 to get proper documentation for children born in the UK.

The home secretary said about 400 former Pashto and Dari interpreters had relocated to the UK as part of the government scheme.

Mr Javid said: “The local Afghan interpreters worked in dangerous and challenging situations, regularly putting their lives at risk.

“We have always been clear that they will be able to stay in the UK with their families and today I have announced that they will be able to do this for free.”

e added that the Home Office was “looking again at what can be done” to make it easier for the interpreters to bring their wives and children into the country.

Defence secretary Gavin Williamson said he was “thrilled” at Mr Javid’s announcement and it was “important we deliver” for the interpreters.

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