EU citizen experiences of settlement scheme
Like Inger, Martin Ames's mother-in-law (Opinion, July 29), I am originally from a Nordic country.
I came here from Finland in 1976 to work and study. Having married a British man in 1984 I was then granted indefinite leave to remain in the country.
I continued to work, and together with my husband we raised two daughters.
I believe that I have made a valuable contribution to the country.
My daughters echoed this with the T-shirt they gave me last Christmas with the slogan: "Immigrants – we get the job done.”
However, unlike Inger, I have not applied for British citizenship.
At the time when I became eligible to apply for it, Finland did not allow adults to have dual citizenship. Understandably losing my Finnish nationality did not appeal to me.
Later, when Finland changed the rules to allow dual citizenship for adults, the cost of applying for British citizenship – the application fee, the knowledge test (that some MPs liken to a ‘pub quiz’), checking of certificates and the citizenship ceremony – was beyond my means.
Besides, as a EU citizen and with my indefinite leave to remain, I believed that though I was not eligible to vote in UK parliamentary elections, I was still a valued member of society, with some rights and protections.
All this changed, of course, with Brexit. Suddenly I discovered that after all these years I would have to apply for the right to stay, work and receive services in this countr y.
Luckily my employer was selected to pilot the EU settlement scheme and so I, and other colleagues from the EU, were supported through the process.
The employer even agreed to pay the £65 application fee – the government later waived this fee and there is no longer a cost involved.
I feel I am lucky in that I received helpful information from my employer and assistance with the process.
I am also able to deal with complex forms and am computer literate.
My heart goes out to other EU citizens, who have made this country their home for many years and who, due to age or infirmity, may have found the whole process very bewildering and frightening.
So though I do not share Inger's position and did not receive the letter that came through her letter box, Brexit has affected my life and caused me anxiety.
And yet I believe that there are many more EU citizens who, after many years – often decades – of contribution to this country have been affected even more severely than I have been.
HEIDI GILHOOLY Rutland Road
Maidenhead