If you are an EEA national, family member of an EEA national or a business who intends to sponsor EEA nationals, are you worried about what will happen now that Brexit has taken place?
Here are some key points to remember:
- Even though Brexit took place on 31 January 2020, no changes will take place until after the transitional period which is on 31 December 2020.
- EEA nationals and their family members in the UK can still apply under the EU Settlement Scheme as the deadline to apply is 30 June 2020.
- Any EEA nationals and their family members who intend to move to the UK must be resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 in order to be eligible to apply under the EU Settlement Scheme.
- British citizens who intend to travel within Europe can do so freely until 31 December 2020.
- Employers who wish to employ EEA nationals should encourage identified workers to move to the UK before the 31 December 2020.
- There is no cut off point for family members of EEA nationals to join them in the UK.
- There are no changes to the right to work legislation. Changes will only take place when the new immigration system is implemented in 2021. If an EEA national or their family member has secured their status under the EU Settlement Scheme, their Unique Application Number (UAN) will act as proof of their right to work in the UK.
- Those who wish to enter the UK after the transitional period will have to rely on a route under the new immigration system from 2021. We currently do not know exactly what the system will be, but our previous blogs have provided an insight.
- The European Temporary Leave to Remain (also known as Euro TLR) was only relevant if we had a no-deal Brexit and therefore this can now be disregarded.