More than four million applications have already been submitted for the EU Settlement Scheme, which means that the milestone has been reached eight months before the deadline, June 30, 2021, the Home Office has announced.
The EU Settlement Scheme offers the opportunity to EU, EEA or Swiss citizens and their family members to continue living in the UK even before the Brexit transition period ends, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
According to a press release issued by the UK government, this achievement has led to granting the status to nearly 3.8 million people, guaranteeing the rights of millions of Europeans under the UK’s laws, for the upcoming years.
Based on the latest statistics, out of 4 million applications in the United Kingdom, there were:
- nearly 3.7 million filed in England
- 204,700 filed in Scotland
- 67,200 filed in Wales
- 66,300 filed in Northern Ireland
The UK Minister for Future Borders and Immigration Kevin Foster said that the European citizens are an essential part of the UK’s society, expressing among others happiness that over 4 million applications have already successfully been submitted to the EU Settlement Scheme.
”A wide range of support is available online and over the telephone, if you need it and we are funding 72 organisations across the UK to help the more vulnerable in society,” the Minister added.
The EU Settlement Scheme opened in March 2019, with 20,000 applications processed each day, on average. Whereas, the highest number of applications was reached in October 2019, with over 400,000 status grants.
1,500 people in total have been working at the Home Office for the EU Settlement Scheme. They have been offering support for applicants during the whole week through emails or telephone calls.
During August 2019, there were one million applications processed to the scheme, followed by two million in October 2019, three million in February 2020, and more than four million applications submitted in October this year.
In the meantime, £4 million have been allocated by the Home Office only for marketing campaigns across the United Kingdom in order to stimulate the applications of European citizens.
The United Kingdom left the European Union on January 31, 2020, while the transition period is expected to end by the end of the year. As of January 2021, travelling to the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein will be made under new rules.
SOURCE: Schengen Visa Info
