As we reached 1 July 2021, we hit the deadline for applications to the EU Settlement Scheme.
Overnight, the Home Office stripped tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands of people, of their right to continue living in their own homes and work in the UK.
Whether because they did not hear about the scheme, did not know it applied to them, or because the people responsible for their welfare were not aware (for example, for children in care), anyone who has not applied became ‘undocumented’ at midnight on 1 July.
Many more are in legal limbo – like the hundreds of thousands waiting for a response to their application, or the 2 million living with temporary ‘Pre-Settled Status’ that will expire within 5 years if not upgraded.
Help and resources for EU citizens
Having taken away people’s right to live and work in the UK, the Home Office promises to be “compassionate” towards people who apply late. Even where there is a route back to sta…