The British government has decided to allow all Gurkha veterans who served for at least four years in the British armed forces before 1997 to settle in the UK if they wish to.
Addressing the House of Commons Thursday British home secretary Jacqui Smith said, "we will now welcome all those former Gurkhas who wish to live in the UK and we will begin to work through the outstanding cases that have not yet been granted settlement."
The decision comes one day after British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told the House in a question answer session, he believed it was possible for Britain to honour its commitments to the Gurkhas in a way that protects the public finances.
Under the new guidance, those Gurkhas who served prior to 1 July 1997 and completed four years service can apply to settle in the UK with their spouses and dependent minor children.
The policy introduced today refers specifically to those Gurkhas who retired before July 1997, when the base of the Gurkha regiment shifted to London Those who retired after July 1, 1997 are already eligible to apply for settlement under the current immigration rules.
Home secretary Jacqui Smith said, "Following the clear view expressed by the House of Commons - we have now amended our guidance to ensure that all Gurkhas who served for four years or more can have settlement rights." There are some 36000 Nepali soldiers who retired from the British armed forces before 1997.
In 2004, Britain granted settlement rights to Gurkhas who served on or after 1 July 1997. Since then, over 6,000 Gurkhas and their families have been given the right to live in the UK.
In April, the Home Office announced new guidance to allow over 4,000 of those Gurkhas who served before 1 July 1997 to settle in the UK. Following a vote in the House of Commons, where British PM Brown faced an embarrassing defeat, the government committed to review this guidance before the Summer Recess, and to have considered outstanding applications by the end of May.
The revised guidance, announced Thursday, which reflects the concerns of the Home Affairs Select Committee and the Gurkha lobby, meets this commitment and goes even further to grant settlement rights to those who retired from the Brigade of Gurkhas prior to 1 July 1997 with four or more years' service.
Kevan Jones, Minister for Veterans said "The British Army and the Ministry of Defence are determined to do all that we can to uphold our ongoing commitment to the welfare of former Gurkhas, whether in Nepal or the UK. We value greatly the bravery, commitment and dedication which they have shown over many years and continue to demonstrate on operations today."
British actress Joanna Lumley and other supporters of Gurkha rights had launched a high-profile campaign to pressurise the government to allow equal settlement rights to all Gurkhas, which led to an embarrassing defeat for the government at the House of Commons. nepalnews.com May 21 09
Source : NepalNews.com
I don't think the gurkha soldiers who are going to UK are havin good qualification of any there may be some exceptional cases but if they do have but they won't be able to get the rights according to their standards ,to work as a sweeper in the street or dish washer which are usally don't need to be qualified also needs experience in uk.
regarding security job also difficult to get on e in uk
those who are graduated or mastered in nepal or other than uk they must have uk academic qualification which will cost lots of money and time that but also hard to get job due to equal oppourtinity ??in every form while fillin need to mention the ethinicity for to give more oppourtunitie s to all but internally that't is kept just for the sake of excluding non eu people like 'dukhi nepali"
for gettin benefit to the elderly one also now they are increasing the age limit 60 to 65,then 68,70 like wise .
so if for the children also they have to atleast 3 yrs in uk before gettin any benefit ,that's ridiculus
so those who are already havin good life in other countries don't try waste money to bullshit uk people,think 10 times before goin to uk
british should allow whole family of each gurkha soldier whowish to join inspite of just lettin soldier and wife and under age children