Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Tomorrow marks the application deadline for the EU Settlement Scheme and I want to make a final appeal to European Londoners and their families. Speak to your eligible friends, colleagues and family members and make sure they’ve all applied to the scheme.
“I remain hugely concerned that with hundreds of thousands of people caught up in the Government’s application backlog, many European Londoners face a real risk of discrimination from Thursday onwards. We know the backlog will take months and months to clear but it is still not too late for ministers to do the right thing and announce an extension to the application deadline to avoid the huge stress and anxiety their application backlog will have created.
“I also urge the Government to introduce physical proof of status - their policies mean that immigration checks are being conducted by non-experts – landlords, employers and others who may not know or understand the complexities of EU citizens’ new immigration status, which is digital-only. There is no doubt that the lack of printed evidence creates barriers in accessing work, housing and essential services and we have already seen the harm that these policies have had on many people, including the Windrush generation and their families.
“I will continue to do all I can to support European citizens living in the capital – they continue to make a massive contribution to our economic, cultural and social life, and everything that makes our city so great.”
Notes
The Government’s latest EUSS quarterly statistics which include figures for London can be found here - EU Settlement Scheme quarterly statistics, March 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
From 1st July, European (EEA+) citizens will need to start relying on a digital immigration status to navigate life in the UK such as taking up employment, renting a flat and accessing public services. But the latest Home Office data released show there remains an application backlog of 101,500 in London, and 334,500 across the UK overall – risking the creation of a new group of undocumented migrants overnight unable to prove their status and access services in the capital. This also includes being charged for NHS treatment.
As Mayor, Sadiq is supporting European citizens and their family members in the capital by providing comprehensive guidance and information in community languages through his European Londoners Hub. He has recently provided guidance on EU citizens' rights and entitlements after 30 June in five priority languages - /what-we-do/european-londoners-hub/rights-and-entitlements
He also recently added guidance for employers with EU staff on his London Business Hub, outlining the changes to right to work checks from 1 July to support London employers - https://www.businesshub.london/resource/changes-to-right-to-work-checks/
The Mayor has invested more than £1 million in bolstering the capacity of the immigration advice sector, including targeted funding for rough sleepers and children in care, and £180,000 for civil society organisations to specifically support vulnerable European Londoners who are harder to reach online.
Information about the Mayor’s European Londoners Hub can be found here -European Londoners Hub | London City Hall