There is just over a month to go until the deadline for applications to be made to the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS).
All EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members, who were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020, should apply without delay so that they can continue to work, study, access free healthcare and benefits in the UK after 30 June 2021.
Many EU residents have already applied for European Union Settled Status (EUSS) but, for those who have not, there is still time. The deadline is 30 June 2021, but you must have started living in the UK by 31 December 2020. Irish citizens do not need to apply for settled status.
EU citizens and their family members who obtain settled status in the UK will be granted indefinite leave to stay. Family members is defined as spouses (husband/wife), civil partners and durable partners, dependent children and grandchildren, and dependent parents and dependent grandparents.
Indefinite leave to remain provides the same rights and access to benefits, education and healthcare as those who have acquired permanent status.
Those who already have five years’ continuous lawful residency in the UK will be eligible to apply for settled status. Others will be able to remain in the UK to build-up five years’ continuous residence, provided they apply for pre-settled status.
Prior to the 30 June application deadline, eligible citizens can continue to access benefits and services on broadly the same basis as now, regardless of whether they have secured settled status.
Find more information about exiting the EU and UK residence for residents and businesses on the council’s website.
Council Leader, Councillor Peter Mason, said: “Ealing Council is proud of the borough’s diversity, it one of the things that makes it a great place to live, work and visit. We do not want any of our residents to leave as a result of Brexit so I would urge anyone that still needs to apply for settled status to do it now.”
Support available
A range of support is available to those who need help to apply. For more information visit : www.gov.uk/help-eu-settlement-scheme
Ealing Law Centre, West London Equality Centre and Hammersmith and Fulham Law Centre have put together a short video about the forthcoming deadline in some community languages. You can also call them for free advice and support on 0800 056 4745.
Remember
• If an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen and their family members have lived in the UK for many years or have a permanent residence document or EEA Biometric Residence Card (BRC), they still need to apply to the EUSS (or apply for British Citizenship) by 30 June 2021 to continue to live and work in the UK.
• An application must be made for every eligible child within a family. Parents should apply on behalf of their children, even if they have already applied and been granted a status themselves.
• Eligible close family members living overseas can apply to join an EU, EEA or Swiss family member who started living in the UK by 31 December 2020. They can apply to come to the UK at any point. More information on joining family members can be found on GOV.UK.
• Those who have successfully applied to the EUSS can access their pre-settled or settled status online, update their personal details, and get a ‘share code’ to provide their status to others at www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status.
