IMA Shares Update re UK Government White Paper on Immigration
We’re continuing to speak to the UK Government to seek clarity about how their white paper concerning immigration might impact on EU and EEA EFTA citizens and their family members who have rights under the Withdrawal Agreements and as promised will continue to issue updates.
Our initial assessment is the vast majority of the white paper, which needs to be debated in Parliament, should not affect the majority of those EU citizens and their family members with EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status who have rights under the Agreements. The white paper is not directly focussed on EUSS but rather refers to other immigration routes such as social care visas and skilled worker visas.
This is because the rights, which include those of residency and the right to work and study, conferred by the Agreements were put in place when we left the European Union and would require further agreement with the EU.
We appreciate this continues to be unsettling, especially as some of the language being used refers to settled, settled status and settlement, but these are generic terms which are used throughout the UK’s immigration system. These terms generally mean indefinite leave to remain and are not referring specifically to citizens who hold settled status under the EUSS.
A number of organisations can provide valuable advice and support and there are details about how to get in touch on our useful contacts page.
If you are concerned that your rights have been impacted, we urge you to report your concerns to us via our complaint’s portal. More information about what these rights are can be found on our website.
We would also continue to encourage eligible citizens to apply for the EUSS and for those that already have EUSS status to ensure their UK Visa and Immigration Accounts are kept up to date. More information on both is also available on our website.
We will continue to keep you updated on this issue.