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A report on the experiences of EEA nationals
and their families in the EU Settlement Scheme
Unsettling
1
ReportbyMigrantVoiceNovember2019©MigrantVoice
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Contents
AboutMigrantVoice.........................................................................................................................................4
Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................................................5
Keydefinitions...................................................................................................................................................5
Executivesummary...........................................................................................................................................7
Keyfindings...................................................................................................................................................7
MigrantVoice’sviewonthesefindings........................................................................................................9
Recommendations..........................................................................................................................................10
Introduction....................................................................................................................................................11
TheSettlementScheme..................................................................................................................................13
Howtheschemeworks...............................................................................................................................13
MigrantVoice’sroleinthedevelopmentofthescheme............................................................................14
Thesurvey.......................................................................................................................................................15
Methodology...............................................................................................................................................15
Overviewofresponses....................................................................................................................................17
1.Haveyouappliedforsettledstatus?.......................................................................................................17
2.Ifyes,whatwastheoutcome?................................................................................................................17
3.Howwastheapplicationprocess?..........................................................................................................18
4.Wereyouaskedtoprovideadditionalevidence?...................................................................................18
5.Wereyouabletouseyourphonetoverifyyouridentity(scanyourpassport)?....................................19
6.Howlongdidittaketogetadecision?...................................................................................................19
7.Didyougetadifferentdecisionfromwhatyouexpected(e.g.pre-settledstatusinsteadofsettled)?.20
8.Werethereanycomplicationsinthewholeapplicationprocess?.........................................................20
9.Howdiditmakeyoufeeltohavetoapply?............................................................................................21
10.Howdidtheapplicationprocessmakeyoufeel?..................................................................................21
11.Howdidyoufeelaftergettingadecision(ifyouhadone)?.................................................................22
12.Ifyouhaven’tappliedyet,why?...........................................................................................................22
Analysisoftheresponses................................................................................................................................24
Concernsraisedbythosewhohadapplied................................................................................................24
1. Additionalevidence.........................................................................................................................24
2. Identity.............................................................................................................................................25
3. Unclearinformationandlackofresponse.......................................................................................26
4. Technicalissues................................................................................................................................27
(i) Compatibility...................................................................................................................................27
(ii) Theinterface..................................................................................................................................27
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(iii) Confirmationnotreceived............................................................................................................28
5. Policyconcerns................................................................................................................................28
(i) Datahandling..................................................................................................................................28
(ii) Lackofphysicalproof....................................................................................................................28
(iii) Applicationnotregistration..........................................................................................................29
6. Waitingtime....................................................................................................................................29
Non-EEAnationals.......................................................................................................................................30
Case1......................................................................................................................................................30
Case2......................................................................................................................................................30
Other.......................................................................................................................................................31
Howdiditmakeyoufeel?...........................................................................................................................32
Stressandanxiety...................................................................................................................................32
Relief.......................................................................................................................................................33
Peoplewhohadnotapplied.......................................................................................................................34
1.Concernsabouttheprocessoroutcome............................................................................................34
2.Datasharing........................................................................................................................................34
3.Uncertainty..........................................................................................................................................35
4.Principleddecision..............................................................................................................................35
Informationfromotherorganisations............................................................................................................37
Identitydocumentsandproofofresidency................................................................................................37
Lackofsupport............................................................................................................................................37
Uncertaintyaboutoutcome........................................................................................................................38
Technicalissues...........................................................................................................................................39
Appendix:Thesurveyquestions.....................................................................................................................40
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AboutMigrantVoice
MigrantVoiceisthevoiceofmigrants,avoicewithapurpose.WeareaUK-based,migrant-ledorganisationdevelopingtheskillsandconfidenceofmigrants,empoweringthemtospeakforthemselvesabouttheirownlivesandissuesthataffecttheircommunities,tospeakclearlyandeffectivelyandthusdrivethechangetheyseek.
Whetherspeakingoutinthemediaoronpublicorpoliticalplatforms,theaimistocreatepositivechangeformigrants–counteringxenophobia,discriminationandunjustpolicies,strengtheningcommunities,andbringingsocialjustice–changewhichbenefitsthewholeofUKsociety.
Weworkwithmigrantsregardlessoftheirstatusandcountryoforigin,includingrefugeesandasylumseekers.Wearetrulynational,workingacrossLondon,GlasgowandtheWestMidlands,andwehavealargeandgrowingnetworkofmigrantsandnon-migrants(currently1,300)willingtoengageinpromotingmigrantvoicesandcreatingchange.
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Acknowledgments
MigrantVoicewouldliketothankallthosewhoparticipatedinourresearchforsharingtheirviewsandexperiences,includingthosewhocompletedthesurveyandthoseorganisationsworkingwithEEAnationalsandtheirfamilieswhocontactedusseparately.
Wewouldalsoliketothanktheteamthatworkedonputtingthisreporttogether,withaparticularmentiontoGiulianoGiannini.ThankyoualsotoWafaIslam,AlondraSierraandMartaArena.
Keydefinitions
BiometricResidencePermit(BRP):Containsamigrant’sname,dateandplaceofbirth,andbiometricinformation.Itshowstheirimmigrationstatusandentitlements.EEAnationalsarenotrequiredtoapplyfororholdaBRP.
Brexit:Abbreviationof“Britishexit”,thewithdrawaloftheUnitedKingdomfromtheEuropeanUnion.
CertificateofApplication(COA):Adocumentconfirmingtheholderhassubmittedavalidapplicationforaresidencecard.Severalpeoplewhorespondedtooursurveyreportedreceivingsomeformofconfirmationofapplication,whichtheyuse“COA”todescribe.
Dependents:ReferstoindividualswhoarenotcitizensofanEEAcountry,butarecloselyrelatedtoacitizenofanEEAcountry.Thisincludesspouses,childrenanddependentparents.
EuropeanEconomicArea(EEA):Includesall28EUcountriesandalsoIceland,LiechtensteinandNorway.ItallowsthemtobepartoftheEU’ssinglemarket.
EEAnationals:WeusetheterminthisreporttorefertopeoplewhoarecitizensofanEEAcountry.Othersmayrefertothemas“EUnationals”or“EUcitizens”.
EuropeanUnion(EU):Aneconomicandpoliticalunionof28countries.Itoperatesaninternal(orsingle)marketwhichallowsfreemovementofgoods,capital,servicesandpeoplebetweenmemberstates.
EUSettlementResolutionCentre:AhelplinerunbytheHomeOfficetoprovideadviceandinformationonapplicationstotheSettlementScheme.
EUSettlementScheme:AschemedesignedtoprovideEEAnationalsandtheirfamilieswitharoutetolivingandworkingintheUKbeyondthetransitionperiod.Thedeadlineis30June2021iftheUKleavestheEUwithadeal,31Decemberifthereisnodeal.
Freedomofmovement: OneofthecorerightsguaranteedtoEEAcitizens.Itgivestheseindividualsandtheirfamilymemberstherighttolive,work,establishbusinessesandstudyinanyotherEEAcountry.
GeneralDataProtectionRegulation(GDPR):Asetofrulesintroducedin2018designedtogiveEUnationalsmorecontrolovertheirpersonaldataandtoprotectthemfromprivacyanddatabreaches.
HerMajesty’sRevenueandCustoms(HMRC):Anon-ministerialdepartmentoftheUKGovernmentresponsibleforthecollectionoftaxes,thepaymentofsomeformsofstatesupportandtheadministrationofotherregulatoryregimesincludingthenationalminimumwage.
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IndefiniteLeavetoRemain(ILR):Animmigrationstatusthatallowsapersontoliveandworkforanunlimitedtimewithouthavingtoextendtheirvisa.Italsoenablesthemtoleaveandre-entertheUKmultipletimeswithoutimmigrationrestrictions.ILRcanlapseincertaincircumstances,forexample,ifoneleavestheUKanddoesnotreturnfortwoormoreyears.
NationalInsuranceNumber(NINo):AcodeuniquetoeachadultcitizenintheUK,andusedintheadministrationoftheNationalInsurancesystemandforsomepurposesinthetaxsystem.
P45:Thedocumentyoureceivewhenyouleaveajobcontainingalltheinformationanewemployerwillneedaboutyouroldsalary,taxcode,etc.It'salegalrequirementforemployerstosendaP45toallex-employeesafterthey'veleft.
P60:Asummaryofyourpayandalldeductionsinaspecifictaxyear.
PermanentResidence(PR):AnimmigrationstatussimilartoILRthatallowsapersontoresideintheUKpermanently.EEAnationalswhohavebeenlivingintheUKforatleast5yearswhilstexercisingatreatyrightqualifyforpermanentresidencestatusautomatically,butmustmakeaformalapplicationinordertobegrantedphysicalproofofPR.EEAPRwillnotbevalidafter31December2020soanEEACitizenwithPRmustapplyforeitherBritishcitizenshiporsettledstatus.
Pre-settledstatus:TemporaryleavetoremainintheUKforEEAnationalsandtheirfamilieswhohavebeenlivinghereforacontinuousperiodoflessthanfiveyearsandwhoapplythroughtheEUSettlementScheme.Afterreachingfiveyearscontinuousresidency,theseindividualscanapplyforsettledstatus.
Settledstatus:IndefiniteleavetoremainintheUKforEEAnationalsandtheirfamilieswhohavebeenlivingherecontinuouslyforfiveyearsormoreandwhoapplythroughtheEUSettlementScheme.
SurinderSinghRoute:Theprincipleestablishedbythe1992SurinderSinghcaseisthattherightinEUlawforapersontomovefromoneEUmemberstatetoanothermustincludearighttoreturn,otherwiseapersonwouldbedeterredfrommovinginthefirstplace.Inpractice,thismeansthataBritishpersonlivinginanotherEUmemberstatewiththeirnon-EUfamilymember(s)hastherighttobringthosefamilymembersbacktotheUKtoresidewithhim/herthere.
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Executivesummary
Thisreportistheresultofanonlinesurveyconductedbetween27Juneand2September2019.AnyoneeligibletoapplytotheEUSettlementScheme–allEEAnationalsandtheirfamilieslivingintheUK–waseligibletotakepartinthesurvey,whethertheyhadappliedtotheschemeornot,aswereorganisationsofferingsupporttoapplicants.
Wehadbeenhearingtroublingstoriesfromourmembersaboutdifficultiesapplyinganddelayedorwrongdecisions,andaboutadverseeffectsontheirmentalhealth,wellbeingandsenseofbelonging.Wewantedtofindoutmoreandtoamplifythevoicesofthisgroupofmigrantsinordertolobbyforthechangethatisneeded.
Wereceived229validresponsestothesurvey,including14fromindividualswecouldidentifyasnon-EEAfamilymembersofEEAnationals.Respondentscamefromatleast36differentcountries,including22ofthe27(non-UK)EUstates.
WhilethemajorityofthosewhocompletedthesurveyhadafairlypositiveexperienceoftheSettlementSchemeapplication,asignificantminoritydidnot–andone-thirdofthosewhorespondedhadnotappliedforavarietyofreasons,manyofthemtroubling.
Whilewewelcomethefactthatmostpeoplearefindingtheprocessasmoothone,wearedeeplyconcernedthatthisisfarfromtruefordozensofrespondents,experiencesthatlikelyrepresentthoseoftensorevenhundredsofthousandsofapplicantstothescheme.TheirexperiencesofandfeelingstowardstheEUSettlementSchemearethereforethefocusofthisreport.
