Brunei: eVisas - Guidance for Service Family Members

eVisas - Guidance for Service Family Members

1. If you have a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) which expires on 31 December 2024, you will need to register for a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to access your eVisa. You should do this before your BRP expires.

2. If you have Settled status (Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK (ILR) or Indefinite Leave to Enter the UK (ILE)) and have a wet-ink stamp or a vignette in your passport, we recommend you make a No Time Limit Application https://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits/replace-visa-brp to replace that with a BRP. Once you have your BRP, you can then register for a UKVI account.

3. No Time Limit Applications can only be submitted in the UK. If you are overseas, you will still be able to enter the UK from the 01 January 2025 even if you have not registered for a UKVI account as Rail, Sea and Air carriers will be able to check your status automatically.

4. Through your eVisa, you will be able to view your immigration status and associated conditions. This status information is already accessible to other government departments and third party organisations such as the Department of Work and Pensions, Local Authorities, the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency, Border Force, the National Health Service and Rail, Sea and Air carriers.

5. UKVI will be contacting customers by email to advise them to register for a UKVI account. If you have changed your email address since your last application for leave, or used someone else’s email address, you may not receive this email but you can still register for an account.

6. You can register for a UKVI account either inside or outside the UK, and you do not need to wait to be contacted by UKVI.

7. Once you have registered for a UKVI account it is important to check that your travel document information is up-to-date.

8. Details about eVisas system and how to register can be found here: Online immigration status (eVisa) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

9. You should continue to carry your BRP with you when you travel internationally until it expires.

Brunei: Visa Application Guide - Leave to Enter & Indefinite Leave to Enter - Procedures and Requirements

Please click the image to enlarge.

Slide 1 - Leave to Enter – Procedures and requirements. Link.

Slide 2 - Indefinite Leave to Enter – Procedures and requirements. Link.

PoC – WO2 Diwash Rai, RAWO 1RGR

Email: Diwash.rai141@mod.gov.uk

Visa and Immigration changes for non-UK nationals

Visa and Immigration changes for non-UK nationals

If you or your family hold a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) which expires on 31 December 2024, you will need to replace it by registering for a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.

UKVI will be contacting customers by email to advise them to register for a UKVI account, but you do not need to wait to be contacted to take action. If you or family members have changed your email address since your last application for leave, or used someone else’s email address, you may not receive this email, but you can still register for an account.

What is a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)?

A BRP is proof of an individual’s right to stay, work or study in the UK, it can also be used to confirm an individual’s identity and right to any public services or benefits they may be entitled to whilst in the UK. Currently a Biometric Residence Permit is required by anyone who comes to the UK for:

• longer than 6 months,
• extends their visa beyond 6 months,
• applies to Settle in the UK,
• transfers their visa to a new passport,
• or applies for certain Home Office travel documents.

Brunei: BFB UK Spouse Visa and Child Naturalisation Issue - Reporting Tool

BFB UK SPOUSE VISA AND CHILD NATURALISATION ISSUE - REPORTING TOOL 

1. Individuals who have recently applied for a UK Spouse Visa or Child Naturalisation are to complete the questionnaire by scanning the QR code below or by clicking this LINK. The aim of this toolkit is to help service personnel and families to fast track the application where possible. 

2. If you have any questions or required further information on the UK Visa/Child naturalisation process, please email - 1RGR-RAO-CENTRAL-ADMINHUB@mod.gov.uk.

Brunei: Relative Visit Visa Cancellation

 

SP (Sponsor) must cancel visitor’s Brunei Visa prior to their departure from Brunei.

If sponsor is not in Brunei during visitor’s Brunei Visa cancellation, then the following procedure must be followed.

Please click HERE for application form.

Please contact all enquiries through to 1RGR UWO Team.

Brunei: Provision of UK Visas at Public Expense

PROVISION OF UK VISAS AT PUBLIC EXPENSE

1. When serving overseas, eligible family members require a UK Limited Leave to Enter visa/visa issued under Appendix Armed Forces to enable entry into the UK to support routine travel and enable emergency activity such as medical, welfare and compassionate travel. If an eligible family members requires a UK visa to be renewed while they continue to be resident overseas at public expense, then the cost of UK visa renewal can be reimbursed at public expense. Admissible expenses include:

a. Costs of visa renewal whilst on an overseas assignment. If eligible for ILE/settlement visa and wish to apply for this instead, the cost of the limited leave visa may be put towards the cost of the ILE/settlement visa.

b. Travel to nearest Biometric testing facility including Biometric fee.

c. Return travel to the UK to collect the Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), this includes necessary travel for one parent to accompany a child. Collection of BRP is to be via the closest available post office collection site to the UK port of entry, unless making local arrangements with family for travel and subsistence proves more economical.

d. A maximum of 1-night’s subsistence for the family members. Travel and subsistence support in pursuit of visas is to be undertaken via the most economical and cost-effective route.

