Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what safeguards her Department has put in place for the family members of Northern Ireland-born citizens who following changes to the Immigration Rules announced on 14 May 2020 now qualify for the EU settlement scheme but have a current visa that will expire before 24 August 2020.

The statement of changes to the Immigration Rules laid before Parliament on 14 May will amend the EU Settlement Scheme so that family members of the people of Northern Ireland can apply for immigration status on broadly the same terms as family members of Irish citizens. This delivers the commitment made in the New Decade, New Approach agreement which restored the Northern Ireland Executive in January 2020.

Family members of the people of Northern Ireland will be able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme from 24 August.

Family members of the people of Northern Ireland who cannot already apply to the EU Settlement Scheme and want to come to the UK or extend their current stay before 24 August can make an application under an existing immigration route.