Key findings
1. Almosthalf(49%)ofrespondentssaidtheyfoundtheapplicationprocess“difficult”(rangingfrom“slightly”to“very”).Almostfourinten(38%)wereaskedtoprovideadditionalevidence,withasimilarnumber(35%)sayingtheyfacedcomplicationsintheapplicationprocess.Scalingthisup,wecanassumethatthousands,ifnottensorhundredsofthousands,oftheestimated3.5millionpeopleeligibletoapplywillfacesimilarproblems,whichisdeeplyconcerning.(pp.18-19,20-1)
2. Dozensofpeopletoldustheyfeltashamed,scapegoatedorhumiliatedbytheschemeandtheprocessofapplying.It’ssignificantthat,formost,thesefeelingsdidn’tgoawayevenaftertheyweregrantedstatus,withmanyfacingdelaysandproblemswiththeapplicationprocess.Manyremainedfearfulthattheirrightsmaynotbeguaranteedandangrythattheyhadtoapplyatall.Askedhowtheyfeltaftergettingthedecision,onepersonsaidtheywere:“Partlyrelieved,butalsohumiliated,angry,thenapathetic,emptyanduncertainofmyfutureintheUK”.(pp.32-3)
3. AsignificantnumberofthosewhotoldustheywererequiredtoprovideadditionalevidenceoftheirresidenceintheUKsaidthatthisshouldnothavebeennecessaryastaxandNationalInsurancerecordsshouldhavebeensufficient.“It'saslapinthefacetopaytaxesfor10yearsandthenfindoutthatthestatedoesn'tevenhaveyourrecords,”saidoneperson.Othersfounditimpossibletoprovidethenecessaryevidence,withseveralpeoplefeelingforcedtoacceptthetemporarypre-settledstatusastheydidnothavethedocumentstoprovethattheywereeligibleforpermanentsettledstatus.Onepersoninthissituationsaidtheynolongerhadtheevidencetoprovetheir30yearsresidenceduetoadifficultdivorce.(pp.24-5)
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4. Dozensofpeopletoldustheyhadexperiencedtechnicalglitches,communicationproblems,delays
orHomeOfficemistakesduringtheprocessofapplying.Manyhadproblemsscanningtheirpassportusingtheapp,andseveralfoundtheappdidn’tworkevenonadevicethatwassupposedlycompatible.Threepeoplehadtobuyanewphonejusttoapply.SomeweregivenconflictingadvicebytheHomeOfficeandonepersondescribedtheirdealingswiththeResolutionCentreas“afarce”.(pp.26-8)
5. Severalpeopletoldustheyfacedproblemsprovingtheiridentityduetounavoidableandcompletelyexplicablediscrepanciesbetweendocuments.Thisincludedtwowomanwhohadchangedtheirsurnamewhentheygotmarried,andtwotransgenderpeople.Onetransgenderrespondentsaidtheywere“stuckinaloopandscaredaboutapplyingincasetheywillrejectmyapplication.”(pp.25-6)
6. One-thirdofrespondentstoldustheyhadn’t(yet)appliedtothescheme,withmanyawareoftheproblemsthatothershadfacedandfearfulthattheirapplicationwouldberefused,thatevidencewouldbeimpossibletogather,orthatsettledstatuswouldnotguaranteetheirrights.OnepersonsaidtheirmentaldisabilitymadetheprospectofapplyingsodauntingthattheyareleavingtheUKinordertoavoiddoingit.Anothersaidtheyhadlostalltheirdocumentsinahousefire.Othersaredeeplyfrustratedabouttheschemeandsaidtheyhadnotorwouldnotapplyonprinciple.“Itisaninsulttoapplytostayinmyhomeofthelast20years,”onepersonsaid.(pp.34-6)
7. Thereisaclearandworryingtrendthatnon-EEAapplicantsinoursurveyarewaitingmuchlongerfordecisionsandbeinggivenconfusingorcontradictoryguidanceontheirapplicationprocess.OnerespondentfromNigeriawastoldadecisioncouldtakeuptosixmonths,despiteHomeOfficeguidancestatingthatallapplicationsshouldbeprocessedwithinonemonth.ArespondentfromZimbabwewasleftfeeling“anxious”afterwaitingmorethanthreemonthsforadecision,whiletheirhusbandanddaughterreceivedstatuswithinafewdays.Itis“likethereissomesegregationofsomesort,”theysaid.Overall,almostone-thirdofrespondents(32%)waitedlongerthanaweek(theestimatedprocessingtimeformostapplications),withone-quarterofthem(8%overall)waitingmorethanamonth.(p.30-1)
8. Asignificantnumberofrespondentsexpressedangerorsadnessthattheyarerequiredtogothroughanapplicationratherthansimplyaregistrationprocess,andthereforefacethepossibility,howeverminimal,ofbeingrefused.“I’mfurious,”onepersonsaid.“Ihavebeenherefor24years,havepaidmytaxesforallthoseyears,havethreechildrenwhowereallbornhere.Thisismyhome!WhydoIneedtoapplytostayinmyownhome?”(pp.32,35)
9. Manytoldustheexperiencehadcausedsignificantstressandanxiety,withsixrespondentsmentioningfeelingdepressedandonesayingtheprocesshadleftthemfeelingliketakingtheirownlife.Otherssaidtheyweretooworriedabouttheprocessandtheoutcometoevenapply.“IamscaredandworriedthatIcannotputmyselfthroughthisstress,thatIwon'tcopewiththeuncertainty,”onepersonsaid.SeveralsaidtheywereplanningtoleavetheUKasaresult.(pp.32-3)
10. Therewaswidespreadangerandmistrustatthescheme’sdatapolicy,whichallowsthegovernmenttoshareapplicants’informationwithunnamedpublicandprivatesectororganisationsaroundtheworld.Severaltoldusthatthispolicywasthereasonwhytheyhadnot(yet)applied.
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“I’mnotdoinganythingbeforeIgetmoreinformationonhowmydataisused,”onepersonsaid.(pp.28,34)
11. Manywerealsoangryatthegovernment’sdecisionnottoofferphysicalproofofthestatusoncegranted.“Nophysicalevidenceistheworst-disasterwaitingtohappen,”saidoneperson.(pp.28-9,35)
12. FourorganisationsthatareworkingwithpotentiallyvulnerableEEAnationalsandtheirdependents–includingthosewithnofixedabodeandRomacommunities–raisedsignificantconcerns.Manyoftheirclientsdon’thaveapassportandmusteitherpayupto£100togetoneorsendofftheironlyformofIDtotheHomeOfficewhentheyapplytothescheme.LimitedsupportisavailableformanyRomacommunities,thosewithlimitedEnglish,andchildrenandadultsincare,andscammersaretakingadvantage,insomecaseschargingbetween£350and£1,000tocompletesomeone’sapplication.(pp.37-9)
Migrant Voice’s view on these findings
Thesefindingsaredeeplyconcerning,especiallygiventhevastscaleofthisschemeandthedevastatingconsequencesforthosewhoarefailedbyitorwhodonotapplybeforethedeadline:thesuddenlossoflawfulresidenceintheUKandalltherightsthatgowiththat.
Millionsofpeoplechangetheirnamewhentheygetmarried,millionsmoreareself-employed,andtensofthousands(ifnotmore)maybeunawaretheyneedtoapplyorunabletoaccessthetechnologyorguidancetheyneed.Whiletherehavebeenmorethan2.4millionapplicationstotheschemeasofNovember2019,itislikelythatmanyofthosefacingthemostsevereobstacleshaveyettoapply,andthereisthereforestilltimetomakethenecessarychanges.
Thatsomanypeoplearefacingsignificanttechnicalproblems,poorguidance,delaysandalackofcommunicationistroubling–butequallyconcerningisthesevereimpactonthehealthandwellbeingofsomanyofthoseapplyingorfacingtheprospectofit.
Forthesepeople,theprocesshasnotbeenthe“transparent,smoothandstreamlined”onethatwaspromisedinthe2017WithdrawalAgreement.
Thereisanurgentneedforamoreefficientandaccurateapplicationprocessingsystem,foranendtothepolicythatwillturnunknownnumbersofUKresidentsintoundocumentedmigrants,andforanexpansionofsupportnetworkswheretheseareneededmost.
WecallonallUKpoliticiansandallwhohavearoletoplayinthecontinueddevelopmentandimplementationoftheEUSettlementSchemetoreadthisreportandactswiftlyonitsrecommendations.
Themessage,repeatedsooftenbyourpoliticians,thatEEAnationalsandtheirfamiliesarewelcomeheremustbemadearealitythroughlegislationthatguaranteestheirrights,regardlessoftheoutcomeofBrexit,andthroughadeclaratoryorregistrationschemethatworksforall.
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Recommendations
MigrantVoice’srecommendationshavebeendevelopedasaresultofboththissurveyandourworksince2016ontherightsofEEAnationalsandtheirfamilies.
WeurgetheGovernmentto:
1.EnshrinetherightsofallEEAnationalsandtheirfamiliesresidentintheUKinlaw,ensuringtheirrightsareprotectedwhatevertheoutcomeofBrexit;
2.Ensurethatnoonebecomesundocumentedasaresultofnothavingappliedtothescheme,ornotupgradingpre-settledtosettledstatusafterfiveyears,bymakingthisadeclaratoryorregistrationschemethatisnottimelimited;
3.Endthecurrentdatasharingpolicyandensurethatapplicants’dataisusedonlyfortheprocessingoftheirapplicationandsharednofurther;
4.IncreasethelevelofsupportforvulnerablegroupswhoareeligiblefortheschemeacrosstheUKandensurethatanygapsareswiftlyfilled;
5.ImprovetheavailabilityofadvisersattheEUSettlementResolutionCentreandensuretheyarefullytrainedtoprovidecorrectguidancetothoseseekingadvice;
6.Committoprocessingallapplicationswithinonemonth,includingthoseofnon-EEAapplicants,andprovidetransparentreasonswherethisisnotpossible;
7.Improvethefunctionalityofthesystemsindividualsareusingtoapplytothescheme,includingtheapp;
8.Improvethefunctionalityofthesystemincaseswherethereisachangeofnameoridentity;
9.Investigatehowitispossiblethatinformationaboutanindividual’sresidencethatshouldberetrievablewiththeirNationalInsuranceNumberisinsomecasesnotbeingretrievedandimprovethefunctionalityofthissystem;
10.Increasethenumberofcentreswhereapplicantscanhavetheirdocumentsscanned,andworktoensurethatfreeappointmentsarealwaysavailable.
11.Informallapplicantswhoaregrantedpre-settledstatushowtheycanchallengethisdecisioniftheybelievetheyshouldhavebeengrantedsettledstatus;
12.Offerphysicalordigitalproof(easilyaccessibletotheindividual)ofpre-settledorsettledstatus,oncegranted;
13.Providemoredataonapplicationstothescheme–includingbyregionandgender–inthemonthlypublishedstatisticsandseparateoutthenumberofapplicantsfromthenumberofapplications,toensuretransparencyandenableboththegovernmentandorganisationstomakesurevulnerablegroupshaveaccesstosupport.
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Introduction
Sincethe2016EUreferendum,therightsandfutureofEEAnationalslivingintheUKhasbeenamajorareaofdiscussion,amongboththepublicandpoliticians.TheEUallowsforthefreemovementofgoods,services,capitalandpeoplewithinthesinglemarket–andmillionsofEEAnationalshadenjoyedthatfreedombymovingtoandsettlingintheUK.ItwasassumedthatafterBrexitthisrighttofreemovementwouldend,bothforEEAnationalswantingtomovetotheUKandforUKnationalswantingtomovetootherEEAcountries.Butwhatshouldhappentotheestimated3.5millionEEAnationalsandtheirdependentsalreadylivingintheUK?