2. When serving overseas, eligible family members require a UK visa to enable entry into the UK (to support routine travel and enable emergency activity such as medical, welfare and compassionate travel). However, first-time UK Limited Leave to Enter visas for eligible family members are not to be publicly funded (Less Gurkha SP who are covered by local policy). Applications for first-time UK LLE visas for eligible family members, where the SP has married or entered into a civil partnership with a non-UK national while serving overseas, are to be funded at private expense. This is in line with first-time applications from country of origin to join the SP serving in the UK or transiting via the UK to where the SP is serving. All costs associated with obtaining a first-time UK visa are to be met at private expense.

Brunei: VISA and Immigration Information

1 RGR FAMILIES VISA AND IMMIGRATION INFORMATION

All 1 RGR accompanied Service Personnel are to complete the mandatory form scanning the QR Code below with accurate information of their families Visa and Immigration status.

Please Scan the QR Code or alternatively Click the Link: https://forms.office.com/e/RVuHABd9vr

Brunei: Do you have a visa or consular issue? Please follow the correct procedure....

CONSULAR AND VISA ISSUES

All consular and visa applications relating to SPs’ service in Brunei are processed through the Garrison RAO Dept, with the RAWO as the Garrison lead. All applications, and any issues arising from them, must be processed through the RAO Dept to ensure that the CoC can manage applications on their behalf.

Applications from BFB are processed by either the High Commission in Kuala Lumpur or direct through the Home Office. The British High Commission in Brunei do not process any visa or consular applications and are not able to assist SP with them. SP must not email the BHC in Brunei direct but should direct any issues to the RAWO, who will then engage with outside agencies to expedite applications or resolve issues where necessary.

Please email all enquiries through to 1RGR RAWO: diwash.rai141@mod.gov.uk

Brunei: Brunei HIVE Closure

Brunei HIVE Notice - Closure

Mumong HIVE office will be closed from Monday, 02nd December 2024 until a new HISO is recruited. 

Except Tuesday, 05th  & Thursday, 07th.

Chit Chat HIVE office will be closed on Tuesday, 05th & Thursday 07th December 2024. (Working from Mumong HIVE office) 

Apologies for any inconvenience.

Emails will be responded to upon our return.

For any queries, please send an email to BRUNEIGAR-SpSvcs-HIVE-Mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Please contact Chit Chat HIVE or your Unit Welfare Team for urgent matters.

Brunei: BFPO - Post Office Notices - General Accounting Rate (GAR) for December 2024 & Closure

Opening Hours:

Mon - Thurs: 0900 - 1130 & 1200 - 1430 

Fri: 0900 - 1130 & 1200 - 1330

Exchange Rate:

December - £1.00 = $1.7004

NOTICES

Post Office Closure

The post office will be closed at 1200 hrs on Wednesday 4 December 2024 due to staff meeting.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

Post Office Christmas Timings

Last recommended date for postage to the UK is 12 December 2024 and 9 December to BFPOs worldwide.

The post office Christmas timings are as follows:

Please click the image to enlarge.

Mail Services

All mail services from the BFPO 11 are with immediate effect back online, however the following conditions apply:

Restricted items in the mail (BFPO 11 Service)

1.      Dried Food Articles. Postage of dried food articles, including fish, tea and coffee are subject to the following conditions:

        a.      A maximum of 5kg per entitled person per week, up to 20kg each calendar month and parcels are to be packaged separately.

2.      Sold goods. Commercial postage of clothing, apparels and services for personal gain through the BFPO is strictly prohibited.

3.     Any misuse of BFPO services, such as using them for personal business purposes, constitutes an abuse of resources and is subject to disciplinary action. Misuse compromises the integrity and efficiency of services intended to support BFB’s Directives.

Christmas Mail (recommended last posting dates)

4.      Customers wishing to send Christmas gifts to family are advised to send all parcels as early as possible but no later than:

           Mails to UK: 12 December 2024

           Mails to BFPOs worldwide: 9 December 2024

5.      Letters to Santa Claus/Father Christmas. Letters to Santa are to be posted by Wednesday 20 November 2024 in order to receive a reply in time for Christmas. The address for all correspondence to Santa Claus/Father Christmas is:

            Father Christmas

            Santa’s Grotto

            Reindeer Land

            XM4 5HQ

British Forces Post Office Services

British Forces Brunei post office is located in the Chit Chat Community Centre.

The BFPO system can be used to send and receive post from the UK.

All mails are distributed to work addresses only.

Authorised personnel

All BFPO services are available to entitled personnel only, which includes:

- Service Personnel & Families

- UKBC / Teachers & Families

Relatives and other UK or foreign civilians are to use local banking and postal services as they are not classed as authorised, under the MoD provision.

Brunei: NAAFI - Confectionery Shopping Night - Monday, 02nd December 2024, 1930 - 2100 hrs

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) bulk recruitment: Various locations

The Department of Work and Pensions has 25 new Executive Officer work coach opportunities in Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, and 40 in Surrey and Sussex. These are now open for applications until 13th Dec 2024.

​Civil Service Jobs links:

Universal Credit Job Centre - Work Coach – Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire & Isle of Wight (Ref: 721) - Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK

Universal Credit Job Centre - Work Coach – Surrey and Sussex (Ref: 722) - Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK

​More information can be found on the DWP EO Microsite

Families First Newsletter - Issue 21

Please click the images to enlarge.

Please click here to read this and previous issues online.