Migration Observatory: ‘Unsettled Status – 2020 Report
A new Migration Observatory report on the EU Settlement Scheme has been published written by our project team members Madeleine Sumption and Mariña Fernández-Reino. This report highlights that vulnerable EU citizens such as young people who have grown up in care, victims of modern slavery and members of the Roma minority – as well as many others who may not realise that they need to apply – could “fall through the cracks” and lose their legal right to live in the UK after Brexit.
The deadline for applying for the EU Settlement Scheme is 30th June 2021, after this EU citizens who have not applied to the Scheme will be subject to immigration control for the first time in decades. Those who miss the deadline risk being classed as an ‘irregular migrant’ and losing the right to live and work in the UK – potentially even facing detention and removal.
Dr Marina Fernandez-Reino, co-author of the new report said: “Applying to the EUSS is easy and fast, and more than 3 million applications have been submitted, but our analysis suggests that there could be many who will not apply. This could be because they are not aware of the scheme, they have difficulties navigating the process or there is no evidence to prove their eligibility”.
The government has not published any detail on what will happen to people who fail to apply, including what kind of reasons they will need to justify the fact they had not come forward.
The report highlights 4 groups at risk of falling through the gaps:
Those who may not be aware that the scheme exists and/or, even if they are aware, that they can and need to apply;
Those who will struggle to navigate an application due to difficulties accessing or using the application;
Those who may lack evidence proving their eligibility;
Those who might fail to convert from pre-settled to settled status.