Immigration News, Legislation, News, Visas
Statement of Changes - Changes to the EU Settlement Scheme
Coming into effect on 9 August 2023 the Home Office are making certain changes to the EU Settlement Scheme which enables EU, other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss citizens living in the UK to obtain immigration status. This change will enable the Home Office to consider whether there are reasonable grounds for a late application as a preliminary issue, before going on to consider whether a valid application meets the relevant eligibility and suitability requirements.
The Home Office are closing the EUSS on 8 August 2023 to new applications under two routes not covered by the Agreements: family member of a qualifying British citizen (on their return to the UK having exercised free movement rights in the EEA or Switzerland, known as ‘Surinder Singh ’, cases) and primary carer of a British citizen (known as ‘Zambrano’ cases).
The UK made generous transitional provisions enabling such persons to access the EUSS for more than four years. It is now appropriate, as a matter of fairness to other British citizens wishing to sponsor foreign national family members to settle in the UK, that any new applications should have to meet the family Immigration Rules applicable to others.
The routes will remain open to
• those who are already on them, or with a pending application,
• those with a pending administrative review or appeal,
• those who have pending access via a relevant EUSS family permit.
The EUSS family permit will also close on 8 August 2023 to new applications by
• a family member of a qualifying British citizen.
Those granted an EUSS family permit as a family member via an application made by this date will still be able to come to the UK and apply to the EUSS.