Immigration: EU Nationals

(asked on 18th January 2019) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) guidance, and (2) assistance they provide to citizens of EU countries who have been resident in the UK since before the UK joined the European Economic Community, who have indefinite leave to remain but are not in possession of documentary evidence confirming their status; whether such support is being provided by the Windrush Task Force and its Vulnerable Persons Team; and if so, what support they offer.


Answered by
Baroness Williams of Trafford Portrait
Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
This question was answered on 1st February 2019

EU citizens make a huge contribution to our economy and society, and we want them to stay. The EU Settlement Scheme enables them to do so. The application process is short and user-friendly, and it will be accessible to all prospective applicants.

We are working in partnership with vulnerable group representatives, local authorities and other experts to make sure we reach everyone. Since November 2017, we have held monthly meetings with representatives of EU citizens on the design and development of the scheme and communications plans. We have been working closely with these groups to identify the needs of potentially vulnerable applicants including the disabled, elderly and isolated. We are looking for reasons to grant, not for reasons to refuse; and we will have a broad range of support in place. For those who need non-specialist support there is the assisted digital service for technological support, and the Settlement Resolution Centre which will be able to assist with questions relating to the application process.

The Home Office will proactively work with applicants to provide further evidence where there is the need to do so. Applicants who claim to have an historical grant of Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) / Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) that they are unable to provide evidence of and which pre-dates current Home Office records may be able to apply under the Windrush Scheme to have their status checked and documented. Further information can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/undocumented-commonwealth-citizens-resident-in-the-uk.

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