WhileUKpoliticiansinsistedrepeatedlythatEEAnationalsandtheirfamiliesalreadyintheUKwerewelcometostayandwouldretaintheirrights,theGovernmentwasalsoaccusedofusingthemas“bargainingchips”inthenegotiationprocess.InDecember2017,18monthsafterthereferendum,theUKreachedanagreementwiththeEUoncitizens’rights(amongothermatters).ThislaidouttheprinciplesbehindwhatbecametheEUSettlementSchemeandanapplicationprocessforsettledstatuswasdevelopedoverseveralmonths.ItwaslaunchedinitiallyasapilotinNovember2018andofficiallyon30March2019,thedayaftertheUKwasoriginallyscheduledtoleavetheEU.The£65feeforeachapplicationhadbeenscrappedinJanuary,partwaythroughthepilot.
EEAnationalsandtheirdependentswhohavelivedcontinuouslyintheUKforatleastfiveyearsareeligibleforsettledstatus,whichisindefiniteleavetoremain.ThosewhohavelivedintheUKforlessthanfiveyearsareeligibleforpre-settledstatus,whichcanbe“upgraded”tosettledstatusoncethefive-yearmarkisreached.Pre-settledstatusexpiresfiveyearsaftertheissuedateandcurrentrulessuggestthatthosewhodonotupgradetosettledstatusbeforethatpointwillthenbeintheUKunlawfully.
Thescaleoftheschemeisunprecedented,withover3.5millionindividualseligible,andindeedurged,toapply–andeachapplicationtobeassessedindividually.Thosewhodonotapplybeforethedeadline,orwhoarerefusedstatus,willbeintheUKunlawfullybeyondthatdate.Akeyconcernthereforeremains:howdoweensurethatallthosewhoareeligibledoapplyandthatnoonebecomesundocumented,eitherasaresultofnotapplyingorbecausetheschemehasfailedthem?
AccordingtothelateststatisticspublishedbytheHomeOfficeonthisscheme(November2019),therehavebeen2,450,500applicationssinceitlaunched.1Ofthese,60%havebeengrantedsettledstatusand40%pre-settledstatus.Fourapplicationshavebeenrefusedand525,200applicationshavenotyetbeenconcluded.However,theGovernmenthasrecentlyacknowledgedthatthefigurespublishedintheseupdatesdonotaccuratelyrepresentthenumberofpeoplewhohaveappliedtothescheme,asanindividual’sapplicationforpre-settledstatusandlaterapplicationto“upgrade”tosettledstatusarecountedseparately.2ThismeansthatfewerpeoplehaveappliedtotheschemethantheheadlinefigureoneachHomeOfficeupdatesuggests.
Withinweeksoftheschemeopening,webecameconcernedthatthesestatisticswerenottellingthefullstory.Wewerehearingfromourmembersaboutdifficultiesapplyinganddelayedorwrongdecisions,andabouttheimpactsontheirmentalhealth,wellbeingandsenseofbelonging.Manywereangrythatapplicantsarerequiredtoagreetotheirdatabeingsharedwithunnamed“publicandprivatesectororganisationsintheUKandoverseas”;thattherightsthatcomewithsettledstatusarenotcementedinprimarylegislation;andthatsuccessfulapplicantsaregivennoproofoftheirnewstatus.Wewantedto
1‘EUSettlementSchemeStatistics,October2019’,HomeOffice,14November2019.2‘HomeOfficeadmitsdoublecountingintheEUsettlementstatistics,’KubaJablonowski,FreeMovement,28October2‘HomeOfficeadmitsdoublecountingintheEUsettlementstatistics,’KubaJablonowski,FreeMovement,28October2019.
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learnmoreabouttheissuesandamplifythevoicesofthisgroupofmigrantsinordertolobbyforthechangethatisneeded.
Between27June2019whenoursurveywaslaunchedand2September2019whenitclosed–anduntilnow–hugepoliticalandparliamentarychangeshavehadsignificantimpactontheEEAnationalsandthefamilieswewereseekingtoreach.TheresaMaywasreplacedbyBorisJohnsonasPrimeMinister,whopromisedtodeliverBrexiton31October,dealornodeal.Afewweekslater,HomeSecretaryPritiPatelprovokedoutrageandbewildermentinmanyquarterswhensheannouncedthatfreemovementwouldendon31Octoberinthecaseofano-dealBrexit–aproposalwidelycriticisedasunfairandunworkableasitwouldhavemadeitextremelydifficultforEEAnationalsandtheirfamilieswhohadbeenintheUKpriorto31Octoberandwhohadn’tyetbeengrantedsettledorpre-settledstatustoprovethattheywereherelawfully.Itwassoondropped,butthisdidlittletoassuagetheconcernsofmanyEEAresidentsintheUK.Asaresultofthedebacle,someEEAnationalsmayhaveappliedtotheSettlementSchemesoonerthantheymightotherwisehave,andtheproposalandaftermathmayhaveinformedsomeoftheresponsestooursurvey.
WehavesinceseenthenewPrimeMinisterattemptandfailtogethisWithdrawalAgreementBillthroughParliament,buteventuallysucceedinhisbidforaGeneralElection,tobeheldon12December.Inthesameperiod,theEUgrantedarequestfromtheUKtodelayBrexitbyanotherthreemonths.Thecurrentscheduleddeparturedateis31January2020.
LittlehaschangedinthisperiodregardingtheSettlementSchemedirectly.However,sinceoursurveyclosed,wehaveseentheappthatEEAnationalsarerequiredtodownloadinordertoapplybecomeavailableoniPhone(models7andnewer).IthadpreviouslybeenasignificantproblemforsomethatithadonlybeenavailableonAndroiddevices.
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TheSettlementScheme
How the scheme works
EEAnationalsandtheirfamiliescanapplytotheEUSettlementSchemetocontinuelivingintheUKafter30June2021,accordingtoofficialguidance.ThisisalsothedeadlineforapplyingiftheUKleavestheEUwithadeal.IftheUKleavestheEUwithoutadeal,thedeadlinewillmoveforwardto31December2020.
Iftheapplicationissuccessful,applicantsaregrantedeithersettledstatus(ifresidentintheUKforatleastfiveyears)orpre-settledstatus(ifresidentintheUKforlessthanfiveyears).3
Thoseapplyingneed:
• Proofofidentity:inmostcases,thisiseitherapassportornationalidentitycard4• Adigitalphotooftheirface• ProofoftheirresidenceintheUK
Applicantscaneitherscantheiridentitydocumentanduploadtheirphotousingthe‘EUExit:IDDocumentCheck’app(whichisnowavailableoniPhone7andaboveaswellasAndroidphones),orsendtheirdocumentinthepostanduploadtheirphotousingtheonlineapplication.Ifanapplicanthasabiometricpassport/IDcardoraUK-issuedBiometricResidencePermitbutdoesnothaveaccesstoasmartphonecompatiblewiththeapp,theycanvisitoneoftheorganisationsthathasofferedtoscananduploadtherequesteddocuments.
Toprovecontinuousresidence,applicantsusuallyneedtohavelivedintheUK,theChannelIslandsortheIsleofManforatleastsixmonthsineach12-monthperiod.IndividualsapplyingtotheEUSettlementSchemecangivetheirNationalInsuranceNumber(NINo)toallowanautomatedcheckoftheirresidencebasedontaxandcertainbenefitrecords.AccordingtoHomeOfficeguidance,theywillonlyneedtoprovidefurtherevidenceifnotenoughdatacanbegatheredfromtheNINochecktoconfirmtheirresidence.
Duringtheapplicationprocess,applicantsareaskedtodeclareconvictionsthatappearintheircriminalrecordintheUKoroverseas(applicantsdonotneedtodeclare‘spentconvictions’or‘cautions’).Thegovernmentwebsitestatesthatapplicantsaged18oroverwillalsobecheckedagainsttheUK’scrimedatabase.However,itemergedinSeptember2019thatapplicantsaged10-17arealsobeingcheckedforcriminalrecords.5
Peoplewhohavebeenconvictedofaminorcrimewillstillbeeligibleforsettledorpre-settledstatus,andmaystillbeeligiblewithmoreseriousconvictions.Theseapplicationswillbedealtwithonacase-by-casebasis.
Non-EEAapplicantsmayapplyiftheyareaclosefamilymemberordependentofanEEAnationalorinseveralotherspecificcircumstances,listedontheUKgovernmentwebsite.
Applicantsareinformedofthedecisionbyemailandmostofthosewhoaregrantedsettledorpre-settledstatusdonotreceiveanyphysicalproofofthis.Successfulapplicantscanviewtheirstatusorproveittosomeoneelseonline.
3Therearesomecategoriesofpeoplewhodonotneedtoapply,includingIrishcitizens.4Unlesstheyareinpossessionofavalidpermanentresidencedocumentorsimilar.5‘AngerasHomeOfficeconfirmsprimaryschoolchildrenofEUcitizenstobecheckedforcriminalrecords’,MayBulman,TheIndependent,10September2019.
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Migrant Voice’s role in the development of the scheme
SincebeforetheEUreferendum,MigrantVoicehasbeencallingfortherightsofEEAnationalsandtheirfamiliestobepreservedandhaslobbiedfortheschemetobebasedonregistrationordeclarationratherthanapplication.Wehavealsobeencallingforaschemethatwillnotleaveanyoneundocumentediftheydonotapply.
Inearly2018MigrantVoicewasinvited,alongwithanumberofotherorganisations,tositononeofseveralHomeOfficeusergroupstoadviseonthedesignandimplementationoftheEUSettlementScheme.Wehad(andstilldohave)significantconcernsregardingthisschemeandwesawthisinvitationasanopportunitytovoicetheseandtoinfluenceitsfurtherdevelopment.
Inusergroupmeetingssincethen,weandothershaveflaggedourconcernsregarding,forexample,vulnerablegroupswhomayhavedifficultyapplyingandissueswiththedesignoftheschemeandthequestionsaskedofapplicants(e.g.regardingcriminalconvictions).TheHomeOfficehastakensomeofthisadviceandmadesomechangesaccordingly.
15
Thesurvey
Asnotedabove,thesurveywasborneoutofaconcernthatatleastsomeEEAnationalswerefacingdifficulties,delaysorbaddecisionsintheprocessofapplyingtotheSettlementScheme,andthatmanywerefrustratedorupsetattheprospectorprocessofapplying.Wewerealsoawarethatotherswerechoosingnottoapplyatall,eitherwaitingtoseehowpoliticaleventsdevelopedordecidingtoboycotttheschemealtogether.Wewerekeentohearfromasmanypeopleindifferentsituationsaspossible,includingthosewhohaven’tappliedandpeoplewhohaveappliedandfacednoproblems.
TheaimwastogiveEEAnationalsintheUKameanstosharetheirexperiences,thoughtsandfeelingsontheSettlementScheme–anditsimpactontheirlives–andtoidentifyproblemsthatwecouldthenraisewiththeHomeOfficeandinotherinfluentialforawiththegoalofcontributingtotheimprovementofthescheme.
