The Home Office has now (14 May 2020) received more than 3.5 million applications to the EU Settlement Scheme, according to the latest internal figures. The milestone has been reached with over a year still to go until the 30 June 2021 deadline.
Alongside this announcement, today the Home Office has also released the most recent quarterly statistics report, providing more detailed information on the progress of the EU Settlement Scheme. This quarterly publication complements the high-level monthly statistical releases on the progress of the scheme and takes a more in-depth look at the total number of applications and their outcomes.
This report provides breakdowns of total and concluded applications by:
- Nationality
- UK country
- Age group
- Local authority
- Outcome type
IMMIGRATION RULES CHANGES
Yesterday, updates to the Immigration Rules were laid in Parliament, which includes changes to the EU Settlement Scheme.
The rule changes will widen access to the scheme to victims of domestic violence or abuse. If a family member’s relationship with an EEA citizen breaks down permanently as a result of domestic violence or abuse, this, coupled with their own continuous residence in the UK, will be recognised as part of their application.
This is consistent with the Government’s wider commitment to tackling domestic violence and abuse as well as protecting and supporting victims of it.
The rule changes also mean that a family member applying to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) or for an EUSS family permit may also be required to provide a certified English translation of (or a Multilingual Standard Form to accompany) a document as evidence of the relevant family relationship.
In addition, the rule changes mean that family members of British or dual British-Irish citizens who are people of Northern Ireland will be able to apply for status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
This delivers on the commitment the UK Government made in the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ agreement in January 2020 which restored the power sharing executive in Northern Ireland.
Source: gov.uk