Brexit vote – let’s not panic!

By 1st 4Immigration - #1 UK Immigration Experts -
It seems everyone is commenting on the result at the moment, that’s 52% of the UK voted to Leave the European Union. Well, everyone but the UK Visas and Immigration, the part of the Home Office that deals with, well, immigration. At the moment of writing this post on Saturday, 25th June 2016, there is no news story on their website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration . They are probably still digesting the news!

Here is our advice to the European/EEA nationals and their family members:

If you hold a valid immigration document, it is likely you won’t be affected by the Brexit vote. The immigration law tends to allow those migrants, who had entered before “the change”, to continue as before. This is known as “Transitional Arrangements” and usually work well. Particularly under the UK national law.

If you do not hold any of such document, we advise to apply for one as soon as possible. Not even to wait until October when the Prime Minister steps down and Article 50 is expected to be triggered. Depending on how long you have been living in the UK (even if you have just arrived), it can be a simple certificate to confirm your status, permanent residence, or British Citizenship followed by a British passport.

If you hold an immigration document, but may qualify for the further step, we again advise to make it as soon as possible. For example, you may be due for permanent residence, which is normally a voluntary application unless you wish to subsequently apply for a British passport.

Based on the past experience, the changes tend to affect the newcomers, not those who settled in the UK. Even then, there are currently UK national immigration laws, which can cover the EU migrants in the future, perhaps undated based on the new circumstances. But to avoid the uncertainly – apply now!

For an individual advice or to make an application please contact us: info@1st4immigration.com or visit http://www.1st4immigration.com/eu-eea-citizens-visas.php

If you are an Immigration Adviser or a Solicitor please visit our immigration Training and CPD website: www.1st4immigration.com/training

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