Positive thinking

Adrienne Yong, City, University of London   The process for approximately 3.5m EU citizens currently living in the UK to apply for a new “settled status” after Brexit has now become clearer, after the Home Office published details of the scheme. But there are still some issues that EU citizens will need to watch out for. There are four steps to a successful settlement scheme application: A digital application form Fee of £65, or £32.50 for children Proof of identity/nationality A photo There are a further three “simple” requirements to satisfy the settlement scheme: Proof of identity Proof of eligibility Proof of suitability Eligibility looks at whether the EU citizen is a resident in the UK, or if they are actually a family member of an EU citizen. Suitability is a criminal background check to ensure the individual is not a threat to public security. Settled and pre-settled status The official date of withdrawal...

   Adrienne Yong, City, University of London Despite the fact that EU citizens enjoy the right to move to and live in other member states, the UK government has recently ramped up efforts to deport them. In the year ending June 2017, 5,301 EU citizens were deported from the UK, a 20% rise compared to the previous year. This is a troubling figure, especially considering that the law supposedly protects EU citizens from deportation. The charity, Bail for Immigration Detainees , has noticed a rise in EU nationals involved in deportations . As many EU citizens remain anxious about their future in the UK after Brexit, the government has unfortunately sent mixed messages as to whether EU citizens will enjoy the same rights in the UK once it leaves the EU, or if they will simply be deported . Debate already exists in the UK about whether certain individuals “deserve” to be expelled, from people who are not working but seeking welfare benefits , to people wh...