Methodology
Theonlinesurvey,hostedbySurveyMonkey,wasopenfrom27Juneto2September2019.MigrantVoicedisseminatedinformationaboutthesurvey,includingalinktoit,viaitssocialmediaplatforms,mailinglists,andmigrantnetworks,aswellasbywordofmouth.Itwasfurthercirculatedbyotherorganisationstotheircontacts.Itwasinitiallysharedinsomecasesasasurveyonlyforthosewhohadalreadyapplied,butthiswaslaterrectified.
Thesurveycomprised17questions,including12multiple-choicequestions(sevenofwhichalsoofferedspaceforafurtherwrittenresponse,promptedbythephrase‘Pleaseexplain’)andfiveopen-endedquestionsrequiringonlywrittenresponses.Notallquestionswerecompulsory.(SeethefulllistofquestionsintheAppendix.)
Somewerefactualquestions(e.g.‘Haveyouappliedtothesettlementscheme?’),whileothersaskedrespondentstogiveanansweronascale(e.g.‘Howwastheapplicationprocess?Easy/Slightlydifficult/Moderatelydifficult/Verydifficult),andothersstillwereopenquestionsregardingrespondents’feelingsorexperiences(e.g.‘Howdiditmakeyoufeeltohavetoapply?’).
Therewerequestionstohelpdeterminewhethertheindividualwaseligibletocompletethesurvey(‘AreyouanEEAnationaloradependentofone?’),aquestionabouttheircountryoforigin,andaquestionregardingwhethertheindividualwashappyforustocontactthemforfurtherinformation.ThesurveyallowedforrepresentativesoforganisationsworkingwithEEAnationalsand/ortheirdependentstocompletethequestions,providinginformationaboutindividualswhowerehavingproblemswiththescheme.Werequestedthattheserepresentativescompletethesurveyonceforeachcasetheywishedtoshare.Wealsoencouragedorganisationstocontactusseparatelyaboutissuesorproblemsfacedbymembersorclients,andseveraldidso.
Therewasaspecificmultiplechoicequestionforthosewhohadnotappliedtofindoutthereasonsforthis,andspacefortheserespondentstoprovidefurtherinformation.
Thesurveyreceived331responses,ofwhich229wereconsideredvalid.Individualswhoseresponseswereconsideredinvalideitherdidnotcompletethecompulsoryquestionsinthesurveyorwerenoteligibletotakethesurveyduetotheirstatus(i.e.theywerenotanEEAnational,adependentofone,oramemberofanorganisationfillingthesurveyonbehalfofanEEAnational/dependent).
16
Ofthose229respondents,192answeredanoptionalquestionregardingtheircountryoforigin.Thirty-sixnationalitiesarerepresentedintheresults:22EUcountries,twoEEAcountries(IcelandandNorway),and12non-EEAcountries.Wedidnotgatheranyinformationregardingtheageorgenderofrespondents.
Thefollowinganalysisisbasedonthe229validresponses.Noteveryrespondentansweredeveryquestion,soanalysisofsomequestionsisbasedonasmallersamplethan229.Furthermore,insomequestionswheretherewasbothamultiple-choiceoptionandacommentbox,somerespondentsdidnottickanyboxesbutonlywroteacomment.Sowhiletheyrespondedtothequestion,theydidnotprovideanydataforthequantitativeanalysis:theserespondentsarerepresentedbyasegmentlabelled‘Noboxticked’inthepiechartsbelowwherethisisrelevant.
Thefirstanalysissectionlooksprimarilyatthequantitativedataretrievedforeachquestion(questionsdetermininganindividual’seligibilityforthesurveyorwillingnesstobecontactedarenotaddressed);thesecondprovidesanalysisofthefindings,drawingonresponsesfromacrossthesurvey;andthethirddrawstogethertheinformationprovidedoutsidetheonlinesurveybyorganisationsworkingwithEEAnationalsandtheirdependentsonSettlementSchemeapplications.
Weareawareofthelimitationsofourmethodology.Whileitiscertainlypossibletodrawvalidconclusionsfromthe229validresponseswereceived,giventhehugenumberofpeopleeligibleforthisscheme,itisclearthatamuchlargersurveyisalsoneeded,perhapsevenalongitudinalstudythatanalysesindividuals’experiencesofthewholeprocess.Afterall,thissurveygivesonlyasnapshotofanumberofindividuals’experiencesatasinglemomentineachperson’sengagementwiththescheme,andmaynotberepresentativeoftheiroverallexperience.
It’salsoimportanttonotethatanunknownnumberofpeoplewhorespondedtothesurveyhavingeithernotyetappliedornotyetreceivedadecisionmaysincehaveappliedorbeengrantedsettled/pre-settledstatus.
Secondly,weareawarethatthesurveywasmorelikelytoattractrespondentswhohadfacedproblemswiththeschemeandmaythereforenotberepresentativeoftheoverallexperienceofthe2.4million(orso)peoplewhohaveappliedsofar.Thosewhoseexperiencehadbeeneasyandsmoothwerelesslikelytoseekoutortakeupanopportunitytosharethatexperience,andtheymaythereforebeunder-representedintheresults.
WearealsoawarethatmanyEEAnationals/dependentswhoarefacingthemostseverebarrierstoapplyingwillnothavecompletedthissurvey,oftenforthesamereasonsthattheyhavenotappliedtothescheme:theymaybeunawaretheyneedto,theymaynothaveaccesstoortheabilitytousetechnology,theymaybephysicallyormentallyill,ortheymaynothavestrongEnglishlanguageskills.Itislikelythatthescaleoftheproblemsthatareexploredinthisreportareevenworseformanyofthegroupswhohavenotyetappliedandarefacingsignificantbarriers,e.g.childrenincare,peoplewithnofixedabode.Someoftheseissueswereraisedbyorganisationsandaresummarisedinthefinalanalysissection.
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Overviewofresponses
ThequantitativedatapresentedinthissectionfocusesontheresponsesfromthosewhohadappliedtotheSettlementSchemeastherewereonlytwoquestionsinoursurveythatrelatedtothosewhohadnotyetapplied.Weexploretheirexperiencesindetailinalateranalysissection.
1. Have you applied for settled status?
Outof229validresponses,153individuals(67%)saidtheyhadapplied.One-third(33%)hadnotapplied(yet).Aseparatequestionaskedthosewhohadnotappliedaboutthereasonsforthis;theiranswerswillbeexploredinthenextanalysissection.
2. If yes, what was the outcome?
Themajorityofrespondentstothisquestion(69%)saidtheyhadbeengrantedsettledstatus,while14%peoplehadgotpre-settledstatus.Atthetimetheyfilledinthesurvey,17respondentshadnotreceivedaresponse,andeightsaidtheyhadgotneithersettlednorpre-settledstatus.
Noneoftheseeightrespondentshadbeenrefusedstatus,asisrevealedbyfurtherinformationprovidedinthecommentboxforthisquestion.Instead,mosthadgotstucksomewhereintheprocessforvarious
67%
33%YesNo
69%14%
5%10%2%
Igotsettledstatus
Igotpre-settledstatus
Igotneitheroftheabove
Ihaven'treceivedthefinalresponseyetNoboxticked
18
reasons,e.g.becauseHomeOfficerecordsdidnotconfirmtheirresidence,becausetheyneededtouploadtheirdocumentsatadesignatedcentreandcouldnotfindanavailableappointment,orbecausetheyhadfacedatechnicalissueandwerewaitingforinformationregardinghowtoproceedwiththeirapplication.
3. How was the application process?
Justunderhalfofthosewhorespondedtothisquestionsaidthattheapplicationprocesshadbeen“easy”,withtheremainderselectingvariouslevelsof“difficult”(from“slightlydifficult”to“verydifficult”).Itisconcerningthatmorethan1in10(12%)saidtheprocesshadbeen“verydifficult”.
Seventy-onerespondentsprovidedfurtherinformationinthecommentboxforthisquestion.Someofthereasonsprovidedfordifficultiesweretechnicalissues(e.g.theappnotworkingproperly),delaysinreceivingadecision,andproblemsretrievingfurtherevidencerequiredtoproveresidence.Theseareaddressedingreaterdetailinthenextsection.
4. Were you asked to provide additional evidence?
48%
19%
18%12% 3%
Easy
Slightlydifficult
Moderatelydifficult
Verydifficult
Noboxticked
38%59%
3%
Yes
No
Noboxticked
19
Themajorityofrespondentstothisquestion(59%)saidtheydidnotneedtoprovideadditionalevidencefortheirapplicationtobeprocessed,with38%indicatingthattheywererequiredtoprovideevidencebeyondtheinitialphotograph,IDdocumentandNINo.
5. Were you able to use your phone to verify your identity (scan your passport)?
Aroundsixintenofthosewhorespondedtothisquestionsaidtheywereabletousetheirownphonetocompletetheinitial,digitalpartoftheapplicationandforwardtheinformationfromtheirpassportorIDdocumenttotheHomeOffice.
Justunder40%saidtheywereunabletodothis.Thisdoesnotmeanthattheywereunabletoapply,astheirfurthercommentsshow.Mostusedafriendoracquaintance’sphonetoscantheirpassport.
Sinceoursurveyclosed,theapphasbecomeavailableoniPhone(models7andabove).Whilesomepeopledonotownanykindofsmartphoneandwillthereforestillneedtoborrowadevicetocompletethispartoftheapplication,itislikelythattheproportionofpeopleunabletousetheirownphonewoulddecreasesignificantlyifweweretoconductthesurveynow.
6. How long did it take to get a decision?
61%37%
2%Yes
No
Noboxticked
40%
28%
24%8%Uptotwodays
Uptooneweek
Oneweektoonemonth
Onemonthtothreemonths
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Thiswasanopenquestionwith158responses.Fromtheseresponseswecreatedaseriesofcategoriesthatcouldrepresenttherangeofexperiences.Twenty-eightresponsesweredismissedasinvalid,e.g.whereinsufficientinformationwasprovidedtoidentifythetimeframe.
Fourintenrespondentssaidtheyhadreceivedadecisionwithintwodays,withafurther28%receivingtheirswithinaweek.For24%,thedecisiontookbetweenoneweekandonemonth,with8%waitinguptothreemonths.Thequickesttimegivenwas“moments”,withthelongest“3months”.
HomeOfficeguidancecurrentlystatesthatapplicationsusuallytakearoundfiveworkingdaystoprocess,butthatthiscantakeuptoamonth.Thismeansthatalmostone-thirdofrespondentstooursurveyhadtowaitlongerthantheusualprocessingtime,withalmostoneintenwaitingevenlongerthanthelongesttimeestimatedbytheHomeOffice.
7. Did you get a different decision from what you expected (e.g. pre-settled status instead of settled)?
Outof159peoplewhorespondedtothisquestion,85%saidthatthedecisiontheyreceivedwasnotdifferentfromtheirexpectations,whetherthiswassettledorpre-settledstatus.Sixteenpeopledidgetadifferentdecisiontotheonetheyexpected.Ofthose16whoprovidedadditionalinformation,sevensaidtheyhadbeengrantedpre-settledwhentheyexpectedsettledstatus.
8. Were there any complications in the whole application process?
10%
85%
5%Yes
No
Noboxticked
35%
63%
2%
YesNoNoboxticked
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Almosttwo-thirds(63%)oftherespondentstothisquestionsaidtheydidnotencounteranycomplicationsintheprocessofapplying,with35%answering“yes”.
Theissuesraisedinthecommentboxwerevariedandincludedtechnicalissues,additionalevidencebeingrequired,supportingevidencebeingignored,andtheHomeOfficenotreplyingtorequestsforclarification.Thesewillbeexploredlater.
