BoBoChic - why do you feel so certain?
I think there are EU citizens who will be at real risk of being removed:
- Those who have resided in the uk for less than 5 years
- Anyone with a criminal record.
- Those who have resided in the uk for less than 20 years, but either can't prove it or who can't prove that they have done so under EEA regulations for a continuous period of 5 years - this will catch out quite a few women I fear. For example, a French woman who came to the uk, studied for a year, worked for 3 years but then got married to a British Citizen and left the workplace to raise a family would quite possibly have not completed 5 years residence as a 'qualified person' and so would not have a permanent right of residence.
You are only a 'qualified person' if you have
- worked for 5 years
- been self employed for 5 years
- been a student at a recognised institution for 5 years and held comprehensive sickness insurance
- been self-sufficient for 5 years and held comprehensive sickness insurance.
I fear there are many women who will think they can rely on having been 'self-sufficient' (you can rely on income from another family member) but who will be caught out because they have not had sickness insurance.
Do you really think this government will say "Oops, it turns out you have been living in the UK for 14 years unlawfully, you don't meet any of the current rules, but never mind, you can stay anyway", or will they take their chance to finally get those pesky net migration figures down to their target of 'tens of thousands'?