Staff at the Roma Support Group have produced some information for Roma people and individuals and organisations working with them to understand the likely effects of Brexit, including some actions which Roma people will need to take in light of likely forthcoming changes.
Please contact Mihai Bica for further help with any aspects of Brexit and its effect on Roma: mihai@romasupportgroup.org.uk.
To view information on our different topics click on the headings below.
Please contact Mihai Bica for further help with any aspects of Brexit and its effect on Roma: mihai@romasupportgroup.org.uk.
To view information on our different topics click on the headings below.
Our guide to the EU settlement scheme
This guide was produced by Mihai Bica and Andy Shallice, Roma and Brexit Project, Roma Support Group in June 2019.
We hope that you will find it useful.
We hope that you will find it useful.
What effect will Brexit have on me?
Brexit means that every EU national living in the UK will have to apply to be able to stay here, with full rights of residence. It is called the “EU Settlement Scheme”.
Why do I need to apply?
If you get residence, you will full rights to all public services – schools, the NHS and hospitals, pensions and benefits.
If you don’t apply, you might be here without official papers and so you might be asked questions and possibly removed from the UK. We know this has happened recently to people who have every right to be in the UK; people like European nationals who have been homeless, or British citizens from Commonwealth countries – like Caribbean countries who arrived years ago when they were young. We think that the Home Office will not treat Roma any differently.
If you don’t apply, you might be here without official papers and so you might be asked questions and possibly removed from the UK. We know this has happened recently to people who have every right to be in the UK; people like European nationals who have been homeless, or British citizens from Commonwealth countries – like Caribbean countries who arrived years ago when they were young. We think that the Home Office will not treat Roma any differently.
When do I need to apply?
If there is an agreement (a “deal”) for the UK to leave the European Union, then it’s likely that you will have to apply for residence by 30 June 2021.
If there is no agreement (a “no deal Brexit”), it is likely that you will have to apply by 31 December 2020.
If there is no agreement (a “no deal Brexit”), it is likely that you will have to apply by 31 December 2020.
Who needs to apply?
Everyone who is an EU national will have to apply. Parents, children, grandparents – no matter how long you have been in the UK. Some Roma have been granted permanent leave to remain in the UK as they were granted refugee status; they will still have to apply – but it should be easy.
We think it is important that everyone applies for residence. If you have been here for five years, you should be able to claim Settled Status; if you have been here for more than three months but less than five years, you should be able to claim
Pre-Settled Status.
We think it is important that everyone applies for residence. If you have been here for five years, you should be able to claim Settled Status; if you have been here for more than three months but less than five years, you should be able to claim
Pre-Settled Status.
How long will it take?
The Home Office say it should take 30-40 minutes to complete the application; in our experience, it takes about 90 minutes.
The Home Office say the time taken to get a decision should be 1 – 4 days. In our experience, this is about right – apart from complex cases.
The maximum time allowed to assess an application is 70 days.
The Home Office say the time taken to get a decision should be 1 – 4 days. In our experience, this is about right – apart from complex cases.
The maximum time allowed to assess an application is 70 days.
Where can I get help?
To help you apply for residence, we’ve provided these links below. Some are to government sources. Some are to charities and agencies which support migrants. We hope that they will encourage you to apply.
The Roma Support Group has set up a new European Union Settled Status advice and support service to help Roma people in London to apply for Settled Status. See this video in Romani language:
FOR EVERYONE:
Our friends at IMIX have produced this short 3-minute video (in English with sub titles) which explains the EU Settlement Scheme.
WHAT CHARITIES AND MIGRANT SUPPORT AGENCIES SAY AND CAN DO
This is why we think Roma might have more difficulties applying than other EU nationals. Read what we have to say here.
Here is an explanation in English of the whole process of applying.
If you want to watch a video in English of the application process, click here. It’s 22 minutes long.
Here is the information about which Law Centres might be able to help.
And here is the information that Citizens Advice provide to help you apply.
A highly respected charity – JCWI (Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants) has set up a project to support all EU nationals and migrants in claiming residence. It is called UKCEN. They have devised a very useful website which is here.
Lastly, here is our experience at Roma Support Group of assisting people during the pilot phase of the application process in autumn 2018. It has some tips for people applying now.
Here is an explanation in English of the whole process of applying.
If you want to watch a video in English of the application process, click here. It’s 22 minutes long.
Here is the information about which Law Centres might be able to help.
And here is the information that Citizens Advice provide to help you apply.
A highly respected charity – JCWI (Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants) has set up a project to support all EU nationals and migrants in claiming residence. It is called UKCEN. They have devised a very useful website which is here.
Lastly, here is our experience at Roma Support Group of assisting people during the pilot phase of the application process in autumn 2018. It has some tips for people applying now.
WHAT THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION SAYS
Have a look at this website – EU Citizen’s Rights – which the EC has set up. “What you need to know as an EU citizen living in the UK”. You can find information about Brexit, how it may impact you as an EU citizen living in the UK, and what you may need to do next.
WHAT THE UK GOVERNMENT SAYS
This the official government website for anyone applying for Settled Status. It provides “guidance” for all those applying for EUSS.
