Newark and Sherwood residents could lose right to remain in UK if they don’t complete the EU Settlement Scheme before June 30
Thousands of Newark and Sherwood residents are at risk of losing their legal right to live and work in the UK unless they take action soon.
People from foreign countries, many of them employed in vital manufacturing sectors, are at risk of having to leave if they don’t complete the EU Settlement Scheme before June 30.
Many have just left the process late whereas others may be struggling with completing forms or simply don’t know they need to apply.
Newark and Sherwood District Council has a total of 91,186 residents registered to vote. Of these, 2,830 are recorded as being European Nationals. However, there are likely to be many more in the district who are not registered to vote but will still need to check their eligibility under the EU Settlement scheme.
Labour district councillor Laurence Goff, who represents Newark’s Devon ward, said residents had been contacting him with questions.
Mr Goff said: “I have heard from people who work in care homes and places like that who didn’t know they had to apply.
“But Newark and Sherwood District Council are acting on it.
“My concerns are for the people who don’t speak good English.
“We don’t want the situation to cause any problems and it’s important to know places like Citizens Advice can offer help.
“All I am concerned about is making sure that the message is out there because the government doesn’t actually know how many people are in the country — their figures are always changing.”
The rules have changed as a result of the UK’s Withdrawal Agreement from the European Union following the Brexit vote in 2016.
The scheme applies to all EU citizens living and working in the UK. Those who fail to apply, barring some exceptions, will lose their legal rights to live and work in the UK making their presence unlawful and requiring them to return to their country of origin.
Mandy Watson, director at Ambitions Personnel, one of the largest employment agencies in Newark and who provide workers to dessert-maker Bakkavor and to Knowhow, said: “EU workers form a valuable part of workforce.
“Given the new requirement to apply for pre-settled/settled status we have had on-going campaign to promote the scheme with workshops and information literature.
“We are supporting our workforce with their applications to meet the June deadline.”
The leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, David Lloyd, said: “We encourage any EU resident in the Newark and Sherwood area to check their eligibility to stay in the UK and to apply for settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme as soon as possible.
“Many residents across Newark and Sherwood may feel that they don’t need to apply because, for example, they may have married into a British family, but that is not the case.
“It is absolutely vital that any EU citizen uses the online checker, so please do check.”
“If you do then need to apply, the form offers step by step instructions to complete.
“Settled status will give many of our neighbours much needed reassurance and the safety net needed at this time.”
Under the EU Settlement Scheme, which is free to apply to, applicants who have lived in the UK for five years or more will be granted indefinite leave to remain, also known as settled status’ which means they can continue to live in the UK as they currently are.
Those with less than five years residency will be granted limited leave to remain, also known as ‘Pre-settled status which is a grant of limited leave to remain for five years.
With pre settled status you can continue to live, work and study in the UK after 30 June 2021, although this permission is effectively limited to a period of five years from the date you are granted your status. You can then apply to change this to settled status once you’ve got five years’ continuous residence. You must do this before your pre-settled status expires.
To apply visit: www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families/applying-for-settled-status
Sherwood and Newark Citizens Advice can be contacted on 01623 861769 or at advice@sn-ca.org.uk
If you are unsure whether you need to apply, it is important to check. This can be done online at: www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/communityandliving/euexit/
Newark and Sherwood District Council will also be running an awareness campaign regarding the EU settlement scheme to engage encourage residents to check their eligibility and then complete an application where required.
This campaign will run until the June 30 deadline and will include providing information in the most common EU languages spoken in our district.
These will be available shortly online at www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/communityandliving/euexit/