FIJI-born Isimeli Baleiwai has been given discretionary leave to stay in the UK and appeal a disciplinary decision.
Lance Corporal Baleiwai served in the British Army for 13 years but disciplinary action for a 2010 fight with a colleague subsequently led to an order to leave Britain by August 9.
The 32-year-old applied for British citizenship in March this year because he planned to leave the army, which he voluntarily did on June 15.
He heard on June 28 that he had been refused citizenship and would also be refused indefinite leave to remain because he had what the UK Border Agency classed as a criminal conviction.
Lance Cpl Baleiwai was fined £1000 ($F2794) after a disciplinary hearing for being involved in a brawl with his colleague and injuring him.
A petition was circulated on social networking sites calling on the British government to review certain laws and allow Lance Cpl Baleiwai to remain in Britain.
A report in The Sun yesterday said Lance Cpl Baleiwai had been given an eleventh hour reprieve so he could fight to stay in the UK.
The newspaper said the Fiji-born soldier, who has a British wife and two children, now had discretionary leave to stay and appeal against the disciplinary decision.
Lance Cpl Baleiwai served the British Army in Iraq and Afghanistan.