15 May 2019

Brexit and CAW Advice Service for EU Nationals

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 euadviceservice@cawandsworth.org • 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.

EU Exit: ID Document Check Download the app from the Playstore or equivalent:

EUSS – Using the app

EUSS – Digital status

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

Questions?

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 euadviceservice@cawandsworth.org

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.