Coventry EU Settlement Scheme Training Presentation for staff

Coventry EU Settlement Scheme Training Presentation for staff working with EEA nationals

What is the EUSS? • The EU Settlement Scheme is the UK’s immigration scheme for EU citizens and family members to secure their status, access to services and right to stay in the UK after the planned Brexit transition period • The EU Settlement Scheme has been fully operational from 30 March 2019 after three previous pilots and will be open until 30 June 2021 • Beyond that period late applications will be entertained if there is a ‘reasonable excuse’ for the delay 2

Key Dates • The scheme will be open to every EEA national who is living in the UK as of 31 December 2020 or (beyond that date if temporarily abroad) • From 01 January 2021, EEA nationals will be able to enter the UK as visitors (without applying in advance for a visa) or can apply from their own country for a visa under the immigration rules to join family members already here or under the revised PBS system. • Those in the UK before 31 December 2020 must apply under the EUSS by 30 June 2021 to prevent remaining in the UK unlawfully, unless they have a ‘reasonable excuse’ 3

Who needs to apply? • Relevant EEA citizens (Annex 1 of Appendix EU): a person who is a national of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain or Sweden or Switzerland, and who (unless they are a relevant naturalised British citizen) is not also a British citizen. • EEA nationals must apply even if they currently have a permanent residence document. • Non-EEA family members or former family members of the above –see below • Citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway (EEA) and Switzerland their family members able to apply from 30 March 2019 after the UK reached separate arrangements on the same basis as the DWA • Irish citizens are not required to apply for Settled Status but may wish to do so • Family members (who are not Irish citizens or British citizens and who do not have leave to enter or remain in the UK) will need to apply even if their Irish family member doesn’t 4

Family member of a relevant EEA citizen must apply • Spouse • Civil partner • Durable partner (unmarried partnership akin to marriage or civil partnership) - (Where they hold a document under the EEA Regulations confirming this status) • Child, grandchild or great-grandchild (including of the spouse or civil partner) • Dependent parent, grandparent or great-grandparent (including of the spouse or civil partner) • Dependent relative – (Where they hold a relevant document under the EEA Regulations, including the dependent relative of the spouse or civil partner where the applicant holds a relevant document in the UK as the result of an application made before 1 February 2017) 5

Who else is protected and may be eligible to apply on paper? Non-EEA family member of British citizens (Surinder Singh) Non-EEA Family members with retained rights Non-EEA carers of a British children (Zambrano carers) Non-EEA carers of EU child in the UK (Chen carers) Non-EEA carers of children (any nationality) of a former EU citizen worker who are in education in the UK (Ibrahim/Teixeira carers and children) • Others who need a right of residence in the UK in order for the children concerned to remain in the UK (e. g. , other children of the primary carer) • • • Seek specialist advice 6

Families • Family applications can be linked together • Child/ren can apply and will be granted the same status as their parent(s) • (will need evidence of relationship; birth certificate or • other document that confirms the relationship), or • Child/ren can apply independently using own residence • Non-EU family members will also need to provide evidence of their family relationship and the identity evidence of the EU citizen 7

What status is granted? Under Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules: If applied within the UK: • “Settled Status” (ILR) – if continuously resident in the UK for 5 years by 30 June 2021 • “Pre-settled Status” (5 years’ LTR) – if not completed the 5 years by 30 June 2021, can apply for this and when accrues the 5 years of continuous residence then need to apply for Settled Status (free) • If applied from outside the UK – Non-EEA: • EUSS Family permit – 6 months. Application for pre-settled status will need to be made once in the UK 8

Making an Application What is needed before applying • • email address phone number postal address Proof of identity and nationality below 2. Residence in UK a)The applicant will need to answer the following questions: • • • What is your address in the UK? How you ever been known by any other names? Specify Do you have a National Insurance Number? b) Evidence of residence: i) Preferred evidence • • • Annual bank statement Annual self-employed accounts P 60 & P 45 Council tax bills, utility bills & phone bills Mortgage statement or tenancy agreement with evidence of payment ii) Alternative evidence 1. Proof of identity and nationality Verified by: • Passport (for any applicant), or • National ID card (for EEA citizens) • Biometric Residence Permit (for Non-EU citizens) with leave under the IR • Biometric Residence Card issued under the EEA Regulations 3. Criminal convictions The applicant will be asked, have you ever been: • • convicted of a criminal offence? arrested or charged with an offence that you’re on trial for or awaiting trial? (This includes offences in the UK and any other country) 9

Once application is completed 2. You will be considered for Pre-settled Status 3. More evidence of your residence is needed 10

