According to the New Immigration Rules laid down in parliament on Monday, individuals holding pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme will automatically have their status extended in September by two years before it expires if they have not attained settled status.
The UK government has implemented a new provision called the Enhancement with EU Settlement Scheme that would automatically extend the pre-settled status of citizens of the EU, EEA, and Switzerland, as well as members of their families, by two years if they have not attained settled status by the time their pre-settled status expires
The Home Office will complete the process, and it will automatically show up in the person’s digital status. The extension will then be conveyed to the individual. As a result, nobody’s immigration status will be lost if they fail to submit an application to change from a pre-settled to a settled status.
The Home Office also plans to take action to convert as many eligible individuals with pre-settled status into settled status once they are eligible for it, without requiring them to submit an application. Automated pre-settled status checks will be used in 2024 to confirm their continued continuous residence in the UK. There will be safeguards in place to make sure settled status is not conferred inadvertently.
According to Lord Murray, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Borders and Migration:
“Numerous nationals of the EU, other EEA countries, and Switzerland, as well as their families living in the UK, are protected from losing their immigration status by simply neglecting to apply for settled status thanks to the automatic extension of pre-settled status. By allocating resources to legitimate late applicants and status holders and addressing phoney EUSS applications vigorously, the actions we’ve announced today will help us continue serving the UK public.”
Pre-settled individuals should take the steps to ensure the following:
- They update their online platform if their passport or identification card has changed since they received pre-settled status.
- They maintain track of their absences from the UK and keep records of their residence in the UK, such as council tax invoices, water bills, P60s, or self-assessment tax returns. Their eligibility for settled status may be impacted by absences of more than 180 days in any 12-month period.
- They record the expiration date of their pre-settled status, which is typically five years after it was granted.
- They keep track of when they are eligible to apply for established status (often five years from their date of arrival in the UK), and they submit their application at that time.
- They create a share code that they provide to their employer either when their pre-settled status has been prolonged or they have been given settled status.
According to estimates, 5.6 million Europeans and families had acquired legal status in the UK as of 31 March 2023 due to the massively successful EUSS, with 2.1 million having pre-settled status and 3.5 million having settled status.
