UK immigration minister hopes Poles feel sure about post-Brexit futures: report
PR dla Zagranicy
Victoria Bieniek
22.06.2018 11:25
British immigration minister Caroline Nokes hopes a proposed settlement scheme for European Union citizens living in the UK will give Poles and their families peace of mind for their post-Brexit futures, PAP reported on Friday.
Caroline Nokes. Photo: UK.gov (GDL 3)
A settlement scheme statement of intent was published on the British Home Office's website on Thursday.
PAP cited Nokes as saying that three million European Union citizens, including one million Polish nationals, chose the UK for their home and contribute to the social fabric of the country.
Nokes added that the rights of Polish nationals in the UK will essentially be the same after Brexit, in terms of access to healthcare, benefits and pensions, PAP reported.
EU citizens who already hold a valid permanent residence or indefinite leave to remain will be able to swap those for settled status free of charge, Home Secretary Sajid Javid said in a statement.
Other foreigners from the bloc will have to apply for settled status, which will cost GDP 65, or half that for under-16-year-olds, Javid added.
Applicants will be required to prove their identity and their residence in the UK, and must not have committed any serious crimes, PAP cited Nokes as saying.
The new system is to be implemented gradually, starting later this year and is to be fully in place by the time the UK leaves the bloc in March next year, while the deadline for applications will end two years after that. (vb/pk)
Source: PAP