Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if his Department will provide EU citizens with (a) pre-settled and (b) settled status (i) a stamp in their passport, (ii) a biometric card and (iii) other physical proof of their legal right of residence.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
As part of our move to a “digital by default” border and immigration system, physical documents such as Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) and passports with vignette stickers or ‘wet ink stamps’ are being replaced by fully digital eVisas (an online record of the person’s immigration status).
All EU, EEA and Swiss citizens granted pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme are now able to prove their rights in the UK digitally, by using the View and Prove service on GOV.UK, instead of using physical documents. Non-EU, EEA or Swiss citizen family members who have a UKVI account can also use the View and Prove service.
There are no plans to provide EU citizens granted under the EUSS with stamps in passports, biometric cards, or other physical proof of rights of residence.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many settled status applications from EU citizens submitted before 8 August 2023 are pending; and how many such applications have been pending for more than (a) 12, (b) 18 and (c) 24 months.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
Figures for EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) applications awaiting a decision as at 30 June 2023 are included in the latest statistical release EU Settlement Scheme quarterly statistics, September 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) in the Other related data section.
Complete applications under the EUSS are generally processed within a month, if no further information is required, but may take longer in certain circumstances. More information on EUSS processing times is available at: EU Settlement Scheme: current estimated processing times for applications - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
All applications are determined on a case-by-case basis depending on their individual circumstances. Those who have made a valid EUSS application can rely on their Certificate of Application as evidence of their right to live and work in the UK pending the outcome of their application, including any appeal.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate his Department has made of how long it will take to process pending applications for settled status from EU citizens.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
Figures for EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) applications awaiting a decision as at 30 June 2023 are included in the latest statistical release EU Settlement Scheme quarterly statistics, September 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) in the Other related data section.
Complete applications under the EUSS are generally processed within a month, if no further information is required, but may take longer in certain circumstances. More information on EUSS processing times is available at: EU Settlement Scheme: current estimated processing times for applications - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
All applications are determined on a case-by-case basis depending on their individual circumstances. Those who have made a valid EUSS application can rely on their Certificate of Application as evidence of their right to live and work in the UK pending the outcome of their application, including any appeal.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a temporary measure to allow new UK citizens to re-enter the UK from overseas travel using their Indefinite Leave to Remain Biometric Residence Permit while they await the issue of a UK adult passport.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
There are no plans to allow new UK citizens to use a biometric residence permit (BRP) to enter the UK while they wait for the issue of a UK passport. BRPs can only be held and used by foreign nationals who are subject to immigration control. When they become British citizens the BRP card is cancelled, and holders are required to return their BRP card to UK Visas and Immigration.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2023 to Question 130066 on Biometrics visa exemptions, what the procedure is for a person to be excused or deferred from having to enrol their biometric information where the case has been determined as urgent.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
In most circumstances we require biometrics from everyone who applies for a visa or a biometric residence permit to ensure we protect our national security.
Where applicants have contacted UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to say they are unable to travel to a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to enrol their biometrics, we write to them to explain how they can request an urgent consideration on whether we would predetermine their application or waive the requirement for them to attend a VAC. UKVI will assess the applicant’s particular circumstances to determine whether they are particularly exceptional so that their request requires urgent consideration based on the evidence they provide. Where a request is deemed urgent, they will contact the applicant within 28 days of receipt of their request. If the request is considered to be urgent it will be assessed in line with the published biometric enrolment guidance.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2023 to Question 130066 on Biometrics visa exemptions, how her Department defines an urgent request for a person to be excused or deferred from having to enrol their biometric information.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
In most circumstances we require biometrics from everyone who applies for a visa or a biometric residence permit to ensure we protect our national security.
Where applicants have contacted UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to say they are unable to travel to a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to enrol their biometrics, we write to them to explain how they can request an urgent consideration on whether we would predetermine their application or waive the requirement for them to attend a VAC. UKVI will assess the applicant’s particular circumstances to determine whether they are particularly exceptional so that their request requires urgent consideration based on the evidence they provide. Where a request is deemed urgent, they will contact the applicant within 28 days of receipt of their request. If the request is considered to be urgent it will be assessed in line with the published biometric enrolment guidance.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to consult with organisations representing refugees and asylum seekers when determining the level of the annual cap on the number of refugees who will be allowed to settle in the UK.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
As the Home Secretary set out in her 7 March 2023 statement, the Illegal Migration Bill will introduce an annual cap, to be agreed by Parliament, on the number of refugees the UK will resettle via safe and legal routes. This cap will be amendable in response to humanitarian emergencies, and, in setting the cap, we will engage with local authorities to determine their capacity to accommodate and support individuals.
Our intention, as outlined in the Bill, is to engage with relevant organisations as necessary to understand the UK’s capacity to accommodate and support those who arrive on safe and legal routes. The annual cap pertains exclusively to safe and legal routes and does not apply to asylum seekers.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how her Department plans to determine the level of the annual cap on the number of refugees who will be allowed to settle in the UK.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
As the Home Secretary set out in her 7 March 2023 statement, the Illegal Migration Bill will introduce an annual cap, to be agreed by Parliament, on the number of refugees the UK will resettle via safe and legal routes. This cap will be amendable in response to humanitarian emergencies, and, in setting the cap, we will engage with local authorities to determine their capacity to accommodate and support individuals.
Our intention, as outlined in the Bill, is to engage with relevant organisations as necessary to understand the UK’s capacity to accommodate and support those who arrive on safe and legal routes. The annual cap pertains exclusively to safe and legal routes and does not apply to asylum seekers.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the economic and equality impact assessment of the Illegal Migration Bill before the bill reaches Committee stage.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
We will publish an equality impact assessment and economic impact assessment in respect of the Illegal Migration Bill in due course.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, by what process the Home Secretary decides whether to (a) predetermine an application before a person attends a Visa Application Centre and (b) excuse the requirement to attend a Visa Application Centre to enrol their biometrics for a visa.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave to UIN 130066 on 30th January 2023: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament.