The British government refused to offer full settlement rights to all former Gurkhas Friday despite a High Court ruling last year, in a move slammed by the Nepalese ex-soldiers and their supporters. Britain will not grant settlement rights to more than 4,300 ex-Gurkhas, the Home Office said Friday, falling far short of campaigners' demands that they be given to all 36,000 Nepalese ex-soldiers who served with the British army before 1997.
"Over 4,000 ex Gurkhas and around 6,000 spouses and children will qualify for settlement rights in the UK," the Home Office said in a statement. But those who will be allowed to stay must meet one of five conditions, including having served for 20 years or more or being given awards for bravery.
At the moment, only Gurkha soldiers who retired after 1997 - when their base moved from Hong Kong to Britain - have the automatic right to stay permanently. Other foreign soldiers in the British army can settle in Britain after four years' service.