Over 50,000 EU nationals apply for settled status

LONDON: More than 50,000 EU nationals submitted applications for settled status following Brexit in the first weekend the scheme went live, the Home Office has said.

The scheme went into operation on Saturday, with more than three million EU citizens thought to be eligible to apply by December 2020. Some 230,000 applications were submitted during a test period, bringing the total so far to more than 280,000, of which 210,000 have been concluded.

More than 1,500 staff are working on processing applications, but there were a number of complaints on social media over the weekend from people struggling to access or operate the online system. Under the new scheme, EU citizens who are already resident in the UK will continue to have the right to live and work in Britain and use public services, such as healthcare, schools and pensions.

Applicants must prove their identity, show they live in the UK and declare any criminal convictions. An identity document check app has been developed to allow applicants to verify their identity remotely and swiftly by laptop, tablet device or mobile phone. The app is available on Android devices. Home Secretary Sajid Javid has confirmed it will become available on Apple devices later this year.

Javid said: “Our EU Settlement Scheme is now up and running and after a successful launch, over 280,000 EU citizens have applied so that they can continue to live their lives as they do now. I’m also pleased to confirm that Apple will make the identity document check app available on their devices by the end of the year.

“The app is just one of several ways people will be able to verify their identity, including by post. There will also be over 50 locations where applicants can have their passport scanned and verified. Assisted digital support and a dedicated telephone advice and support service are also available.

“To ensure the scheme is a success, the Home Office has boosted EU Settlement Scheme staff numbers to over 1,500, developed an entirely new case-working system and created a new resolution centre to resolve telephone, email and online queries. Deal or no deal, EU citizens will have until at least 31 December 2020 to apply.”