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The Home Office recently made a significant decision affecting the rights of UK EU residents, particularly those who applied wrongly for permanent residence cards after Brexit. This article delves into the changes in UK pre-Brexit rights reversed by the Home Office, the digital-only EU settlement plan, and the repercussions of the altered guidelines.
Read more about permanent residency
Changes in UK Pre-Brexit Rights Reversed by Home Office
Post-Brexit, the Home Office has removed rights from EU citizens who mistakenly applied for permanent residence cards. As of August, people who don’t know about the special immigration plan cannot apply for EU landed status. This is a significant policy change.
EU Settlement Plan Overview
The UK government implemented the digital-only EU settlement plan to monitor the nearly 6 million EU citizens residing there. This section explores the plan’s purpose and significance in the post-Brexit landscape.
Lack of Awareness as a Barrier
Under the new rules, ‘lack of awareness’ is no longer considered a valid reason for late entry into the settlement process. Allegations suggest tens of thousands of EU citizens who applied for permanent residence cards after 2016 were unaware of the EU settlement plan.
Activist and EU Citizen Response
Activists and EU citizens voiced their concerns, prompting the Home Office to reconsider. Changes in guidelines now recognise late applications from individuals with permanent residence cards as ‘reasonable grounds’ for delays in the plan.
Legal Perspective
Bindman Law Firm emphasised the clarity that updated rules brought about by the government’s significant U-turn. The article covers the legal aspect of the Home Office’s decision and its implications.
Public Reaction
People and campaigners were relieved when the rules were changed, and they praised the government for admitting that it had been unfair to treat long-term donors. The shift in public sentiment is discussed in this section.
Challenges for Late Applicants
EU people who applied late for permanent residence cards have difficulty because the Home Office is very strict. This part talks about the problems late applicants face and why the process needs to be more flexible.
Official Deadline and Exceptions
While the EU settlement scheme’s main deadline ended two years ago, the Home Office acknowledges late requests with valid reasons, aligning with citizens’ rights agreements.
Pre-Settled Status Protections
The Independent Monitoring Authority ensures that people with “pre-settled status” don’t lose important rights, even if they forget to apply for “settled status.” It’s easier to understand how to protect this group in this part.
Mixed Success Cases
Miranda Biddle, CEO of the Independent Monitoring Authority, acknowledges the Home Office’s success but raises concerns about uncertainties affecting people’s lives, work, and families in the UK.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Home Office’s decision and subsequent changes have profound implications for EU residents in the UK. The article’s point was to explain the new rules, the digital-only EU settlement plan, and the problems that late applicants still have.
