IMA visit to Belfast for the Big Sanctuary Information Fair
This June, a team from the IMA travelled to Belfast to take part in the Big Sanctuary Information Fair which was being held at Queens University.
The IMA was pleased to be able to take part in an event where we had the opportunity to meet citizens and organisations and gain more knowledge about the experience of EU or EEA, EFTA citizens and their families in Northern Ireland (NI).
We took the opportunity to meet and speak to the various attendees and were able to learn more about the varied and interesting work that public services of Northern Ireland are providing in areas including housing, education, health and employment. Collaborative working was highlighted as a key strength with several organisations talking about cross service actions which are supporting those individuals who are navigating the immigration system.
From speaking to attendees at the event, the following themes emerged as areas of concern:
Access to Healthcare
At our previous visit to Northern Ireland in December 2024 the IMA heard concerns relating to healthcare. From discussions at our most recent visit, it appears these issues continue to evolve. It was reported that citizens may not just be having difficulty in gaining status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) to access the healthcare they are entitled to, but may also be experiencing difficulty with accessing rights, such as the right to NHS treatment.
There were also reports that there could sometimes be a lack of awareness about what EUSS status is and what the associated rights are. This seemed to be particularly the case for those we spoke to who represent vulnerable cohorts, who cannot advocate for themselves, or who perhaps do not understand their own rights.
Future Generations
The IMA has been increasing its focus on future generations and how rights can be protected, which we were pleased to hear there was a strong appetite for. The IMA had the opportunity to discuss the changes to DWP guidance following the SSWP v AT ruling and the impact of this for future generations.
Joining Family Members
The IMA took the opportunity to speak to organisations regarding their work with Joining Family Members. We heard of concerns that this specific cohort could be facing barriers, potentially because of a reliance on a third party to apply for and retain status. We had an informative conversation on this matter regarding those who have experienced domestic abuse. The IMA is gathering information to better understand citizens’ experience of this, the support available, and the challenges they face.
View and prove
Some groups highlighted technical issues with the EUSS View and Prove service. The IMA heard of an example of a citizen who had successfully applied for EUSS but whose eVisa was showing a previously refused application.
Final Word
We attended this event to engage with various organisations and citizens in Northern Ireland, providing information relevant to our monitoring activities. We will continue to develop these relationships to assist our work in ensuring that EUSS citizens and their families have access to essential services, and in promoting the rights provided to EU citizens and their family members following the UK’s departure from the EU.
If you are a citizen who would like to report an issue affecting your rights, then please visit our Complaints portal.
Alternatively, if you have further information you would like to share with us, without making a formal complaint, please visit our Your story page.