EU Settlement Scheme pilot ends this week

The Home Office has now removed the pre-registration step from the application process so there is still time to apply, details on how to reclaim the cost of the application have also been updated.

Map of Europe

If you’re planning to make an early application for your new UK immigration status, so you can continue to live and work in the UK, make sure you submit your application before the Friday deadline.

If you've not yet applied for pre-settled or settled status as part of the pilot, but you'd like to, you can do so here without having to pre-register with the Home Office. Appointments to use a University Android smartphone are still available today and tomorrow, and you'll then have until midnight tomorrow night to complete and submit your application.

If you're not able to apply before Friday night, don't worry. The Home Office are running another voluntary pilot which starts on 21 January 2019 and will be open to members of the public who are EU nationals holding a biometric passport, as well as their non-EU family members holding a biometric residence card.

Making an application during this pilot phase is entirely voluntary and there will be no change to your current rights under EU law until the end of the planned implementation period. As things stand if you decide not to apply now, you’ll be able to do so when the scheme is fully open by 30 March 2019 and at any time up until 30 June 2021, in line with the Draft Agreement on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU.

Reclaiming the cost of your application

If you’re a University employee you can reclaim the £65 application fee via e-expenses, by logging in with your normal username and password. The details and conditions of the reimbursement scheme, and step by step guidance for completing a claim, are available in the Immigration Reimbursement Guidance document.

If anything is unclear, please speak to your manager or your Human Resources hub

Though your family members can’t apply for pre-settled or settled status yet, we’ve widened the current interest free loan scheme so that, if you need help with the cost of applying for your family, you can apply for a loan. If you’re an employee, we’ll reimburse the cost of your own visa after you’ve paid for it, but you can request a loan in advance.

Further information

Apply for the scheme once it reopens in 2019: Eligible staff wishing to apply, can access the application on the GOV.UK website

Policy paper published on citizens' rights in the event of a no deal Brexit: In the event of a no deal exit from the EU, the Government has published a policy paper on what would happen to citizens’ rights, both for EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU. Read it here 

Video of the EU Settlement Scheme information session: Emma Brooksbank, Partner and Immigration Specialist at Freeths Solicitors, hosted this special event for University colleagues on 19 November 2018. The session discussed the settlement scheme in general, the voluntary pilot and answers a wide range of questions on immigration. Watch the recording.

One to one meetings: These sessions are free of charge and for University colleagues to discuss their individual cases. If you're interesting in booking a personal meeting, please contact Lisa Courtney

Guidance on settled and pre-settled status for EU citizens and their families: The GOV.UK website holds information on what settled and pre-settled status means, who should apply, settled status if you're under 21, getting settled status in less than five years and applying for settled status. Visit the website


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