Globe, Migrants, Multiculture, United Kingdom

Supporting vulnerable EU immigrants in Brexit times

As the United Kingdom is preparing to exit the EU, many vulnerable citizens might need additional help to complete their paperwork to apply for temporary or permanent residence. In their support some organisations are offering free assistance and providing information.   

 

Nathan Raia

 

After the 2016 Brexit referendum, since the UK will be leaving the freedom of movement policy in force in the EU, the Settlement Scheme was created in order that European immigrants living in the UK can regularize their situation.

Since there are currently  around 3.7 million immigrants,, 6% of the entire population in the UK, the Home Office needed to create an efficient method that would have allowed them to skim who can stay and who cannot.

In order to deal with this, some organisations that work with EU citizens are offering support to vulnerable individuals to help them apply to the scheme.

The Home Office has granted £9 million to support those organisations, and the money will help volunteers and community organisations to inform people about the need to apply for Settled Status, and support them to complete the forms in case of necessity.

All EU citizens, who are currently living and working in the UK, will have to apply successfully for Settled Status or Pre-Settled Status in order to continue to be legally allowed to stay in the country, after Brexit comes into force. .

The government has set a deadline of the 30th of June 2021 – or the 31st December 2020 in case of no-deal – after which anyone who has notcompleted the application form will be no longer be living here legally.

Latin America House is working closely with Spanish and Portuguese speakers in possession of an EU passport.

They provide individual support for applicants who need extra help in order to complete the application, and are  organising workshops, and sessions in external venues providing information and advice.

Latin America House is a charity created in 1983 that works with and supports the Latin American community in London. They organise events and cultural activities, providing spaces where people can meet and share ideas, as well as providing education for people of all ages. More information here.

(Photos: Pixabay)

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