Brexit update

11/4/19

Please note the UK and EU have agreed a flexible extension to Brexit until 31st October. We will provide further updates as they become available.
In the meantime, The UK Home Office have announced that the EU Settlement Scheme is now officially open

Applying to the EU Settlement Scheme is free. This is a three-step process whereby you will be requested to confirm your identity, confirm that you live in the UK, and declare any criminal convictions you may have.

More information on the scheme, and the process for applying, can be found on this UK government webpage. Our current understanding of the impact of Brexit (as of 05/02/2019)

The UK is still a member of the European Union until 29 March 2019. If an agreement between the UK and EU is reached before this time, the UK will enter a transition period likely to be from 30 March until 31 December. This transition period is currently only due to happen if the UK and the EU agree a withdrawal deal.

Should an agreement be reached and a transition period confirmed, there will be no changes to visa requirement or entitlements during this period and EU citizens and their eligible family members will be able to enter the UK without requiring immigration permission during this time.

Any eligible student who may plan to stay in the UK for any reason, following the end of that transition period, should apply under the EU settlement scheme before the deadline for the scheme (or have permission under another immigration category from the end of the transition period). Students should carefully retain proof of residence during the time they are in the UK so that they can apply for ‘pre-settled status’ if they have been in the UK for less than five years or ‘settled status’ if they have been in the UK for five years or more.

The EU settlement scheme pilot is now open to most students. You will be eligible to apply if you are either:

• An EU national with a valid passport (not identity card), or
• A non-EU citizen who has a residence card or permanent residence card

issued on the basis of an application you made on or after 6 April 2015
The scheme will not be available under this stage of testing to the family members of British citizens who are currently in the UK under EU law provisions.

On 21 January the Prime Minister announced that there will be no fee when the scheme opens fully on 30 March 2019. Anyone who has applied already, or who applies and pays a fee during the test phases, will have their fee refunded. Details of the refunds process will be published shortly.
If you want to apply now, the fee (which will be refunded) is:

• £65 if you are 16 or over
• £32.50 if you are under 16

It will be free to apply if you already have a valid ‘UK permanent residence document’ or you already have indefinite leave to remain in or enter the UK.
Further information:

Home Office information on the EU Settlement Scheme (applicant information):
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/eu-settlement-scheme-applicant-information

Home Office information on how to apply to stay in the UK after it leaves the EU:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-stay-uk-leaves-eu-test-phase

UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) guidance on the EU Settlement Scheme:
https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information–Advice/EEA–Swiss-Students/Brexit—EU-Settlement-Scheme

UKCISA information sheet on post-Brexit rules and entitlements: https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/uploads/files/1/UKCISA%20Brexit%20Flyer.pdf

UKCISA blog –settlement application testimonials:
https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/blog/6549/EU-settlement
https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/blog/6553/Marcels-EU-settlement-scheme-application