United Kingdom (UK) Immigration Minister Caroline Noakes announced on June 22, 2018 that changes to the EU Settlement Scheme will begin to take effect later this year, with full implementation expected by March 30, 2019. Affected EU citizens and their family members are eligible to apply for settled status after 5 years of residence in the UK.
Pre-Settled Status
Those who do not qualify for settled status will need to apply for “pre-settled status,” which allows EU citizens and their family members to stay in the UK for an additional 5 years under existing restrictions. Under this scheme, family members include: a spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, dependent children or grandchildren, and dependent parents or grandparents. Any UK-born children of settled EU citizens are automatically UK citizens.
Permanent Residents
UK permanent residents will be required to switch to settled status, as EU law will cease to apply in the UK as of December 31, 2020.
Application
Applicants for settled status need only provide the following: (i) proof of identity (passport/identity card); (ii) proof of UK residence; and (iii) declaration of lack of serious criminal convictions. Those who do not automatically qualify for settled status will be considered pre-settled and allowed to re-apply after 5 years of residency. The deadline for applications is June 30, 2021.
Permanent residents or persons with indefinite leave to remain can exchange their status for settled status at no cost. Application fees for settled or pre-settled status are??65 for adults and??32.50 for children under 16. As of April 2019, re-application will be free.
Applicants will only be denied if: (i) they are not UK residents by December 31, 2020; (ii) they have serious criminal convictions; (iii) they have committed fraud; or (iv) they pose serious security concerns.
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