Agenda
• Citizens Advice Wandsworth EU project
• Brexit: background & current situation
• EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• British citizenship
• Useful links
• Questions
• Free information events (open to all / community groups)
• Advice on EU Settlement Scheme, rights, British citizenship
• Support with benefit issues
• Help vulnerable EU residents to apply for settled status
We will provide translators if needed
CAW EU Advice Service
• Fill in online contact form on our website: www.cawandsworth.org/eu
• Email us at [email protected] • Call our Adviceline: 0300 330 1169
Monday to Fri 10am – 4pm
How to contact us
Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC)
Citizens Advice advisers can advise at OISC Level 1. Most advice for EEA nationals & their family members is covered, but not:
• non-EEA nationals who are former family members of EEA nationals
• Derivative right of residence applications (these depend on someone else’s rights, e.g. a child)
• Any situation involving deportation
Background & current status
• Referendum: On 23 June 2016 the UK voted to leave EU
• Exit Day: The UK will leave the EU on 31 October 2019
How will Brexit affect you?
To continue living in the UK you will need to apply to a new scheme called
EU Settlement Scheme
Permanent Residence cards issued in the past will not be valid after 31 December 2020
EU Settlement Scheme You must apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to
guarantee your rights to stay in the UK, it will give you an immigration status under UK immigration law
If your application is successful you’ll get:
SETTLED STATUS (5 years continuous residence)
OR
PRE-SETTLED STATUS (less than 5 years continuous residence) Pathway to settled status; you must apply for settled status before the pre-settled status expires
Who need to apply?
ALMOST ALL EU NATIONALS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS
WILL HAVE TO APPLY !
• Even if you have Permanent Residence you still
need to apply • You do not need to apply if you have Indefinite
Leave to Remain (ILR), but it could be useful to apply
What is needed to apply
• Proof of identity (currently biometric passport or identity card)
• Proof of residence in the UK
• Declaration of criminal convictions
Free from 30 March 2019
How to show UK residence • The Home Office say that they will help prove
continuous residence; the approach is to look to grant, not for reason to refuse
• They will check your tax, NI and DWP records automatically (limited checks)
• Other evidence of your residence, e.g. bank statements, council tax, GP appointments, etc.
Deadlines
At the moment the deadline to apply to the EU
Settlement Scheme is
31December 2020
Your rights will be protected. As long as you apply by
the deadline, you can stay until a decision is made
Non-EU family members • Non-EU family members need to apply to the EU
Settlement Scheme.
• Close family members can join you at anytime (spouse, civil partner, durable partner, dependent children or grandchildren). The relationship must have existed on 31 December 2020 and at the time they enter the UK
• Extended family member can join you if they start living in the UK before 31 December 2020
Becoming a British citizen Why?
• The right to vote in general elections • You do not lose citizenship even if you are away for
many years • British passport, consular protection • Children born abroad will be British citizens
Why not? • Some countries do not allow dual citizenship • It is difficult:
- Life in the UK test - English language test - Showing good character - Expensive: £1,330 fee for adults
How to become a British citizen
You can apply for British citizenship by naturalisation after one year residence in UK with either
• Settled status
• Permanent residence
• Indefinite Leave to remain
You don’t need to wait one year if you are married to a British citizen
Links - Getting help Ask questions about applying to settled status
EU Settlement Resolution Centre 0300 123 7379 Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 9.30am to4.30pm
Locations where you can get your ID document scanned
Get Assisted Digital support to use the EUSS online app Phone: 03333 445 675
Use the Citizens Advice Wandsworth online form
Browse our Frequently Asked Questions
Links - Finding out more
• EU Settlement Scheme on GOV.UK
• EU citizens rights campaign
• Read about the negotiations:
Department for Exiting the European Union
• Sign up for government email updates
• Sign up for Citizens Advice Wandsworth updates
Further help
• Book an appointment for help to apply for settled status tonight
• Take a leaflet with our contact details to make an appointment
• Take a leaflet in your own language from the Home Office
• Invite us to visit your community group
www.cawandsworth.org
Citizens Advice is an operating name of The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux. Registered charity
number 279057.
Free, confidential advice. Whoever you are.
Citizens Advice Wandsworth Battersea Library 265 Lavender Hill LONDON SW11 1JB www.cawandsworth.org/advice-eu-citizens-wandsworth [email protected]
The information contained in this presentation is accurate as of 15 May 2019. If you are looking at the presentation after this date, please seek current advice.