Following the release of more details of the UK Government’s

scheme for a streamlined application process to grant EU citizens in the UK

settled status to safeguard their position following the UK’s departure from

the EU, our EEA immigration solicitors here at OTS Solicitors take a look at

the post-Brexit position for EU nationals and what the settled status scheme

entails in more detail.

Safeguarding the rights of EU citizens with settled status

Ever since the Brexit referendum in 2016 when the UK voted

to leave the EU, the rights of EU citizens – and more to the point what will

happen to EU citizens who have been living and working lawfully in the UK for

many years - has been one of the key points of focus for many. One of the

fundamental freedoms that the UK signed up to as part of the EU was free

movement of people. Once in the UK for 5 years, EU citizens acquire permanent

residence status through the automatic operation of EU law – and although no

evidence of this is required, many have gone on to obtain a permanent residence

card which evidences the right, some assisted by Legal 500 recommended

immigration solicitor OTS Solicitors. In fact, since the Brexit referendum,

there has been a significant increase in applications for permanent residence,

something that our immigration solicitors in London have been aware of as we

help and support many in their applications. Until the UK leaves the EU, all EU

citizens still have these rights and freedoms to come to the UK.

Applying for settled

status

The announcement on 22 June 2018 giving more details of the

settled status scheme comes as a relief for many EU citizens and every UK

immigration lawyer following the Brexit process. The Home Office has issued a

detailed ‘statement of intent’ and published details on the .gov website – it’s

important to note that at the time of writing, the details of the scheme are

still subject to approval by Parliament.

Key dates for Settled

Status applications

March 2019 Although the settled status application scheme is to

commence trials in the next few weeks, it will not be open for applications

generally until March 2019

29 March 2019 ‘Brexit Day’ this the day the UK officially

leaves the EU, although there is to be a transitional period until 31 December

2020. EU citizens coming to the UK will continue to be able to exercise their

EU Treaty rights as before un this period.

31 December 2020 This is the date by which EU citizens must

have started living in the UK if they wish to apply for settled status (or

‘pre-settled’ status). It marks the end of the post-Brexit transition period.

30 June 2021 This is the date that the settled status scheme

will close for applications. After that, EU citizens will be subject to

immigration rules in the same way as non-EU/EEA nationals are currently subject

– we will need to wait and see if any preferential arrangements will be put in

place, either in agreement with the EU as a whole, or with individual member

states regarding ongoing immigration requirements.

Eligibility for

Settled Status

In order to offer as much comfort as possible to EU

citizens, the eligibility criteria for settled status seems to be

straightforward. You must

citizen

2020

Children will be eligible for settled status, including

those who are under 21 and arrive in the UK after 31 December 2020. If you have

settled status and you have a child in the UK, he or she will automatically be

a British citizen and will not need to obtain settled status.

Close family members (spouse, civil partner, a dependent

child or grandchild, or a dependent parent or grandparent) not in the UK by 31

December 2020 will also be able to apply for settled status provided the family

member is eligible for settled status and the relationship was in existence

before 31 December 2020.

Pre-settled status

This has been introduced to allow EU citizens who have been

in the UK for less than 5 years to effectively stake their claim to settled

status. It addresses the rights of those who come to the UK and wish to stay

but will not have acquired the requisite 5 years’ residence to apply for

settled status. Pre-settled status will allow EU citizens to be in the UK for 5

years on the same basis so that they can acquire 5 years’ continuous residence

and obtain settled status. It is only open to EU citizens in the UK up to 30

June 2021 when the scheme closes.

Requirements for settled

status application

The application for settled status will be online although

there will be arrangements in place for those without access to the internet at

home. Applicants for settled status will need to have

passport, national identity card or biometric residence card

bank statements, utility bills etc

outside the EU

Settled status and

criminal convictions

One of the key bones of contention with the settled status

scheme has been the significance (or not) of criminal convictions. The letter

sent by the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, to those signed up for information

about the scheme, mentions ‘serious criminal convictions’ although there has

been no clarity about what ‘serious’ means. The updated information on the .gov

website says that applications which disclose criminal convictions will be

dealt with on a case by case basis, so we are no further forward in terms of

being able to give people assurances. Reports suggest that if the conviction

resulted in a sentence of 12 months or more, this may put settled status in

doubt.

OTS Solicitors are immigration lawyers and EEA

immigration solicitors committed to assisting EU citizens navigate the best

path to regularise their status in the UK in the tricky Brexit/post-Brexit

period. Call 02039599123 today to be assured of receiving advice from some of

the best immigration solicitors in London.