Decision • A Certificate of Application will be generated upon submission and emailed to the applicant • The application will then be reviewed by a Home Office decision maker • The applicant will receive the Home Office decision by email (timing can very between same day and a few weeks and up to 12 months depending on the case) in the form of a letter Holders of Pre-settled Status will need to maintain continuous residence and, where relevant, their family relationship, in order to qualify for Settled Status later Holders of both status will be able to travel to and from the UK using a valid passport and in the short term a valid national ID card 11

Proof of Status: Shared Code • Shared Code is a code that applicants need to create in order to prove his/her digital status to relevant authorities • Shared Code is only available once there is positive outcome on the application

Creating a Shared Code • An applicant needs the email address or the mobile phone number that the application has been registered with • The applicant also needs his identification document number that was used to make the application (ID, passport or BRP/BRC) • and his/her date of birth 13

Potential issues with specific groups • • • • Undocumented EEA citizens Third country family members EEA citizens living outside the UK Family members living outside the UK Dual EU/Third Country citizens (East Timor, Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia, Latin American etc. ) Durable partners / unmarried partners Non-English speaking Digitally illiterate/challenged People incorrectly believing they/their children are British citizens Separated children unable to know whether they are British citizens Inability to know whether children in care eligible for EUSS People arriving in the UK just before the deadline Refusals Central England Law Centre will assist any complex cases – please refer! 14

EUSS Case study: General (x 2) • An EEA national is not aware of the EU Settlement Scheme and has not yet made for Settled Status and Pre-Settled Status. The applicant has a valid identification document (passport, ID or BRC) and provided evidence of residency • An applicant is homeless, has no valid identification document, his documents to prove his residency have been stolen, has no financial resources to travel to the embassy and pay the relevant application fees. • Central England Law Centre will assist with these cases – please refer! 15

EUSS Case study: Complex • Non-EEA family member is a victim of domestic violence, is no longer with her husband needs to apply for SS or PSS. • Wider package of support provided by project e. g. signposting as well as support accessing services and support • Central England Law Centre will assist with these cases – please refer! 16

Key Questions to Ask Are you a citizen from the European Union or the European Economic Area? Have you applied to the EU Settlement Scheme? If No. . . 1)What are your details? Name, phone number, email and date of birth, UK arrival date 2)Do you have proof of identity and nationality? 17

Support and Advice Available to Organisations Email: Coventry. EUSS@coventry. gov. uk Telephone (Wednesdays and Fridays): 07507726526 Services and advice, we provide: 1. Tailored training so organisations are empowered with key information, facts and can refer directly to the project for support or to access services 2. Provide posters/factsheets/FAQs (in English and various translated EEA languages) for distribution 3. Introduce key components of the Coventry EU Settlement Scheme, outline the services provided- we are flexible in that we are happy to do this for a few minutes or longer 18

Free Independent and Confidential Support and Advice Available to EEA Nationals Email: Coventry. EUSS@coventry. gov. uk Telephone (Wednesdays and Fridays): 07507726526 Services and advice, we provide: 1. Information sessions 2. Drop-in sessions (COVID permitting) across all Family Hubs and libraries in Coventry, appointment only 3. Support via phone, email, videocall or face-to-face/appointment (COVID permitting 4. Interpretation 5. End-to-end application support service • Application support and advice • Document retrieval, evidence residency etc. • Legal advice • Digital support e. g. setting up emails • Signposting to city-wide support and services

Useful EUSS Links 'Welcome to Coventry' app: various resources available for different migrant groups with Browse. Aloud function https: //welcometocoventry. co. uk/ Coventry City Council EU Settlement Scheme Website: information around Coventry EUSS and downloadable materials for any member of the public with Browse. Aloud function https: //www. coventry. gov. uk/info/51/welcome_to_coventry/548/newly_arrived_communities/12 Home Office: Apply to the EUSS https: //www. gov. uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families/applying-for-settled-status EU Settlement Scheme: Applicant information https: //www. gov. uk/government/collections/eu-settlement-scheme-applicant-information Settled Status for EU Citizens and their families: Translations in 26 languages https: //www. gov. uk/guidance/settled-status-for-eu-citizens-and-their-families-translations Locations offering ID document scanning https: //www. gov. uk/government/publications/eu-settlement-scheme-id-document-scanner-locations/locations-offering-chipchecker-services EUSS Assisted Digital Service https: //www. gov. uk/government/publications/eu-settlement-scheme-assisted-digital-service/eu-settlement-scheme-assisteddigital-service 20