Has anybody had to apply for settled status?

[prognos1s]

Husband is Portuguese. Been in uk since was 12, now 22 and been working for 4 years but education before. Does anybody understand the process of applying for settled status or is he eligible to apply for British citizenship and if so is it worth it? We are confused about everything to do with it and no family to shed light

[Wolfff]

Look on the gov.uk website as long as he has an NI number and passport number it looks straightforward to apply online.

[Wolfff]

My Mum is 84 and lived in the UK for 61 years. She was shocked when I told her she has to apply. She said she would leave it til the deadline in case she dies first.

She was told recently by someone a third of her age that as she was not British she did not understand Brexit.

[velocitygirl7]

When's the deadline?

[Wolfff]

If we leave without a deal 31 Dec 2020.
Longer if we leave with a deal.

[verticality]

Yes, I absolutely would apply asap. Get. It. Done. You just don't know when policy will change: I mean, I'd like to think they'd do the decent thing and honour the deadlines they have set, but with this lot in charge, all bets are off.

[prognos1s]

I'm so confused with all of it. Would it be worthwhile applying for British citezenship or would settled be enough. He doesn't speak to his family so this is a completely alien process for both of us. Also he only has the ID card and not a passport and we're in the process of getting a new passport will this be accepted?

[Wolfff]

You really need to look on the website and read the information there. Personally as your husband is young I would tend to go for British citizenship.

[prognos1s]

@Wolfff yeah I had a brief look today and there were so many variations and were both quite dyslexic so thought I'd just ask before sitting down tonight and being really confused. I'll have a look into the citezenship too thanks

[cherin]

There are also different criteria for citizenship that apply depending on how old you were when you moved, the year etc. That’s because rules have changed over time. The gov website is actually quite clear and has something like a flowchart to allow you to understand the route to take.
Regardless of this, a naturalisation procedure can take a year or more, whilst it would be good for anyone to have paperwork in full order for the settled status ASAP (ideally before 31.10.19). That’s one less worry if you travel post brexit.
The panic mode of last week when Priti Patel declared that she wanted to end freedom of movement the day after brexit seems to have evaporated because they might have realised its physically impossible to enforce it, BUT I can’t see why anyone would want to stay with this worry....

[cherin]

There is a forum by a charity that might help: www.forum.ukcen.com

[WhatWouldTheDoctorDo]

I wouldn't give up citizenship of an EU country for British citizenship tbh. Some people at work have gone through the settled status process and found it fairly straightforward.

[prognos1s]

@cherin thanks a lot. That's really helpful

[Lwmommy]

Apply for settled status now, it's free and should be relatively quick.

Citizenship is worth doing if he intends to be here forever, but it's expensive, currently £1330 plus £19.20 for biometric prints to be taken.

Given Priti Patel is in charge now though I'd start the process as soon as you meet the criteria and can afford to do it. It's a LOT of paperwork, but if it's something he wants it's best to get going before it's potentially made harder and more expensive.

He will also need settled status for a period of 12 months before he can apply for citizenship.

[GrouchyKiwi]

If he takes British citizenship would he lose his Portuguese nationality? Some countries aren't happy with dual nationality, so he should check this.

I've got Settled Status. I don't trust the Home Office so we're looking into citizenship too. But I might lose my EU nationality so we have to talk to a nationality expert first.

Settled Status was relatively straightforward, and I did it before they made the process easier. The government website explains it all and you can start the process there.

[pointythings]

It's worth applying for settled status, and if you've worked consistently for over 5 years it's really simple. Mine took about 2 weeks but that was on the Beta version - DDs' applications (linked to me as their parents) were done in a couple of days.

We will not be applying for citizenship because we don't want to lose our Dutch passports, and all three of us are looking to leave in any case. We don't feel wanted here any more.

[cherin]

I didn’t know this, I just read it on the Huffington Post, and copying it here in case anyone needs it

The Home Office have advised EU citizens that permanent residence cards will not be valid after December 31, 2020, and those willing to stay in the UK should apply under the EU Settlement Scheme.

(I assumed that if you’d done the other thing you’d be automatically registered...)

[NotSayingAWord]

I have done it. It takes 5 minutes online. I have been living in the UK for 10+ years, straight got settled status

[steppemum]

dh has done it.
It was very easy and free.
But I don't think they have actually been issued yet, and he did it months ago.
He has been here 10 years.

[pointythings]

NotSaying it is straightforward - if you have been in a salaried job for 5+ years, like me. If you've been self employed, a SAH parent, long term retired - not so straightforward. There have recently been publicised cases of people who have been here 20 years plus being given pre-settled status only, so the system isn't perfect.

It's still best to apply and get the ball rolling.

[GrouchyKiwi]

I'm a SAHM, and have been for 7 years, but I had worked for 6 years here before that so that was enough to get settled status.

[howrudeforme]

No SS is not that straightforward. My ex been here since 1993 but lost his job in 2014 (we were married then) so probably won’t pass first time and he’ll need to root through old bank statements as evidence of residency. We don’t know anyone with an android phone who can help. I’ve called out old council to see if the can provide old copies of council tax.

Many women have have stopped work to have babies are not given SS in the first instance.

My advice is to get your dh SS now (it’s free) and then consider citizenship.

Best of luck.

Just can’t believe that people, many who have lived here decades and have little to do with their birth countries, are having to go though this shit. It’s not that simple for everyone.

[steppemum]

If you've been self employed, a SAH parent, long term retired - not so straightforward. There have recently been publicised cases of people who have been here 20 years plus being given pre-settled status only, so the system isn't perfect

yes dh is self employed, so that is why he has pre-settled status

[LokihasafryingPan]

Ring 0300 123 7879 it's the call centre they can talk you through everything and help you apply if he wants to, as your both dyslexic speaking to someone will probably help you get through it quickly. It's free so yu might as well do it before considering expensive citizenship