Blood test chaos may see Army recruits lose visas

Nearly 200 Army recruits from the Commonwealth face being forced out of Britain next week after a huge backlog in blood tests delayed them joining up.

Personnel from countries such as India, Jamaica and St Lucia flew into the UK as early as the beginning of November so they could carry out Army assessment tests.

But nine months later 170 of them have still not had the required tests for sickle cell trait, a blood disorder related to sickle cell anemia, and so have been unable to start training – leaving them penniless and jobless.

The situation has become so desperate for some of them that they have left the country and had to fork out enormous sums for flights home.

Others fear they will become illegal immigrants in Britain from the end of this month because their visas – which were extended because of the pandemic – will run out.

Army recruitment firm Capita is responsible for organising the blood tests, with the Ministry of Defence blaming coronavirus for the shambles.

The Mod has so far failed to secure visa extensions from the Home Office. Last night one former Commonwealth soldier who has one of the recruits – from St Lucia – living with him said the problem had been going on since before Christmas.

Former Private Junior President, 29, who served in the Royal Logistic Corps, said: ‘Capita still haven’t booked many people on to blood tests.

‘They are blaming Covid even though people have been waiting since November. everyone is jumping on the Covid bandwagon. These people will become illegal immigrants at the end of July.

‘The recruits applied online to join the Army last year and then they paid for their own flights so they could do the initial assessment in the UK.

‘If they pass the assessment – which includes physical tests – then they are offered a job and start training with the Army.

‘Quite a few people have cancelled their application. People have been waiting in this country as visitors, they are not allowed to work.

‘They really want to join the Army. In a few days they will be illegal immigrants and they’ve wasted nine months waiting for blood tests to be organised.’

He said one woman returned to St Lucia on Saturday because she had been waiting since November and had ‘given up hope’.

while the recruits are waiting for the assessment they often live with sponsors, usually people linked to the military who offer them a place to stay for several months.

They are not allowed to work during this time and have to cover all the costs themselves.

The MoD said approximately 170 Commonwealth recruits are waiting for blood tests which were paused due to Covid-19. The tests start again this week and sources said they expect the backlog to be cleared next month.

A MoD spokesman said: ‘we recognise the additional pressures placed on Commonwealth recruits during this time and will support candidates with visa extensions where necessary.’

Sickle cell trait was identified in December last year as a genetic characteristic requiring testing and careful management in order to reduce the risk in military training.

The Home Office originally provided extensions to all visas but this runs out on July 31.

‘In a few days they will be illegal immigrants’