9. How did it make you feel to have to apply?
Threeofthesurveyquestionsweredesignedtoexplorerespondents’feelingsandemotionsduringandaftertheprocess.
Ofthe168responsestothisquestion,mostwerenegative,withwordssuchas“unwelcome”,“unwanted”,“angry”featuringfrequently.Thewordcloudaboverepresentssomeofthewordsusedtodescribetherespondents’feelingsastheylearnedtheyhadtoapplytothescheme,withthesizeofeachwordscaledtorepresentthenumberoftimesitwasmentioned.(Thesamemethodologyappliestothecreationofthetwofollowingwordclouds.)
10. How did the application process make you feel?
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Again,ofthe162responsestothisquestion,themajoritywerenegative,withwordssuchas“stressed”,“angry”and“nervous”recurringfrequently.
11. How did you feel after getting a decision (if you had one)?
Ofthe155peoplewhoresponded,“relieved”wasthemostcommonanswer,followedby“stillwaiting”,indicatingthenumberofpeoplewhohadnotyetreceivedaresponse.
Formany,thenegativefeelingshadnotgoneawayafterthedecisionwasreceived,withwordssuchas“bitter”,“unimpressed”and“angry”alsofeaturing.
12. If you haven’t applied yet, why?
Morethanone-quarterofthosewhorespondedtothisquestion(27%)toldusthatthereasontheyhadnotappliedwasbecausetheydidnotwantto.Aroundhalfthatnumbersaidtheywereworriedtheymaynotgetapositivedecision.Ofthosewhoanswered,5%toldustheyeitherdidn’tknowhowtoapplyorwantedhelptodoso.
13%6% 3%
27%2%
47%
2%
IamworriedImaynotgetapositivedecisionIamstillgatheringinformationandevidenceIdon’tknowhowtoapply
Idon’twanttoapply
Iwanthelptoapply
Other
Noboxticked
23
Almosthalfticked‘Other’andmanyoftheserespondents–aswellasmostwhohadtickedoneofthemultiplechoiceanswers–providedfurtherinformationinthecommentsection.
Themostcommonreasonsgivenwereconcernsaboutdatasharing,uncertainty(aboutwhetherBrexitwillhappen,whatitwillmeanforfreemovement,andwhatsettledstatuswillmeanfortheirrightslongterm),worriesabouttheirabilitytoproveresidence,andoutragethattheyarebeingaskedtoapplyatall.Thesewillbeexploredinmoredetaillater.
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Analysisoftheresponses
Thissectiontakesacloserlookatthesurveyresponses,firstfocusingontheproblemsorconcernsthatwereraisedbythosewhohadapplied,andthenlookingattheresponsesfromthosewhohadnotapplied.
Asisclearfromthedataabove,whilethemajorityofrespondentshadanoverallpositiveexperienceoftheapplicationprocess,asignificantminoritydidnot,whichiscauseforconcern.Ifwescalethisup,itislikelythathundreds,thousandsoreventensofthousandsofothersarealsofacingproblems,giventhatmorethan3.5millionpeopleareeligibletoapply(andmorethan2.4millionapplicationshavealreadybeenmade).
Forexample,severalrespondentstoldusthat,duetoself-employment,ithadbeendifficulttoprovetheirresidence.AsofSeptember2019,15%oftheUKworkforceisself-employed,makingitlikelythat,evenwithaconservativeestimate,hundredsofthousandsofapplicantstotheSettlementSchememayfacesimilarproblems.6
Concerns raised by those who had applied
Itisclearthat,whiletheHomeOfficecontinuestoclaimthattheprocessisfastandeasyforthemajorityofapplicants,manypeoplearefacingafrustrating,slowanderror-riddenprocess,evenwhentheirapplicationshouldbesimple.Someclaimtheirsupportingevidencewassimplyignored;severalself-employedapplicantshavefacedproblemsprovingtheirworkhistory;andforsomewomen,adiscrepancybetweentheirmarriedandmaidennamesonvariousdocumentshasmadeitdifficulttoprovetheiridentity.Othershavebeengrantedpre-settledstatuswhentheyareeligibleforthepermanent,andthereforelessprecarious,settledstatus,whilemanyfacedtechnicalorcommunicationsissuesduringtheprocess.
Asignificantnumberofrespondentsreportedfacingseveraldifferent,unrelatedproblemsduringtheprocess,makingtheapplicationmuchmoretime-consumingandstressfulthanitshouldbe.Onesuchrespondentsaid:
Appmisbehaved,itwasverydifficulttoscanpassport,andinstructionwashardtofind.Thensystemsaiditcan'tfindproofofmypresenceintheUKinpast6months(I'mherefromover6years),soIattachedprooffrompast6months.Itonlyturnedoutafter6weeksofwaitingand2phonecallsthatIhavetoprovideprooffor1moreyear.
Wenowaddressinturnthekeyconcernsraisedbythosewhohadappliedtotheschemeatthetimeofcompletingthesurvey.
1. Additional evidence
Asnotedearlier,62peoplewhorespondedtothesurveysaidthattheirapplicationhadrequiredfurtherevidenceoftheirresidencebeyondtheinitialidentitycheckandprovisionoftheirNINo.Itisclearfromseveralfurtherwrittenresponsesthatthiswasunexpected,andthattheserespondentsbelievedtheHome
6‘EmploymentintheUK:November2019’,OfficeforNationalStatistics,12November2019.
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Officeshouldhavebeenabletoaccessalltherequiredevidencefromtheirinitialinformation.Anumberofthoseaffectedstatedthattheyareself-employed.
Onesuchindividualsaid:
Ineedtoprovideevidenceofmyresidence.Iwasself-employedfortwoyears,yetHMRCdoesnothavemyrecords,soIneedtolookforoldbills,etc.
Theyadded:
It'saslapinthefacetopaytaxesfor10yearsandthenfindoutthatthestatedoesn'tevenhaveyourrecords.Whataboutpeoplewhodidn'trealisethey'dneedtheirbillsfrom10yearsagoanddisposedofthem?PeoplewhoseemployersneversentthemP45s,P60s?Thishappensallthetime.
Asecondrespondentwasinitiallygrantedpre-settledstatus,whilebeingeligibleforsettledstatus.Tochallengethedecision,theyhadtoprovidefurtherevidenceevenforyearswhentheyhadbeenemployed.Theyadded:
Itisaprocessthatrequiresgoodrecordkeepingandnervesofsteel.
Anotherpersonhadtoacceptpre-settledstatusas,duetoa“difficultdivorce”,theynolongerhadthenecessaryevidencetoprovetheir30yearsresidence.
OtherrespondentsfocusedontheGovernment’sapparentinabilitytotraceextantinformation–suchasNationalInsurancedataorprofessionalrecords–thatshouldhavebeeneasilyaccessibletotheGovernmentandwouldnegatetheneedtoprovideanyfurtherevidence.
Herearesomeoftheirresponses:
Theyhadnorecordsofthelast5years.IworkandpaytaxesandNIN[NationalInsurance].
IhavelivedintheUKfor12years,haveafullNIrecordandHMrevenuerecord,bothaccessibleonline,anddespitethathadtosendthesupportingdocumentsmyself.Annoyingtosaytheleast.
Providingmyinsurancenumberwasnotenough.Whichwasasurprise.Theycouldn'tfindme.IprovidedmycompanyHMRCnumberanddoc.
InthesesituationstheonusfallsbackontheapplicanttoprovethattheywereresidentintheUKforthetimeperiodsinquestion.Thiscanbringwithitfinancialcosts(e.g.gatheringofficialdocuments),timepressuresandstress,oreventhepossibilitythatapersoneligibleforsettledstatusmayhaveto‘settle’forpre-settledstatusiftheycannotaccesstherequireddocuments.
2. Identity
Severalrespondentssaidtheyhadfacedproblemstryingtoprovetheiridentity,throughnofaultoftheirown.
Twowomenwhohadchangedtheirsurnamewhentheygotmarriedexplainedthatthishadcausedunexpectedcomplications.Forone,thisledtoarequestforadditionalevidence:
MyDutchpassportisinmymaidennamesoitdidn'ttieinwithmyNInumbersoitaskedmefor7yearsproof.
Theotherfacedafrustratingprocesstocorrectamistakerelatingtoherchangedname:
26
Iappliedundermymarriednameandtheoutcomewascorrectlymadeinmymarriedname.YetwhenIloggedbackininApril,mynamehadchangedtomymaidenname.Calledtheresolutioncentreseveraltimesandstillnotfixed.
Anamechangeduetomarriageisaveryfrequentoccurrenceanditisconcerningthatthisisapparentlycausingdelays,mistakesanddemandsforfurtherevidenceinsomecases.
Twotransgenderrespondentstoldustheywerefacingsimilarproblemsprovingtheiridentity.Onepersonwrote:
ThemoredetailedreasonforthecomplicationisthatIamatransgenderpersonfromPoland.MynameinthepassportisdifferentfromthenameIuseatworkoranywhereelseintheUK.TheSS[SettlementScheme]applicationformdoesnotaccommodatesuchcircumstances.
Anothertransgenderrespondentwrote:
AsatranspersonIamfacingextracomplicationsforapplyinganditistakingalongtimetofigureouthowtodoitproperly.Ihaveformallychanged[my]nameintheUKincludingallmyofficialdocumentssuchasDriver’sLicence,bank,etc.However,mypassportfrommycountryoforiginhasadifferentnamewhichIamunabletochangewithoutaletterfromaGenderSpecialistdeclaringthatIamindeedtrans.TogetthisletterIwillneedtowaitanother2years(currentwaitingtimeforGenderIdentityClinicsisaround4years)andhaveproofofformalnamechangeinthiscountry.I’mcurrentlystuckinthisloopandscaredaboutapplyingincasetheywillrejectmyapplication.Idonottrustthatpeoplegoingthroughmyapplicationwillbeeducatedenoughontransissuesnottouseitagainstmycase.
Transpeoplemakeupanestimated1%oftheUKpopulation.Upwardsof35,000peopleeligibletoapplytotheSettlementSchemecouldthereforebetransandfacingsimilarproblems.Theconcernsraisedbytherespondentsabove–thattheapplicationformdoesnotallowforthesecircumstancesandthatthoseassessingtheapplicationmaynotbeadequatelyeducated–areparticularlytroubling.
3. Unclear information and lack of response
SeveralrespondentswroteaboutalackofclarityintheHomeOfficeguidanceand/ortheapplicationprocess.Inonecase,thisledtotheapplicantgivinguponpursuingthecorrectoutcome:
Itwasn'tclearwhatwasneededsoIacceptedpre-settledstatus[…]Ifeltobligedtoacceptpre-settled.
OtherssaidthatithadbeenverydifficulttocontacttheHomeOfficeregardingtheirapplication,orthattheyhadn’treceivedemailsorinformationthattheyshouldhave:
IhaveappliedforthesettledstatusinNovember2018viapilotschemefortheNHSstaff.Ihaven’theardanythingfromtheHomeOfficesince,inspiteofseveralphonecallsforanupdate.
[Iwastold]thattheHomeOfficewillcontactmefirsttoconfirmmyemail/phonenumber,andafterI’llhaveanemailaskingmetocontinuetheregistrationprocess.Ineverhadthatsecondemail.
