Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she plans to take to reduce outcome waiting times for applications to the EU Settlement Scheme.

The Home Office seeks to process all applications to the EU Settlement Scheme as expeditiously as possible.

Details of the processing times can be found on the GOV.UK website (EU Settlement Scheme: current estimated processing times for applications - GOV.UK) which advises on expected processing times and common reasons an EUSS application may take longer to conclude.

It is over three years since the deadline to apply to the main scheme and the Home Office continues to make changes with the aim of improving the customer experience.

The Home Office is introducing a new process to automatically convert eligible pre-settled status holders to settled status without the need for them to make a further EUSS application. It is expected the first grants under this process will be issued in late January 2025.

Pre-settled status holders will not need to take any action and the Home Office will inform them if it is unable to convert them to settled status. The Home Office will undertake automated checks of pre-settled status holders against government-held information, for example in respect of their ongoing continuous residence in the UK. This reflects the assessment undertaken when the person first applied to the EUSS and will ensure their eligibility for settled status is thoroughly considered before it is granted.