EU Settlement Scheme
EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens who were living in the UK before 30th December 2020 will need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. The close family members of these EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens may also be able to apply. The scheme opened March 2019 and the deadline for most individuals to apply was 30th June 2021. If you have not yet applied, you may have grounds available to you to justify a late application.
EU citizens, and their eligible family members, who have been continuously resident in the UK for five years or more may apply for settled status. They can continue to work, study, and access benefits and services in the UK as they have done. Those who have been resident in the UK for less than five years will be eligible for pre-settled status. They can continue to work, study, and access some benefits and services.
The deadline for most individuals to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme has now passed. If you have not yet applied, please get in touch with Newfields Law for assistance with applying. If you have come to the UK after 31st December as a family member of an EU, EEA, or Swiss Citizen you can still apply.
Information on the application process can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
EU Citizens’ Immigration Advice Service in Wales
Welsh Government is working with a number of organisations in Wales who can offer free additional advice and support for any EU citizen living in Wales concerned about applying. The below services are being delivered by a number of organisations in Wales and will be able to offer free advice and support according to your specific needs.
- Citizens Advice Cymru: Citizens Advice Cymru provides an information, guidance, and advice service to assist clients with simple EU settled status applications. It can also provide advice on social welfare issues and workplace rights. Referrals to other services will be suggested where clients would benefit from further assistance in complex issues. Find out more
- TGP Cymru: Advice and application support for European Roma citizens to stay in Wales when the UK leaves the European Union. Find out more Find out more
- Settled: Settled is a new charity working to guide, inform and assist vulnerable and hard to reach EU citizens and help them keep their right to live and work in the United Kingdom after leaves the European Union. The Settled website offers interactive support and guidance, and direct EU citizens to bespoke information. Find out more
- Newfields Law: Regulated by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority, Newfields Law is a specialist immigration firm based in Wales that has qualified advisors able to assist with all aspects of the EU Settlement Scheme and any related complex or legal immigration matters. Find out more
- Royal Association for Deaf people: This organisation works with deaf people, particularly those deaf from birth or an early age who use sign language to communicate. A webpage and appointment service is now live for deaf EU/EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members to access support to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. Find out more
- Rights of Women: A telephone advice line which provides legal advice and assistance to women who are vulnerable due to Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) to enable them to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.Find out more