Fresh changes to the EU Settlement Scheme introduced: Here are the changes

LONDON – Rishi Sunak’s administration has introduced changes to the EU Settlement Scheme adhering to recent court directives.

The United Kingdom’s government has announced that the duration of pre-settled status extensions would be extended from 2 to 5 years. Furthermore, the Home Office confirmed on Wednesday the removal of pre-settled status expiry dates from digital profiles accessible to third parties in online verification services for Right to Work, Right to Rent, and View and Prove purposes.

‘Alongside this change, employers, landlords and letting agents will not be required to conduct a further right to work or rent check where the individual remains in their employment or as part of that tenancy agreement,’ reads an official press release by the Home Office.

The government has also emphasized the success of the EU Settlement Scheme, with statistics revealing that by December 31, 2023, 5.7 million individuals had secured their rights in the UK through the program, comprising 2 million with pre-settled status and 3.7 million with settled status.

Notably, revisions were introduced in July 2023 to ensure continuity of immigration status for individuals transitioning from pre-settled to settled status.

The Home Office, in collaboration with the Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA), has addressed concerns raised by the IMA and other stakeholders, ensuring ease of rights demonstration for status holders.

Meanwhile, the UK government, under Rishi Sunak’s command, has implemented a series of immigration policy changes aimed at reducing immigration which had risen to an unprecedented level in the recent past.

These measures include restrictions on international students bringing dependents to the UK, alongside an increase in the minimum salary threshold for Skilled Worker Visas, impacting many prospective immigrants.

UK is not the only country to introduce measures discouraging immigration as Canada and Australia have also introduced measures against international students, making their entry to the country difficult.