Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's guidance, EU Settlement Scheme: EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members, version 11.0, published for Home Office staff on 6 April 2021, what immigration enforcement steps she plans to take in response EU citizens and non-EU family members who do not apply to the EU Settlement Scheme by the deadline for receipt of applications to that scheme of 30 June 2021 in cases where those citizens or family members (a) are deemed not to have reasonable grounds for a late application to that Scheme and (b) fail to make a late application to that Scheme within the 28 day notice period as set out in that guidance.

Our primary focus is on ensuring all eligible for status under the EU Settlement Scheme make an application before the 30 June 2021 deadline for the status they deserve under UK law. Those who apply before the deadline, but whose application is not decided until after it, will have their rights protected pending the outcome of their application and of any appeal.

In line with the Citizens’ Rights Agreements, the UK Government has made clear where a person eligible for status under the EU Settlement Scheme has reasonable grounds for missing the 30 June 2021 deadline for applications by those resident in the UK by the end of the transition period, they will be given a further opportunity to apply.

Where a person with reasonable grounds for missing the deadline applies to the EU Settlement Scheme after it, including where they do so after being given a 28-day notice, and is granted status under the scheme, they will, consistent with the Citizens’ Rights Agreements, enjoy the same rights from the time they are granted status as someone who applied before the deadline.

Where a person does not have reasonable grounds for applying to the EU Settlement Scheme after the deadline or fails to make an application within the 28-day period, any immigration enforcement taken will be based on consideration of the circumstances of their case.

Immigration Enforcement will continue to keep its operational priorities under constant review in the light of the latest intelligence and deploy resources accordingly.