Settled status clock ticking

More than two million EU citizens have so far been granted settled status, official figures have shown. The Home Office has revealed that out of the 3.8 million applications received by the government’s EU Settlement Scheme up to 31 July, more than two million have been granted settled status, giving them the permanent right to remain in the UK after the Brexit transition period ends.

On top of this, almost 1.5 million were granted pre-settled status, which allows recipients to remain for five years, after which they become eligible to apply for full settled status.

It is thought that EU citizens who failed to apply for the scheme in time could find themselves subject to the Government’s “hostile environment” policy – a set of immigration policies designed to make staying in the UK difficult for individuals who don’t have leave to remain.

Businesses are asked to signpost employees to Government advice on the settlement scheme but are cautioned against asking employees directly whether they have applied, in order to reduce the risk of discrimination between those who have and haven’t applied prior to the deadline of 30 June 2021.