It’s just over six months since we launched Your Story, where citizens can share their experiences with us anonymously without the need to submit a complaint.
So far, we have received 21 Your Story submissions. They all help us to get a better understanding of the issues and challenges that EU and EEA EFTA citizens and their family members may face. Below we detail the types of Your Story we received since March 2025, including the public bodies involved, and the nationalities of those who submitted complaints.
Types of Your Story submitted
The majority of issues reported relate to the Home Office (Figure 1). These include long wait times for outcomes of EUSS applications, issues with the UVKI View and Prove service not showing the correct status or information and general concern about how evidence of residence and absences will be considered by the Home Office when applying for settled status. There were a number of other issues shared where people had difficulties boarding aircraft when they hold EUSS status that also link to the Home Office.
Figure 1: Public authorities and organisations which are the subject of Your Story submissions.
Issues reported involving the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) included delays in processing benefit applications and difficulties navigating and understanding the benefit system.
In comparison this mirrors complaints received about citizens rights, where in 2024 the majority of issues raised related to the Home Office, followed by DWP.
One Your Story did not identify a public authority but shared an experience of a change in attitude and hostility towards them as an EU citizen in their local area.
A minority of the issues reported were not within the IMA’s remit, such as mortgage charges from a bank, applying for the new ETA for visiting family members and issues in Bangladesh with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Nationalities of Your Story citizens
We have received Your Story submissions from a diverse range of nationalities (Figure 2). Polish nationals have submitted the most, followed by German nationals.
Figure 2: nationalities of citizens who have submitted a Your Story.
In comparison, the top three nationalities who have made EUSS applications as of 30 June 2025[1], are Romania, Poland and Italy.
EUSS status
Most citizens who submitted a Your Story hold EU settled status (Figure 3). Pending applications include first time applicants, and those awaiting an outcome to an administrative review or appeal.
Figure 3: EUSS status of citizens who have submitted a Your Story.
The proportion of citizens with EUSS status is broadly comparable with all concluded EUSS applications as of 30 June 2025[2] where 50.01% of all concluded EUSS applications in the UK have been granted settled status and 34.05% of concluded applications have been granted pre-settled status.
The IMA continues to take action on the issues raised with us and you can read more about our work here. You can also sign up to receive our newsletter (link to form at bottom of the page):
Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens’ Rights Agreements
We encourage citizens to continue to share their experiences with us.
You can us send us an anonymous Your story – Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens’ Rights Agreements , or
submit a complaint: Report a complaint – Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens’ Rights Agreements.
[1] Immigration system statistics, year ending June 2025 – GOV.UK
[2]Immigration system statistics, year ending June 2025 – GOV.UK