Contactwiththeresolutioncentrewasafarce.FirsttimeIcalledIwasadvisedtotryagaininaweek.Calledbackafteraweekandgotthroughtosomeonewhopasseditontothetechteam.AweeklaterIgotaconfirmationthattheissuehadnowbeenpassedon.AnotherweeklaterIhadavoicemailaskingtocallthecentre.Idid,butnotfrommymobilephoneandwastoldtheladywas
27
unabletoseethecommunicationrecordasIwascallingfromadifferentnumber.Sohungupandcalledbackfrommobilephoneonlytobeaskedwhatthevoicemailsaidthatwasleftforme.Personsaidtheywouldlookintotheissueandcallback.ThreeweekslaterIamstillwaitingforthatcall.
4. Technical issues
(i) Compatibility
ThefactthattheappreleasedbytheGovernmentforsmartphonesonlyworkedonAndroidsystemsatthetimeofthesurveycreatedfrustrationsformanyrespondents.Inmostcases,thiscouldberesolvedbyusingsomeoneelse’sphone.Inotherinstances,applicantsdecidedtosendtheirpassporttobescannedmanually.Threerespondentssaidtheyhadtobuyanewphoneinordertoapply,thusincurringasignificantcostinaprocessthatissupposedlyfreeofcharge.
SomerespondentstoldustheyhadfacedproblemsevenwhenusinganAndroiddevicethatwassupposedlycompatible.OnepersonsaidtheytriedtoapplyusingtwodifferentAndroiddevices:
First,IusedanolderphoneGalaxyNote4andthescanningofthepasswordneverworked.Ieventriedmycolleagues(sic)phonewhichwasanewerHTCIthinkwhichalsodidn’tworkatall.IgaveuponthisthenuntilIboughtmyselfaNokiaforarelativelylowpriceof£130onlyforthepurposeofdoingmyownandmyfamily’ssettledschemeapplications.
AnotherpersonsaidtheyhadtogotoascanningcentreastheydidnothaveanAndroidphoneandwascharged£14fortheservice.Thisseemstobeinconflictwiththeapplicationsystem,whichis(now)supposedtobefreeofcharge.
Severalofthosewhodidnothaveaccesstoacompatibledeviceexpressedtheirfrustration:
AsIdon’thaveanAndroidphoneIhadtomakeanappointmentwiththecounciltogetmyIDscanned.Thatmadetheprocessmoredifficultandtimeconsuming.
Thewholeprocesswascumbersome.
(ii) The interface
Inseveralcases,respondentssaidthattheapphadnotworkedproperly,evenwhentheywereusingthecorrectdevice.Somepeoplehadtoscantheirpassportseveraltimes,astheappcouldnotreadthedataproperly.Inonecase,theappcommunicatedtotheuserthatthepassportscanhadbeenaccepted,butafewdayslaterthepersonreceivedanemailrequestingthemtoscantheirpassport.
Otherswereforcedtogiveupandsendtheirpassporttobescannedmanually.Onerespondentwrote:
Appwouldn’tscanpassport,usedtwodifferentphonestotry.ThengotamessagethroughappthatIonlyhadacoupleoftriesleftbeforebeinglockedforaweek.Hadtosendinmypassportintheendtomakeitwork.
Anothersaid:
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Firstattemptcrashed.Receivedweeklyemails/textmessagesbetweenMarchandAugusttoconfirmthatIwasexperiencingtechnicalissues.FinallylastweekamessagethatIshouldtryandcontinuemyapplication.
Andathird:
Myphonecouldn'treadthechip,nomatterwhichwayItriedtopositionthepassport.Iwasnervousabouttryingtoomanytimes,asIheardyoucouldgetlockedout.Iendedupborrowingsomeoneelse'sphone,whichwasveryuncomfortable,andfeltlikeabreachofmyprivacy.Thismadetheprocessverystressful.
(iii) Confirmation not received
Somerespondentsclaimednottohavereceivedaconfirmationemailaftercompletingtheapplicationprocess:
Ineverreceivedtheconfirmationemailaftersubmittingtheinfoanddespitealongcallwiththehelplinethreeweekslatertheissuehasn'tbeenresolved-theykeeptextingmeweeklysayingtheywillgetintouchoncethishasbeenresolved.
Iwasn'tsentaconfirmationemailandhavehadtocallthehelplinetogetsupport.
5. Policy concerns
(i) Data handling
SeveralindividualsexpresseddissatisfactionwiththeHomeOfficepolicyregardingtheuseofanydataprovidedduringtheapplicationprocess.Whenapplyingtothescheme,applicantsaretold:"WemayalsoshareyourinformationwithotherpublicandprivatesectororganisationsintheUKandoverseas."Nodetailsaregivenaboutthesethirdpartiesandapplicantsareunabletocompletetheapplicationiftheydonotagreetohavetheirdatausedinthisway.
Respondentssaid:
IamreallyangryabouttheHOrefusaltodisclosewhotheysharetheverysensitivedatawith.
Iamveryconcernedabouttheprivacyofmydataandtheabsenceofknowledgeregardingwithwhomandwithwhichorganisationsthesedataaregoingtobeshared,storedandprotected.
Privacypolicy:"WemayalsoshareyourinformationwithotherpublicandprivatesectororganisationsintheUKandoverseas."NO,NO,NO!
(ii) Lack of physical proof
Severalrespondentsalsoexpressedfrustrationatthepolicythatmeansrecipientsofsettledorpre-settledstatusdonotreceivephysicalproof(intheformofanIDcard,letterorotherwise)ofthatstatus.
29
Respondingtothequestion,‘Howdidyoufeelaftergettingadecision?’onepersonwrote:
NotcompletelyrelievedasthereisnophysicalproofofmystatusifIhaveaproblemattheborderforexample.
Otherswrote:
VeryhappytohavemystatusconfirmedbutIwouldhavebeenevenhappieriftherewassomekindofphysicaldocumenttoprovemystatus.
Nophysicalevidenceistheworst-disasterwaitingtohappen.
(iii) Application not registration
Anumberofrespondentsweredeeplycriticalofaschemethatrequirespeopletoapply(whichcarriesthepossibilityofbeingrefused),ratherthansimplyregister:
Makingpeople'apply'tostayintheirhomesisterrible.
IhavelivedlegallyinU.K.FOR45yearsandshouldnothavetogothroughanapplicationprocesswhichcanresultinrefusal.Itshouldbeasimpleregistration.
IamawarethatIhavetoapplybutIhaven’tdonesoyet.Ifeelagainstapplyingasaprinciple,becauseIbelieve–andhavebeencampaigningfor–aschemewhereyouhavetoregisterratherthanapply.
6. Waiting time
DespitetheHomeOfficeclaimingthatapplicationsareusuallyprocessedwithinfiveworkingdays,asignificantnumberofrespondentsreportedmuchlongerwaitingtimes.Oneinfourrespondentssaidtheyhadtowaitbetweenoneweekandonemonth,with8%waitinguptothreemonths.
Someresponses:
IappliedsinceFebruaryandstillwaiting,Irangthemalready3timesandmycaseisonhold,sostressfultowaitsolongwhereasothersalreadyreceivedwithinadayortwomaximum.[respondedtosurveyon3July]
Ifeelsomuchdepressedas[it’s]takingtoolongtogetdecided,it’sbeen3monthsandIkeepcheckingemailsallthetime.
Othersfacedlongwaitingtimesafterchallengingtheinitialdecision:
GotpresettledstatusfirstwhichIquestionedasIhavebeenintheUKfornearly40years.OneofthelettersfrommyworkplacestatedIhavebeenworkingforthem20years.After3monthsofwaitingIgotanemailtodaysayingIhavesettledstatus.
Manyofthosewhohadbeenwaitingweeksorevenmonthsforadecisionwerenon-EEAnationalswhoarefamilymembersofEEAnationals.Theparticularissuestheyfacedwillbedealtwithinthenextsection.
30
Non-EEA nationals
Ofthe229validresponses,14wereidentifiablyfromnon-EEAnationalswhoclaimthattheyareeligibletoapplytotheSettlementSchemeduetobeingthedependentsofEEAnationalsintheUK.
Ofthose14people,threehadbeengrantedsettledstatus,twohadpre-settledstatus,onehadnotappliedandeightwerestillwaitingforadecision.
SeveralsaidtheyhadreceivedwrongormisleadinginformationfromtheHomeOfficeandtherehadbeendiscrepanciesbetweenofficialguidelinesandadviceprovidedviathephoneline.Otherssaidtheyfaceddifficultiesprovidingadditionalevidencethatmustbescannedanduploadedatcentreswhereappointmentsareextremelyhardtocomebyandusuallycomewithacost.
Case 1
OnerespondentfromNigeriasaidtheyhadbeenwaitingformorethanthreemonthsforaresponsetotheapplication.
Iappliedonthe1stofApril,suppliedmydocumentsandgotCOAon15thofAprilbutupuntiltodaytheyhaven'tdecidedonmyapplication.WhenIcalltheysaythattheyaredoingeligibilitycheckandstuff.[respondedtosurveyon7July]
WhiletheHomeOfficewebsiteatthetimeindicatedamaximumwaitingtimeoffourdays,therespondentwastoldwhentheycontactedtheResolutionCentrethatadecisioncouldtakeuptosixmonths.
Askedhowtheapplicationprocessmadethemfeel,therespondentanswered:
Committingsuicide
Case 2
Asecondrespondent,fromZimbabwe,alsosaidtheyhadbeenwaitingforaresponseformorethanthreemonths.TherespondentclaimedthattheHomeOfficeisincorrecttosaythatsomeonecanapplyusingtheirBiometricResidencePermit(BRP):
TurnsoutthisisnotthecaseandaddingBRPinformationtoyourapplicationresultsinyouwaitingforaresponseinperpetuity.
Therespondentgoesontoclaimthatthereisalackofguidanceforpeopleintheirsituation:
BRPguidancenotavailableeventhoughinitiallyclaimedyoucouldapplywiththisdocument.IappliedwithpassportandBRPandapparentlythisiswhathasresultedinmenotgettingaresponseorcertificateofapplicationatall.
Theydescribetheprocessasfrustrating:
Notknowingwhymyapplicationisnotbeingprocessedlikethereissomesegregationofsomesort.It’sonethingtohavetoprovidemoreevidencewhichIcouldbuttonotreceivecommunicationisfrustrating.
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Other
Othersalsocomplainedaboutthelackofcoherentguidancefornon-EEAapplicants.Onepersonwrote:
Ihavereceivedemailstobookappointmentforbiometric,butwhenwetriedtobook,Iwasn'tinsystem,soIcalledbacktooffice,wheretheysaidIdon’tneedtoprovidebiometric,onlytosendpassport.Veryconfusing,withtoomanycallstobesortedout.
AcitizenofIceland(whichisintheEEAbutnottheEU)whorespondedtooursurveyfacedasimilarproblem:
IamanIcelandicnationalandthereforepartoftheEEAbutnottheEU.Thesystemdidn'tseemtohavemysituationtakenintoaccountaswhenIfinishedmyapplication,theconfirmationemailstatedthatIneededtosubmitbiometricstocompletetheapplication,whereasthewebsitesaidtheapplicationhadbeensent.Itwasconfusing,thoughitwasclearedupbycallingthehelplinewhereourswasconfirmedthatnobiometricswerenecessary.
