Roma Support Group statements and articles about the EU Settlement Scheme and Brexit
EU families and Euro-children in Brexiting Britain
This is an article staff at RSG have co-written about the trial phase at the end of last year for applying for settled status.
Bristol Cable
And here’s an news article about how staff at RSG see the dangers of Brexit for Roma in the UK.
Sky News
Here’s a short TV news item filmed in the RSG offices (just over two minutes long):
And here’s the accompanying article with staff at RSG quoted: “Millions of EU citizens can now apply for settled status in UK. EU citizens need to apply to stay in the UK, but community organisations warn vulnerable groups may be at risk.”
Settled Status – staying in the UK after Brexit
Every EU national – children, older people, students, people who have never worked, people who have been permanently employed since arrival in the UK and people who have worked ‘cash in hand’ – everyone will have to apply to stay. It is called settled status.
Take a look at this short video about applying to stay in the UK (in English, just under 3 minutes long). It’s called “Are you an EU citizen living in the UK? Did you know that you have to apply for settled status?” Watch it here.
What does the Home Office say?
Here is the link to the app that everyone will have to use to start the process of applying for Settled Status:
And here is the section of the government website that contains all their information about making an application for Settled Status:
What does the process of making an application look like? A video ‘walk through’ and a written explanation
Our friends at Free Movement have made this short film. It’s a proper step by step film and commentary (in English) about the application. It’s just over 22 minutes long – and ideal for someone who will be ‘supporting’ people making an application but probably not good for applicants whose English might not be strong…. Click here to watch it.
And here is Free Movement’s narrative explanation of the application process. Click here to read it.
RSG thoughts: why are Roma more likely to be struggling to apply for and achieve Settled Status?
Roma Support Group participated in the trial phase of the Home Office scheme for EU nationals to secure settled status in the UK. These notes and tips are based on this involvement with over 60 actual applications for settled status.
There are three questions that all applicants must confirm, or provide information:
Roma would be less likely to be able to read the instructions in English. Less likely to be able to follow digital process.
85 out 100 Roma applicants are not able to read or write in English well enough to follow the process.
The EU Settlement Scheme Application consists of two sections: Identity Check and an Online Application Form.
The first section, the Identity Check, can only be done via the EU Exit: ID Document Check app on an android phone. It consists of 5 steps:
1. Mobile phone number (sends you a PIN number to allow access to the programme)
Roma are more likely to have android phone – rather than iPhone
And also 1. Email address
70 out of 100 Roma applicants are not able to provide their own, valid email address; you might have to help create one
If the process is not fully completed it is not possible to change contact details in case the applicant has lost access to the phone number or the email address originally provided; or the details entered were not correct. For example, if an applicant has their contact details entered in the app, then he/she uses the app to read the chip in their passports and then decides it will continue the rest of the process later, it cannot do this if it doesn’t conform to the contact details initially entered. Once the Identity check is completed it is possible to change contact details when accessing the online application form. [This issue has been reported and the app might be updated to contain this feature]
If they have an email address, before starting the application process, make sure they are logged in on their smartphone or that they know the password so they can log in at any time.
2. Scan your passport on the photo page
Should be ok.
3. Place phone on closed passport to check the chip
Less likely to have a passport (e.g. RO nationals travelling on ID; SK and PL nationals travelling on passports)
It is more likely that Polish and Slovak Roma hold a Passport
It is more likely that Romanian Roma hold a National Identity Card
When trying to read the chip in the passports, if placing the phone on top of the passport doesn’t work, applicants should slowly move the smartphone on top of the passport until they hear a beep and then place the device on top of it. Too many wrong attempts will get applicant’s account locked for a period.
4. Scan your own face
More problematic when applicants can’t open their eyes wide enough
5. Take a selfie
Make sure there is enough light as the lack of it would require another attempt
The second section, online application form, done via a mobile device, smartphone/tablet or a PC using the mobile phone number and email already given:
Important sections:
It is more likely that Polish Roma reside in UK for more than 5 years
It is more likely that Romanian Roma reside in the UK for less than 5 years
Some Slovak Roma (outside London) have lived in the UK for more than 5 years; some for less than five years
97 out of 100 Roma applicants do not have enough confidence, language and or IT skills to complete and submit the EU SS application without support
When prompted to choose security questions make sure you explain their purpose and write them down as it is quite likely people will forget them.
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