UK Government’s proposals for the protection of EU Citizens’ rights in the UK
The Home Office is asking the Migration Advisory Committee to carry out a detailed assessment of the role of EU citizens in the UK, economy and society.
In an email received from the Home Office, it informs Jay Visva Solicitors that the MAC will examine the British labour market, the overall role of migration in the wider economy and how the UK’s immigration system should be aligned with a modern industrial strategy. However the Report will not deal with the EEA nationals and their dependants living UK at present. The email confirms three main points:
EU citizens with settled status will continue to be treated as if they were UK nationals for education, healthcare, benefits, pensions and social housing after we leave the EU.
No EU citizen currently in the UK lawfully will be asked to leave at the point we leave the EU. In fact we will allow up to two years for people to regularise their status.
The process to apply for settled status will be streamlined and user friendly, and will include those who already hold a permanent residence document under current free movement rules. We expect the system to be up and running in 2018.
It appears that the Home Office will continue to update professionals about the progress of this matter regularly so that we can advise the members of the community accordingly.
View copy of the email transcripts here.