AccordingtothelatestHomeOfficeguidanceontheSettlementScheme,non-EEAcitizensapplyingfromwithintheUK“withoutaspecifiedrelevantdocument”arerequiredtoprovidefingerprints(thesecondformofbiometricsafterthedigitalphotographoftheapplicant’sface),“unlessthepublishedguidanceinforceatthedateofapplicationstatesthattheyarenotrequiredtoprovidethese”.7Thisfailstoclarifyinwhichcasesfingerprintsarerequired–anditisclearfromthequotesabovethatthereisaworryingamountofconfusionamongbothapplicantsandHomeOfficesystemsregardingthis.
7‘EUSettlementScheme:EU,otherEEAandSwisscitizensandtheirfamilymembers’,Version3.0,HomeOffice,8November2019,p.18.
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How did it make you feel?
Whilethemajorityofourrespondentsfoundtheprocessofapplyingfairlyeasy,thisdoesnotmeantheyallhadpositivefeelingsonhavingtoapplyandcompletingtheprocess.
Negativeemotionswereevenmorecommonamongthosewhofacedproblemsanddelaysalongtheway.Manyrespondentswerefrustratedorevenoutraged,otherssaidtheprocessmadethemfeelunwelcomeorlikesecond-classcitizens.
ThemostdisappointedindividualsweretheoneswhohavespentmostoftheirlifeintheUK.DespiteregularreassurancesfromtheGovernmentsince2016thattheyarewelcometostayandtheirrightswillbeprotected,itisclearfromtheresponsesthatmanyEEAnationalsandtheirdependentsdonotfeelreassuredorwelcomed:
Upsetandangry–IhavelivedlegallyinU.K.FOR45yearsandshouldnothavetogothroughanapplicationprocesswhichcanresultinrefusal.Itshouldbeasimpleregistration.
TheUKhasbeenmyhomeforalongtime[…]ThefactthatIwillnowbelimitedintheamountoftimeIcanspendoutofthecountryI'velivedinsinceachildwithoutlosingmystatusisthebiggestkickintheteeth,though.
Heartbroken,unwantedafterspendinghalfofmylifeinthiscountry.ThewholeBrexitthingislikegoingthroughallstagesofgriefoverandoveragain.Andmoreandmoresleeplessnights.
Absolutelyawful.Wordscannotdescribe.Havinglivedherefor22yearsInowfeeldisliked,marginalizedandunwanted.Idon'twanttostaywhereIamofficiallynotwantedandaskedtobegtostay,forcedtorelyonthewhimsandbeliefsofwhomeverwillmakeadecisiononmycase.
IfeelveryupsetthatIhavetoapplyafterhavinglivedandworkedhereforover20years[…]IamveryupsetthatIhavetoapplyformy2childrenwhowerebornhere[…]IamscaredandworriedthatitwillnotbestraightforwardandthatImayhavetofindmoreinformation.IamscaredandworriedthatIcannotputmyselfthroughthisstress,thatIwon'tcopewiththeuncertainty.Idon'tknowif[I]wanttostayinacountrythatmakesmefeellikethis.
Severalrespondentssuggestedtheprocesshadleftthemfeelingvulnerable:
Youareinthehandsofsomeoneelse,whohasthepowertoremoveyoufromtheUK.
Othershadthefeelingtheywerebeingtreatedlikecriminals:
Ifeltunwanted,treatedlikeanoutlaw,orsomeonewhoneedstoberegisteredinPolice'sarchives.
Stress and anxiety
Acommonthemeintheresponsestothequestionsregardingfeelingsaroundapplyingwasstressandanxiety.Tenpercentofrespondentssaidtheyfeltstressedandasimilarproportionmentionedfeelinganxious.Sixpeoplesaidtheyfeltdepressedatvariouspointsintheprocess.
Respondingtothequestion‘Howdiditmakeyoufeeltohavetoapply’,onepersonsaid:
Terrible.Ifeltnotwanted,unwelcome.TheideaofmaybebeingdeniedSettledStatuscausedmassiveanxietyandstress.Itaffectedmyhealth.
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Respondingtothesamequestion,otherssaidtheyfelt:
DemoralisedanddepresseddespitethewarmwordsoftheHomeSecretary(invariousemailnewslettersaroundthetimeofthelaunch).
Anxious,depressed,closetonervousbreakdown,affectedspousebadlyaswell.
Angry,indignant,disappointed,unwelcome,dejected,stressed.
Forsome,thestressdidnotdisappearaftertheyreceivedsettledorpre-settledstatus,astheydonotseethisstatusasaguaranteeoftheirrightsandtheyarestillconcernedaboutwhatlifeintheUKwillholdfortheminthefuture.Afeelingofinsecuritywasaprominenttheme,withseveralpeopleconcernedthattheirnewstatusdidnotcomewithphysicalproof.
Relief
Anindicatorofthelevelofstressoranxietyexperiencedbymanyisreflectedinthemostfrequentresponsetothequestion,‘Howdidyoufeelaftergettingaresponse?’Fiftypeoplementionedfeeling“relief”orbeing“relieved”.
However,formany,thisreliefwasmixedwithotheremotions,suchassadness,frustrationandbitterness.Respondentssaidtheyfelt:
Mixedfeelings.Reliefthatsomethingwassortedbutsadthatitwasneededinthefirstplace.Stilldon'tfeelthatmypositionissecure.
Relieved,butalsoanoutsider.Thatwearedifferent.We’reanathemanow.
Partlyrelieved,butalsohumiliated,angry,thenapathetic,emptyanduncertainofmyfutureintheUK.
Relieved,thoughuneasyasmynameisonalisttobeusedwhen?
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People who had not applied
One-thirdofthepeoplewhorespondedtothesurveysaidtheyhadnot(yet)appliedtotheSettlementScheme.Fifty-sevenofthemprovidedfurtherinformationaboutthatdecision.
Themostcommonreasonswereconcernsaboutdatasharing,uncertainty(aboutwhetherBrexitwillhappen,whatitwillmeanforfreemovement,andwhatsettledstatuswillmeanfortheirrightslongterm),worriesabouttheirabilitytoproveresidence,andoutragethattheyarebeingaskedtoapplyatall.Somerespondentswerealsoconcernedthatmentalorphysicalillnessoradisabilitycouldmaketheprocessofapplyingdifficultoraffecttheoutcome.Eachofthesewillnowbeexploredmoreclosely.
1. Concerns about the process or outcome
Manyapplicantshadsignificantfearsthattheremightbecomplicationsintheapplicationprocess,thatfurtherevidencewillbedifficultorimpossibletogather,orthattheapplicationmightberejectedwerethedrivingforcebehindsomerespondents’decisionnottoapply.Theseconcernsstemmedfromthefundamentalnatureoftheschemeasanapplicationratherthanaregistrationprocess,whichallowsforthepossibilityofapplicationsbeingrefused.Someresponses:
Assomeonewithlong-termillness,unabletoworkandonbenefits,Ifearthatmyapplicationwillberejectedonthatbasisandallrightsrevokedasaresult.It'sadauntingprospectasamentallydisabledpersonandI'mdesperatelytryingtoreturntomycountryoforigininordertoavoidit.Idon'treallystandachanceifIgobackasIdon'thaveaplacetoliveortheabilitytoworkbutIcan'ttaketheprospectofrejectionandbeingforcedtoleaveunderthreatofarrest.Ihavelosteverythinginahousefireanddon’thaveapassportnomore.Idon’thaveanything!IamdreadingthattheywillneedsomestuffIdon’thave.Iamworriedthatforwhateverreason,mystatuswillnotbeconfirmed.I*should*qualify,butwhatifnot?!IamalsonotsurewhethertheevidenceIhavewillbeokay,althoughIhavelivedandpaidtaxesinthiscountryforover15yearsnow.
2. Data sharing
Manyrespondentssaidtheyhadnotappliedduetoconcernsabouthowtheirdatawouldbeused(concernssharedbymanyofthosewhohadapplied,asexploredabove).
Someresponsestothequestion‘Ifyouhaven’tappliedyet,why?’includethefollowing:
I’mnotdoinganythingbeforeIgetmoreinformationonhowmydataisused.
Iamnotkeentosharemydatawiththegovernment[…]IwillapplywhenIhaveto.
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3. Uncertainty
SeveralrespondentsreferredtotheuncertaintyaroundBrexit–whichatthetimeofthesurveyhadalreadybeenpostponedtwice–toexplainwhytheyhadnotapplied.Otherssaidtheywerewaitingtoseeiftheschemewouldbeimprovedoriftherightsconferredbysettledstatuswouldbecementedinprimarylegislation,ratherthanonlyinsecondarylegislation(whichcaneasilybechanged)orgovernmentpolicydocuments(whichcarrylittleweight),asisthecurrentsituation.Concernaboutthelackofphysicalproofwasalsogivenasareasonbyseveralrespondents.
Theoutcomeoftheapplicationisprettymuchirrelevantasthereisnolegalorothersafeguardingofmyrightsbygettingsettledstatus.Thegovernmentcansimplyabolishitatanypointwithoutscrutinyorconsequence.
I’mstillhopingitwon’tbenecessaryifBrexitdoesn’thappen.
Theycancelledthe£60feeaftercriticism.Theymayalsocancel/changethewholeprocess.There’sstilltimeuntilthedeadline.Sowhygothroughthehassleprematurely?
I'mholdingbackapplyinguntilthelastminute.
4. Principled decision
Inanumberofcases,respondentsexplainedthattheydisagreedwiththeschemeandhadnotorwouldnotapplyonprinciple.Frustrationsrangedfromthescheme’srequirementthatpeoplemustapplyratherthansimplyregistertoangerthatEEAnationalsandtheirfamiliesarebeingforcedtoapplytoaschemejusttobeallowedtostayintheirhomesandmaintaintheirexistingrights.
Itisaninsulttoapplytostayinmyhomeofthelast20years.
Ireallywantthegovernmenttochangegeartowardswhatpromised(sic)inthefirstplace:automaticrighttostay.
I’mopposedto“applying”formyexistingrightstoliveandworkintheUK.IalreadyholdPRwhichinvolvedaprocessthatwasextremelystressfulanddrawnoutandrequiredprovidinganexcessiveamountofinformationandevidence[…]Idonotwishtogothroughthisagain[…]HappytoregisterinlinewithotherEUcountriesshouldthesystemchange.
IknowIshouldapplybutcan’tbringmyselftodoit.I’mfurious,Ihavebeenherefor24years,havepaidmytaxesforallthoseyears,havethreechildrenwhowereallbornhere.Thisismyhome!WhydoIneedtoapplytostayinmyownhome?Istillhavehopeitmightallnotgoahead,Iguessthat’spartlywhyI’mwaiting[…]Thewholethingmakesmybloodboil.
Ibelieve/hopethatIwillpersonallynothaveaverydifficulttimeinapplyingasmysituationshouldmakeitstraightforward,butIwanttocontinuetoraisetheseissuesthataffectseveryone.Itfeelsstrangetoapplyknowingitissomethingyouareagainstandsomethingwhichmanyotherswillstrugglewithintheapplicationphase.
SeveralsaidtheywereplanningtoorconsideringleavingtheUKasaresult:
I'mdeeplyashamedabouthavingtoapply.It'sdemeaning,andittakesawaywhatlittledignitypeoplealreadyforcedtoemigratefromtheirowncountryforwhateverreasonhadtostartwith[…]IcouldapplyforaBritishpassport,butIdon'twantto"begBritish"anyfurtherandriskfurther
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rejection.IloveLondonmorethananyothercityintheworldandIamdeeplysaddenedbyhavingtoleave,butit'sforthebest.
