How will they be treated on entry at airports and ports? What delays may they experience? What is the answer? No one knows? We suggest a prudent cause of action!
The current debate surrounding what type of Brexit will come to pass in March 2019 changes on an almost daily basis. In particular, the atmosphere surrounding the recently leaked proposals for the new immigration system due to affect the three million or so EEA nationals and their family members currently in the UK, has reached fever pitch.
Should the government proceed with a ‘hard’ Brexit, it is likely that EU citizens will be forced to come through immigration control with all other non-UK citizens, and be required to conceptually show that they have the right to live in the UK. Indeed one of the proposals for future border arrangements is that all EU citizens will have to show their passports at the border and will no longer be able to travel on national ID cards – thus ending free movement as we currently know it.
The transition to a new immigration system will no doubt be a complicated process. Many in the field, along with commentators, consider that the level of complexity in forcing through a new set of rules in a condensed timeframe along with the levels of bureaucracy that is likely to accompany the process, mean that Brexit may not happen as we expect or even at all.
What, then, is the safest thing for an EEA national to do? At Gherson, we consider that the most prudent course of action is for the EEA national (and their family) to apply as soon as possible for a residence card or apply for a document certifying permanent residence (if five years’ continuous residence has been attained) in the interim until more is known about the new system.
At Gherson we are happy to help with any queries you may have in this regard, so please do not hesitate to contact us.
The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please don’t hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.
©Gherson 2017