Please find below details of the next phase of the Home Office pilot of the EU Settlement Scheme, which opened on 21 January 2019, including how those eligible can apply in this pilot phase.
What is the EU Settlement Scheme?
In advance of the UK’s exit from the EU on 29 March 2019, the UK government has committed to protect the rights of EU/EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members currently living in the UK. This includes the right to live here, work here and access public services such as healthcare and benefits. To retain these rights after 31 December 2020, EU/EEA and Swiss citizens must apply for UK immigration status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
In the event of a ‘deal’, EU/EEA and Swiss citizens will have until 30 June 2021 to make an application through the scheme. In the event of a ‘no-deal’, they will have until 31 December 2020.
Further details on the Settlement Scheme can be found on our webpages.
Who is eligible to apply?
The Home Office previously ran a pilot of the EU Settlement Scheme, which was open to employees at UK Universities. This closed on 21 December.
The next phase of the pilot, which will merge into the live roll-out of the scheme in March, is open to all EU nationals who are currently resident in the UK, including their family members. You will be able to apply if you meet the following criteria:
· You are an EU national in the UK holding a valid passport; or
· You are an EU national who is the family member of an EU national in the UK, and you hold a valid passport; or
· You are a non-EU national holding a Biometric Residence Permit as the family member of an EU national in the UK.
Under the terms of the pilot, EEA and Swiss nationals, and their family members, will not be able to access the scheme at this stage, but will be able to do so when the scheme goes fully live in March 2019.
Irish citizens have a right of residence in the UK that is not reliant on the UK’s membership of the EU. They will not be required to apply for status under the EU Settlement Scheme, but may do so if they wish.
How do I apply?
· Information on how to apply can be found on the gov.uk webpages here: https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families/applying-for-settled-status
· Please also see the University’s EEA FAQ which provides further details on how to apply: https://www.hr.admin.cam.ac.uk/files/uoc_eea_faq_v.12.pdf
· The HR Division ran a series of briefings in November 2018, one of which was recorded, which provide further insights on the application process. You can view the video here: https://www.hr.admin.cam.ac.uk/hr-services/immigration/eea-staff-and-immigration-options/eu-settlement-scheme-pilot-briefing
You do not need to inform the University or your department that you have applied through the scheme, or if you have been successful in gaining status.
Further support
The HR Immigration and Compliance Team is on hand to assist with applications for staff, where needed (complianceteam@admin.cam.ac.uk), but any questions can also be directed to the Home Office EU Settlement Scheme Resolution Centre, Tel. 0300 123 7379 (inside the UK) or +44 (0) 203 080 0010 (outside the UK). You can also ask a question using the online submission form: eu-settled-status-enquiries.service.gov.uk
On 21st January the government announced that it would not charge for applications made through the EU Settlement status scheme. This will take effect from 30 March. For anyone who has already made an application by way of the pilot schemes, they will receive a reimbursement from the government. Details on this will be released in due course.
Prior to this announcement, the University had already pledged to reimburse all EU/EEA and Swiss employees and their dependants for applications made through the EU Settlement status scheme and for permanent residence applications made since June 2016.
Until 30 March, this scheme will remain open for those seeking reimbursement for settled or pre-settled status. For those employees who gained permanent residence cards, and are employed by the University before 29 March 2019, all requests for reimbursements will be honoured. Further details on the scheme can be found here: https://www.hr.admin.cam.ac.uk/files/eu_reimbursment_scheme.pdf