Jump in EU citizens refused settled status

"More transparency" needed for application rejections in post-brexit residency scheme

THE number of settled status applications being refused by the government has jumped from fewer than 50 to 300 in a single month.

EU citizens will need settled or presettled status to remain in the UK after Brexit.

Figures from the Home Office show that 268,100 applications to the settlement scheme were closed in February this year.

Of those, 147,700 (55%) were granted settled status and 113,800 pre-settled status (42%).

Of the remaining applications, 4,300 were withdrawn or voided, 2,000 were deemed to be invalid, and 300 were refused.

While the 300 refusals make up a small portion of the total, the number is up from fewer than 50 the month before - even though the number of applications has been falling.

In fact, since April last year the number of refusals seen in any other given month has been between zero and less than 50.

The sharp rise in the number of refusals has led campaigners to ask for more transparency.

Maike Bohn of the3million - a notfor-profit organisation for immigrants - said: “These statistics are problematic because they are not transparent.

"Now we are seeing a sharp rise to 300 refusals that is hard to explain.

“We urgently need more explanation from the Home Office as to why those cases have been refused so we can better advise applicants.

“For example: are we seeing non-eu family members being turned down? Or are these people facing problems evidencing residence? Or is it something else altogether?”

A valid application can be refused where it does not meet the eligibility or suitability criteria for the scheme.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We have been fully transparent about how the EU Settlement Scheme is performing and publish statistics on a monthly basis.

“Refusals are a last resort, and the very small number of refusals have only been issued after caseworkers are unable to get in touch with applicants to request evidence.

“In all instances where evidence is missing caseworkers have worked for months to try and get in touch with applicants to help them with their applications.

“The scheme is simple, there is a wide range of support available and if someone has been refused they have until 30 June 2021 to make another application.”

“In all cases where evidence is missing, we will make a minimum of three attempts to contact the applicant through at least two different methods of communication followed by a final letter or email.

“In cases where we do refuse, we will write to the applicant to explain why they have been refused and what steps they need to take, including how they can apply again.

If an individual disagrees with the refusal, they can ask for review of the decision or apply again free of charge until 30 June 2021.”

As of February 2020, there were 3.3 million applications made to the scheme. Only 3.0 million have been concluded, leaving a backlog of 345,400 applications.