EU Settlement Scheme

EU Settlement Scheme

Lancashire County Council has asked all schools to provide the following information to parents and staff. I have been asked to reassure any parents in this situation that applying is the correct thing to do.

Information for parents on the EU Settlement Scheme

The EU Settlement Scheme has been set up to provide immigration status to those who need it as the UK leaves the EU. It is therefore important that everyone that needs to applies. The EU Settlement Scheme has been designed with European Economic Area (EEA) citizens and their representatives to be simple and straightforward. It willl be looking for reasons to grant, not for reasons to refuse.

It is estimated that there are 3.5 million EU citizens living in the UK and the Government is committed to enabling them to continue to live here. The UK's departure from the EU means that EEA citizens, and their family members, will no longer be able to rely on the right of free movement and will need to obtain immigration status to demonstrate their right to remain in the UK. It means that they can continue to be eligible for:

? Public services, such as healthcare and schools;

? Public funds and pensions;

? British citizenship, if they meet the requirements and want to apply.

The Scheme opened on 30 March 2019 and applications must be made by June 2021. An extension to this date has been made due to the current pandemic.

It is free to make applications to the Scheme.

Full guidance on how to apply is available at: https://www.gov.uk/eusettledstatus.