This page opens up the written guidance information in 26 European languages – but it doesn’t include Romanes/Romani.
This is the government’s link to “support” for those making applications. This includes locations where you can scan your documents; how you can get digital assistance; and where in the UK can get home visits with digital assistance.
Here is the link to the government’s “additional information”. This includes how long applications might take to process, and what the government does with information you provide.
Finally, this is the link where you can find the download for your phone to do the document checker.
And this is a video of just over 2 minutes about using the document checker.
This page opens up the written guidance information in 26 European languages – but it doesn’t include Romanes/Romani.
This is the government’s link to “support” for those making applications. This includes locations where you can scan your documents; how you can get digital assistance; and where in the UK can get home visits with digital assistance.
Here is the link to the government’s “additional information”. This includes how long applications might take to process, and what the government does with information you provide.
Finally, this is the link where you can find the download for your phone to do the document checker.
And this is a video of just over 2 minutes about using the document checker.
TEMPLATE LETTERS
Finally, we have attached below two template letters (schools and employers) which might be helpful for people wanting confirmation of residence in the UK covering various periods:
Our Statements on brexit
Statement from the Roma Support Group on the Outcome of the Referendum on EU Membership, June 2016
Following the outcome of the Referendum on EU Membership the Roma Support Group has issued the following statement: “This is a difficult time. The majority of people in the UK have said that they want to leave the European Union. This will have an impact on the Roma communities throughout the UK. Roma families have made contributions to this country for many years; through their work and their payment of taxes. Whether they have been born in the UK, or are nationals from other EU countries, Roma women, men and children have rights to live here and to work here. These rights still exist. They can only be removed by an act of Parliament. These rights enable Roma to live and work in the UK, to have their families and dependants with them in the UK, to live in safety – free from harassment – in the UK and for them and their children to use public services (schools and health services) just as any of other UK citizen can do. None of this is changing at present. If and when it does change all Roma communities in the UK will be aware. We ask you to be vigilant for yourselves, and for others. Do not take any hasty decisions. You have every right to live and work and be happy in the UK. Exercise your rights.”
Roza Kotowicz, Chair
Sylvia Ingmire, Chief Executive
Roma Support Group
30 June 2016
Roza Kotowicz, Chair
Sylvia Ingmire, Chief Executive
Roma Support Group
30 June 2016
Statement from Migrants Organise
The Roma Support Group also endorses the following statement from Migrants Organise:
“Many of members have reported racists and xenophobic verbal attacks in the aftermath of the EU referendum vote. Many of you are also asking questions about what will happen to EU citizens already in the UK. These are uncertain times, but there are two things that are certain:
- All citizens and residents of this country are legally protected against racism and abuse. If you are racially attacked and abused, please record the incident (what happened, where, what time), share it with your community, send it to us and more importantly report it to the police.
- No one is or will be asked to leave the country – if you receive misleading information or advice about this please let us know. All laws and rules that were in place before the referendum, are still in place and will be in place for a long time. There are no details on what happens next, so the rule of law remains as it was last week.
BREXIT INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY ROMA SUPPORT GROUP
- “It took 2 hours and one third didn’t get through”: Piloting the settled status application with Roma migrants - Article written by Marie Godin, researcher at Birmingham University, the Eurochildren Project and Mihai Calin Bica reflecting on the experience of Roma going through the Settled Status application
- Why Roma may have more difficulties - guide on working with Roma within the EU SS context - This is a guide containing tips and useful information to consider for all organisations looking to support Roma community members with their Settled Status application
- Roma and Brexit: Report on a Joint All Party Parliamentary Group roundtable event, House of Lords, July 2018. This meeting, co-ordinated by the Roma Support Group, examined the uncertainties which face Roma people as post-Brexit policy is formulated in relation to the rights of EU nationals to remain in the UK.
BREXIT INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY OTHER ORGANISATIONS
Blogs and articles (most recent blogs and articles at the top)
- "Brexit has made me afraid of speaking my native language in the UK", Metro, 15th March 2019
- Brexit could bring a new Windrush for the Roma - The Bristol Cable report on fears regarding the Roma community in relation to Brexit and the EU Settlement Scheme, January 2019
- EU settled status launch sparks fears of a 'new Windrush' -Sky News Report by Helen Ann Smith and Bethan Staton on Settled Status and the experience of Roma going through the application, January 2019
- Fear mounts as Roma prepare to apply for post-Brexit settled status in UK: article from The Conversation website, August 2018
- Roma communities fear deportation in post-Brexit Britain: charities working with Roma in the UK fear that difficulties producing documentation required by the Home Office will mean that Roma people will be deported (Guardian 2nd July 2018).
Briefings (most recent briefings at the top)
- EU Londoners Hub - information about settled status, published by Mayor of London/London Assembly
- Settled status for EU citizens and their families (guidance in European languages), Home Office/UK Visas and Immigration. March 2019
- Settled? Avoiding pitfalls and maximising potential for those seeking post-Brexit settled status: guidance from Revealing Reality, August 2018
- 3million.org.uk Settled status checklist. Think ahead and be safe: download this checklist and start gathering evidence for your future application to the Home Office for permission to stay in the UK.
