Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the changes to the Immigration Rules announced on 14 May 2020, if her Department will refund people who have had to apply to extend their visas in the UK as a family member of a British citizen who has dual nationality.

The statement of changes to the Immigration Rules laid before Parliament on 14 May will amend the EU Settlement Scheme so that family members of the People of Northern Ireland can apply for immigration status on broadly the same terms as family members of Irish citizens. This delivers the commitment made in the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ agreement which restored the Northern Ireland Executive in January 2020.

Family members of the people of Northern Ireland will be able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme from 24 August.

Family members of the people of Northern Ireland who have paid a fee to secure immigration status under another route, such as the UK’s family Immigration Rules, or who do so in order to come to the UK or to extend their stay before 24 August, will not be refunded.