HM Government Money & Pensions Service - Money Helper: Credit unions and other alternatives to high-cost credit

This Money Helper (Money & Pensions Service) ​​guide is for you if you need access to credit but you can’t use a mainstream lender and you don’t want to use a payday loan or other forms of high-cost credit. When you read it, you’ll know:

• how credit unions work and how they can help you
• how to join a credit union
• what other sources of fair and affordable credit might be available to you.​

To view this guide please click HERE

More information can be found on the Money Helper website at https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/everyday-money/credit

For the Service community, there are three MOD-endorsed credit unions - see https://www.joiningforcescu.co.uk/​

Digital Veteran Card to make accessing support even easier for ex-service personnel

New Digital Veteran Card to make sure former service personnel can prove their Veteran status as easily as possible, enabling smoother access to often essential support. Click here for further information.

AFCAS 2025 – Share your voice, shape your future

The Armed Forces Continuous Attitudes Survey (AFCAS) 2025 has reached its midway point and has been open for 11 weeks. This means there’s still time to complete the survey.   

This survey is a safe space for you to share your thoughts and experiences on areas that matter the most to you, such as working and living conditions, and family life. 

How can I complete AFCAS?

To find out if you’re in the sample to take part in AFCAS 2025, and to access the survey, visit our online tool. If you are not part of this year’s sample, the tool will give you the option to complete a shorter survey. You’ll be asked to enter your Service number, which is case sensitive, and can use your personal or MODNET device. Please be assured that both surveys are confidential.

How can AFCAS benefit me? 

The annual AFCAS survey is a useful way for Defence to hear your views and experiences about life in the Armed Forces. Your feedback will help to shape Defence policy and initiatives, in areas such as training, support, and to improve daily aspects of Service life. 

For information about last year’s results, read the full report on GOV.UK.

Your voice is important 

The more people we hear from, the more evidence Defence will have to better understand your challenges and make decisions that benefit you and your family.  

Help us understand where to prioritise making further changes, tell us what is working well for you and what could be better.

Complete AFCAS 2025. 

Brunei: Temporary Closure of SSO Department and Welfare Offices - Wednesday, 04th December 2024, 13:30hrs - 16:00hrs

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF SSO DEPARTMENT AND WELFARE OFFICES

SSO team including welfare team will be out of office on Wednesday 04 December 2024 from 13:30hrs to 16:00hrs for a Team Building Event. They will be contactable on their mobile phone in case of emergency.

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.

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: 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