The Government has stated that they will take a ‘flexible and pragmatic’ approach towards late applications, but this will not protect people’s rights. 
The guidance states that this flexible approach will ‘normally’ but not ‘always’ be applied and will become stricter with time. 
Most concerningly, even where the guidance provides a route back to status, this is not a solution to subjecting EEA+ citizens to the Hostile Environment, even temporarily. Loss of legal status and rights and the risk of criminal liability create huge and potentially life-ruining risks.  
A person who submits a late application will continue to have no access to their rights until they receive a successful decision. For many, this could take months, and result in destitution. 
Many people may not realise they …