ThelastthreeyearshavebeenverystressfulreBrexitandmyhomenotbeingmyhomeanymore[…]AstheBrexitvotehasthoroughlyshakenupmyplansforthefutureIamreluctanttogetsettledstatusatpresent.Mightleaveforgoodbeforethedeadline.
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Informationfromotherorganisations
Asmentionedearlier,weencouragedrepresentativesoforganisationsworkingwithEEAnationalsand/ortheirdependentstocompletethesurveyonbehalfofindividualstheywereworkingwith,butalsotocontactusseparatelyaboutissuestheirmembersorclientswerefacing.Severalorganisationsdidso–andtheissuestheyraisedweredeeplyconcerning.Someechoedmanyoftheresponsesinoursurvey,butsignificantnewissueswerealsohighlighted,includingproblemswiththeapp’sfacialrecognitionsoftwareandalackofsupportforRomacommunitiesandforthosewholackEnglishskills.Theseareexploredinmoredetailbelow.
InformationwasreceivedfromCrisisSkylightMerseyside,abranchofthenationalhomelesscharityinLiverpool;theRomaSupportGroup;ASIRT,anadvocacyorganisationforasylumseekersandundocumentedmigrantsintheWestMidlands;andasecondcharityinLiverpool.8
Identity documents and proof of residency
ThecharityinLiverpoolsharedconcernsthatsomeofitsserviceusershadstruggledtofinddocumentstoprovetheirresidency.CrisisSkylightMerseyside–whichisworkingwithalocallawclinictoofferadviceandsupporttopeopleapplyingforsettledstatus–saidthatinmultiplecases,applicantshavehadtoprovidefurtherevidenceforyearswhenthepersonwasworkingorreceivedbenefits,informationthatshouldbeeasilyaccessibletotheHomeOffice.Theonusisthenontheperson,withoursupport,tocollatetherequiredevidencewhichrequiresresourcesandistimeconsuming.
BoththeseorganisationsnotedthatmostoftheirserviceusersdonothaveapassportorvalidIDcard,makingitimpossibletocompletetheinitialidentitycheckintheapplicationprocess.ThosewhohaveanIDcardbutnotavalidpassportarerequiredtosendtheircardthroughthepost,leavingthemwithoutanyIDforanunknownlengthoftime.ForsomeEEAnationals,theonlysolutionistoapplyforapassporttomakesuretheyarenotleftwithoutanIDdocument.Thiscancostaround£100andapplicantsthereforeincurasignificantcostdespitetheschemebeingsupposedlyfreeofcharge.Thisalsodelaystheapplicationforuptosixmonths.
TheRomaSupportGroupalsosaidthatmanyofthoseitworkswithdonothaveapassportorvalidIDandfacesimilarproblems.
Lack of support
SeveraloftheorganisationsraisedconcernsaboutthelackofsupportforsomegroupsofEEAnationalswhofacebarrierstoapplying.CrisisSkylightMerseysideisconcernedthatinformationaboutapplyingisnoteasilyavailabletohomelessEEAnationalswithlimitedEnglishand/orITskills.
TheRomaSupportGrouptoldusitwasreceivingcallsfrompeopleacrossthecountry–fromLeedstoBirminghamtoIpswich–whowereaskingforsupport.TheGroupsaid:
WhatwerealisedisthatevenifthereisalocalEUSSsupport9therearenotenougheffortstoengagetheRoma.ApartfromthatmanyprojectsarenowputtingpressureonanyRoma
8Thischarityagreedtotheinformationtheyprovidedbeingusedbutdidnotwishtobenamed.
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professionalsworkingindifferentlocationsintheirattempttoreachouttothecommunity.ManyRomaprofessionalsfindthatdifficulttohandleastheyarehavingtheirownjobsandmanyareaskingfortheirsupportwithoutresourcingthem.
TheRomaSupportGroupsaidithadadvisedorganisationsprovidingsupporttoincludeRomaadvocatesintheirteams,butmanydidnottakethisadviceandarenowfindingitdifficulttoengagetheRomacommunity,eventhoughthecommunityislookingforsupport.
TheRomaSupportGroupalsosaidthatthereareareas,suchasSouthend,wherethereisasignificantRomapopulationbutnofundedsupport.EquallytherearelocalRomasupportgroupsthatdonothaveafundedsupportprogrammebutfacehugedemandfromlocalcommunities.
“WebelievemanyofthesmallRomagroupshavethesamestruggle,”theRomaSupportGroupsaid.
AfurtherconcernraisedbytheGroupisthatonlylimitedsupporthasbeenmadeavailableforBigIssuevendors.IncitiessuchasBirmingham,about75%ofvendorsareRoma,andinLondonaround40-50%,accordingtothegroup.
“Manyofthosevendors,notjusttheRoma,arevulnerable,”theRomaSupportGrouptoldus.
TheRomaSupportGrouphasprovidedsomesupportfacilitatingdialoguebetweensupportagenciesandtheBigIssueinLondon,BirminghamandBristolbutcommunicationisstillaproblem.
ThecharityinLiverpoolwasconcernedaboutthelackofsupportforapplicantswholackEnglishlanguageskills,bothatthedocumentscanningcentresandmoregenerally.Theynotedthatsomeunscrupulouspeoplearechargingapplicantsbetween£350and£1,000tofillintheirformandthatthosewithpoorEnglishareparticularlyvulnerabletothis.
Theorganisationalsoraisedaconcernaboutthelackofdocumentscanningcentresandthedistancessomeapplicantsarerequiredtotraveltoaccessthem.ThosewhopostanydocumentsarerecommendedbytheHomeOfficetosendthembyrecordeddelivery.Eitherofthesecircumstancescanleadtosignificantcostforindividualswithlittledisposableincome.
AccordingtoASIRT,childrenandadultsincarerepresentanotherpotentiallyvulnerablegroupwhoarenotreceivingadequatesupport.ASIRTtoldusthatthereisnodataonhowmanyEEAchildrenareincareintheUKanditisthereforedifficulttoidentifywhoiseligibleandtotargetsupport.TheGreaterManchesterImmigrationAidUnitraisedsimilarconcernsinareportpublishedinNovember2019,warningthatmostchildrenincarewillnothavethenecessaryevidencetoprovetheirnationalityandUKresidence.10
Uncertainty about outcome
ThecharityinLiverpoolsaidithadexperiencedcaseswhereapplicantshavebeenintheUKfor10years,butonlyworkingforsevenofthose,andhavebeengrantedpre-settledinsteadofsettledstatus.Thisisconcerningassettledstatusshouldnotbeconditionalontheapplicanthavingbeeninemployment.Itmaybethecasethatitwasalackofevidenceofresidencyduringtheperiodsofunemploymentthatmeanttheapplicantwasgrantedonlypre-settledstatus–butsuchcasesarelikelytoworryindividualseligibleforsettledstatuswhohaveyettoapply.
9Accordingtothegovernmentwebsite,57organisationsacrosstheUKhavereceivedfundingfromtheHomeOfficetoprovidehelpandinformationtovulnerableEEAnationalsapplyingtotheSettlementScheme.10‘Notsostraightforward’,GreaterManchesterImmigrationAidUnit,8November2019.
39
Criminalrecordchecksareaconcernformanyapplicants,accordingtothecharityinLiverpool,whichadvocatesthatprofessionaladvisorsshouldassistwiththeprocessincaseswherethisisrelevant.
TheRomaSupportGroupisconcernedthatEUnationalswhowereremovedfromtheUKpriortoDecember2017forthe“crime”ofsleepingrough,andreturnedafterthepolicywasruledunlawful,couldfaceproblemswhenapplyingforsettledorpre-settledstatusduetothatcriminalrecord.
Thereiswidespreadworrythatapplicantswithcomplexcasesarefacinglongdelaysandinadequatedecisions.ThisisthecasewithoneofASIRT’sclients,anon-EEAnationalwhowasformerlymarriedtoanEUnational.Despitebeingeligibleforsettledstatus,shehasbeenaskedtoprovideadditionalevidenceseveraltimes–evidencethattheGovernmentalreadyholds–andphonecallsadvisingthatsheisnoteligibleforsettledstatus.Shewasstillwaitingforadecisiontwomonthsonfromtheinitialapplication.Shesaid:
Ihavereceivednumerousrequestsforfurtherinformation,aswellasearlymorningtelephonecallsfromtheHomeOffice,givingmeconflictingandconfusingadviceaboutmyrights,whichIhavefoundstressful.
TheRomaSupportGroupisintouchwithprojectsacrosstheUKsupportingRomaapplicants.BroadlytheschemeseemstobeworkingwellandtheGroupisnotawareofanyrefusals.However,researchconductedbytheGroupin2018-19foundthatthereissignificantconcernamonghomelessRomapopulationsthatbyapplyingtotheschemetheywillbeincreasingthechancesthattheGovernmentwilldeportthem.Manythereforeavoidapplying.
Technical issues
CrisisSkylightMerseysidereportedanumberoftechnicalissuesthatmembershavefaced,includingproblemswithscanningthepassportchiportheappcrashingpartwaythroughtheprocess.
Theorganisationalsonotedsomeproblemswiththefacialscantechnology.OneCrisismemberwithafacialdisabilitywasunabletouploadhisimageasthesystemsaidthathiseyeswereclosedwhenthiswasnotthecase.Crisiswaseventuallyabletogethisfacialscanaccepted,butitwasanundignifiedprocessandonethatdoesnotpromoteinclusivity.Abarristerassistingtheorganisationhasreportedsimilarproblemswiththescanforsomeethnicminorityapplicants.
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Appendix:Thesurveyquestions
1. Areyoufillingthissurveyasanindividual?Yes/No
2. IfYes,areyouanEEAnationaloradependantofone?Yes/No
3. Areyoufillingthissurveyasanorganisation?
Yes/No
4. Haveyouappliedforsettledstatus?Yes/No
5. Ifyes,whatwastheoutcome?Igotsettledstatus/Igotpre-settledstatus/Igotneitheroftheabove/Ihaven’treceivedthefinalresponseyetPleaseexplain:_____________________________________
6. Howwastheapplicationprocess?Easy/Slightlydifficult/Moderatelydifficult/VerydifficultPleaseexplain:_____________________________________
7. Wereyouaskedtoprovideadditionalevidence?Yes/No
Pleaseexplain:_____________________________________
8. Wereyouabletouseyourphonetoverifyyouridentity(scanyourpassport)?Yes/No
Pleaseexplain:_____________________________________
9. Howlongdidittaketogetadecision?
__________________________________
10. Didyougetadifferentdecisionfromwhatyouexpected(e.g.pre-settledstatusinsteadofsettled)?Yes/NoPleaseexplain:_____________________________________
11. Werethereanycomplicationsinthewholeapplicationprocess?Yes/No
Pleaseexplain:_____________________________________
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12. Howdiditmakeyoufeeltohavetoapply?
__________________________________
13. Howdidtheapplicationprocessmakeyoufeel?__________________________________
14. Howdidyoufeelaftergettingadecision(ifyouhavehadone)?__________________________________
15. Ifyouhaven’tappliedyet,why?(Donotfillthisifyouhavealreadyapplied)
IamworriedImaynotgetapositivedecision/Iamstillgatheringinformationandevidence/Idon’tknowhowtoapply/Idon’twanttoapply/Iwanthelptoapply/Other
Pleaseexplain:_____________________________________
16. Maywecontactyouforanyfurtherclarification?Yes/NoIfYespleaseincludeyouremailandtelephonenumber:__________________________
17. Pleaseenteryourcountryoforigin(optional)
_____________________________________
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