THERE is good news this morning (Monday) as it is announced that a Fijian father-of-two who served in the British Army for 12 years will be able to return to work after Stephen Crabb MP stepped in to help.

Sam Cataki, who served in the British Army for 12, years lost his job last week, after being refused a citizenship visa by the Home Office - putting his family life in Pembrokeshire at risk.

Sam, who was based at Brawdy in 2007 and set up home in Neyland in 2012, has been told he can no longer work in the UK legally despite having lived and worked here since being recruited by the army age 20.

The community of Neyland, including his rugby team mates, is rallying in support of Sam and his wife Seini, who works at a nearby nursing home, and their two children Mesake, 5, and Jared, 1, calling on the Home Office to grant his visa.

Sam said: “I think it’s because I got three points on my licence in 2013, they think it’s not good citizenship.

“I went to Stephen Crabb in 2014 and he helped me by writing to the minister of immigration and a got a letter saying if I didn’t have any conviction in one year I can reapply again, which I have done but they say my application is void and I have to reapply for settlement Armed Forces indefinite leave to remain.

"I’ve been waiting ever since.”

Each application has cost from around £800 to nearly £2,000 and Sam has been to Port Talbot three times to have his bio-metric details recorded.

Sam has worked for Milford Haven Port Authority as a search team operative at Pembroke Dock port since November 2014 and said they have been as supportive as they could be throughout the recent troubles but had to “terminate his contract” when he was declared not legal to work.

“I can’t work legally even though I’ve paid my taxes for 15 years. Work have told me they will hold on for two weeks but I don’t know how long the Home Office will take.

"It’s as if I came here illegally,but they came to recruit us in Fiji - all my family know is the armed forces and working for the Port Authority.

“I’ve been here 15 years and I’m not allowed to work now. Everybody at work is not happy, especially my boss and those I work with as well as those in the forces, they just think it’s disgusting the way they are treating people.

“Anybody can come and they get given everything straight away but for us that have served and fought for Queen and country, we get nothing at all, even if we follow correct procedures,” he added.

He added that he was grateful for all the support he had been getting and said: “In five or so years I will have spent more time here that in Fiji, this is home, I really don’t know what is wrong with the application”.

“I’m not someone who likes to talk about myself but this is the third time it’s been rejected, it’s getting beyond. All I want is to work, I don’t mind waiting as long as I can work,” he added.

Mr Crabb said this morning: "After speaking with Sam last Friday, I briefed the Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis, and this morning (Monday, June 26) I was very pleased to hear from the Home Office that Sam is allowed to return to work, and that his application to remain in the United Kingdom is being treated with urgency.

“This is positive news for Sam, his family and the people of Neyland who have shown strong support for Sam.

”Hopefully the whole matter will be resolved very shortly.”

  • A petition in support of Sam has been set up here, calling on the Government to "right this injustice so that Sam can continue to work and provide for his family and allow them to continue to live in the community they now call home".