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EU citizens may have to reply three "simple" questions on-line if they need to proceed residing in the UK after Brexit, the house secretary has stated.
"We will not be looking for excuses to not grant settled status," Sajid Javid advised a Lords committee.
They will likely be requested to show their ID, whether or not they have legal convictions and whether or not they stay in the UK.
Their solutions will likely be checked in opposition to authorities databases and a choice given "very quickly", stated Mr Javid.
Full particulars of the proposed scheme will likely be set out shortly by immigration minister Caroline Nokes.
But the house secretary advised the Lords EU Justice committee the federal government's "default" place could be to grant settled standing and there would have to be "a very good reason why you are not going to get that".
He stated there could be two varieties of standing granted:
- Settled standingfor those that have lived in the UK for 5 years or extra
- Pre-settled standingfor those that have been in the UK lower than 5 years.
The scheme will function on-line and by way of a smartphone app, Mr Javid stated, and could be "as simple as people can reasonably expect".
He stated the federal government would have the ability to verify data offered by candidates "electronically, automatically", including that candidates would usually have already got relationships with different authorities departmentsfor occasion HMRC or the DWPand the system could be linked with these data, which means candidates wouldn't be required to present additional data.
Mr Javid added: "We are using government information, government records in a way, sadly, we didn't with the Windrush generation and other cases, but actually proactively using that information, and I hope that message comes through."
He additionally accused EU nations, similar to France and Spain, of failing to match the UK's progress on plans for expats after Brexit.
There are three.8 million EU citizens in the UK, and about 900,000 UK citizens in the EU, in accordance to ONS figures.
Both sides of the Brexit negotiations have resolved to safe the standing of expats by the point the UK leaves the EU in March 2019.
But any deal they attain may have to be ratified by the European Parliament and agreed to by member states.
If the UK leaves the EU with out a deal then the standing of British citizens residing in the EU member states is much less sure.
The UK would anticipate member states to permit Britons residing in the EU the identical rights because it plans to grant EU citizens in the UK however it could be down to particular person nations to resolve what to do.
Mr Javid will give MPs extra particulars later in regards to the UK's plans to permit EU nationals residing in the UK to apply for "settled status"one thing they are going to have to do if even when they have already got everlasting residence standing.
This is anticipated to embrace who's eligible, how folks will likely be in a position to apply and what it is going to price, with the scheme to open "in a phased way" later this 12 months.
'Rock strong dedication'
Mr Javid stated Mr Verhofstadt had already acknowledged to him that different EU nations had not completed sufficient to date.
"This is not good enough and I hope both the European Parliament and commission will exert more pressure for them to do this as soon as possible."
Mr Verhofstadt stated the EU Parliament would "defend the rights of all those affected by Brexit".
"The European Parliament will soon launch an extensive process in order to scrutinise the preparations being made by EU countries for British expats and we continue to believe the unresolved issue of onward movement rights must also be addressed for any deal to be reached," he additionally stated.
The Belgian MEP additionally raised considerations in regards to the "high cost" of settled standing.
"Why should EU citizens be ficially punished for the Brexit referendum outcome, when we don't even know yet what the future EUUK mobility agreement will look like?"
Dutch nationwide Francisca Oxley, of the marketing campaign group the3million, stated she hoped for a "rock solid commitment" from the UK authorities about how the UK's scheme will work.
What we all know to date
The Home Office has already detailed some options of its deliberate strategy.
EU citizens who've been in the nation for 5 years by the top of 2020 will likely be in a position to apply for "settled status", which implies they'll work and stay in the UK.
Assuming the UK and EU agree a Brexit deal, those that have arrived by 31 December 2020when the proposed Brexit transition interval is due to finishhowever should not have 5 years' residence, will likely be in a position to apply to stay till they've reached the brink, at which level they'll search settled standing.
The authorities has agreed that EU citizens and their households who arrive between 30 March 2019after the UK leaves the EUand 31 December 2020 will stay on the identical phrases, however may have to register in the event that they select to stay longer than three months.
UK authorities ministers have stated there will likely be an on-line systemcomparable to one used to renew driving licencesthat can take minutes to full, with a charge comparable to getting a passport, which prices from £75.50.
A cellular app for citizens to full their registration solely works absolutely on Android telephones, and the Home Office says it "continues to engage" with Apple to resolve the problem for iPhones.
An ID doc and up to date may have to be offered by candidates and any legal convictions declared.
The scheme could be open till the top of June 2021.