EUSS – Application Delays

The IMA received information and complaints from citizens experiencing long wait times for their EUSS applications, beyond estimated application processing times advised by the Home Office. 

In accordance with our statutory obligations under the WA, the report was submitted to the Home Office for review of any material relating to border security, terrorism, national security, or individual safety, as well as for factual accuracy. The Home Office has now returned the report with comments on these points, which we are currently assessing. We anticipate publishing the report in February. 

The inquiry report has now been published and can be found here.  

The inquiry found that the Home Office breached the rights of EU and EEA EFTA citizens by failing to deal with some EUSS applications in a reasonable timeframe. We also identified significant delays in allocating cases to caseworkers at key stages in some cases. 

We will engage with the Home Office as it develops and implements its response to our recommendations.