Help available for people seeking status to live and work in UK

GLOUCESTERSHIRE County Council is partnering with Citizens Advice and Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers to support people who need to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme.

The free scheme enables EU citizens resident in the UK, and their family members, to obtain the status they will require in order to live and work in the UK after 30 June 2021.

Applicants need to prove their identity, show that they live in the UK and declare any criminal convictions. Most can apply from their own home in as little as 15 minutes.

There have already been more than 4.2 million applications to the scheme, and the online application can be accessed through a computer, tablet or smartphone. Citizens Advice and Garas can offer information and advice as well as access to a computer if people need help getting online.

EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens, and their family members who are living in the UK before 31 December 2020 can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Anyone needing support to apply for the scheme should get in touch with any of the following contacts:

» Citizens Advice (Glos) – 01452 527202 ext 262, jennie.watts@gloscab.org.uk

» Citizens Advice (Stroud) – 0808 800 0510, advice@ca-scd.org.uk

» Citizens Advice (Cotswold) – 0808 800 0511, advice@ca-scd.org. uk

» Garas – 01452 550528, admin@ garas.org.uk

For more information about the scheme, visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/eu- settlementscheme.