Should I take my driving test and do a Masters here in the UK or is it a mistake with Brexit?

[MotoringCautiouslyOnward]

I am from Ireland, but the UK has been my home for many years now. I'd like to get my driving license as it would be useful for various reasons.

Will a UK driving license be valid in other countries if Brexit goes ahead? It isn't looking certain that Irish citizens will be able to stay anymore. In that case I'll have to move home and would need to exchange for an Irish license once there.

As I have no address in Ireland and don't live there, I can't take my test there. I'm 99% certain you need to meet a residency requirement to be eligible to take an Irish driving test, even if I could use a friend's address. That's leaving out that obviously I can't practise on the route there, while taking lessons in the UK.

I am also considering a Masters degree starting this Autumn and wondering if that is a mistake. I am assuming that a good postgraduate degree, a taught degree, from a UK university will still be worth something, even if avenues for research funding fade away.

However if Brexit does crash out, and there is major disruption, will universities be forced to shut? I can't see why they would need to close bar major civil unrest which I'm hopeful won't happen - but is there something I'm not thinking of that could throw a spanner in the works, meaning I wouldn't be able to actually complete the degree?

I assume even if all Irish people lose automatic rights to settled status, we will have a few months to get out? Ie it won't be overnight?

Any advice?

Wow catastrophising much!!!!

No ones going to come for you to get you deported. A UK driving licence will remain valid in all the countries both in and out of the EU as now. Universities are not going to be forced to shut.

Have you read a newspaper recently? Which one if so

It isn't looking certain that Irish citizens will be able to stay anymore

Yes it is

Where have you heard that Irish nationals won't be able to stay? It's been publicly committed to by the government in various white papers. And even if that weren't the case, as an eu national currently resident in the UK you'd be eligible for the settlement scheme.

I would take the driving test, far as I know its not hard or expensive to get an international permit if one becomes required later. Equally I can't see any circumstance even under the possible disasters associated with Brexit where unis would suddenly need to close so I would go ahead

Don’t worry love, the Russians will have turned everything to winter by then 🐻

The Home Office have been arguing that Irish citizens do not have settled status in the UK, despite rights being laid out in the CTA.

Thank you, I didn't know about the international driving permit. So that doesn't require an extra driving test? Wouldn't fancy that! If I can make it through one I'll be doing well!

Genuinely haven't seen that argument anywhere - do you have a source?

No extra test, you can get one from the post office for £5.50 and its valid for a year. Lots of places require it now (eg some us states)

www.freemovement.org.uk/how-will-brexit-affect-irish-citizens/

"I had an appeal at the First Tier Tribunal in Belfast this morning and the Home Office presenting officer stated that the Home Office does not accept that Irish citizens are settled in the UK. We made our submissions to the contrary and a break was given, he then reiterated in his submissions that they do not accept Irish citizens are settled in the UK and that their right to reside in the UK falls under EU law and is a matter of evidence."

Quote from a solicitor from site linked above.

Very happy to know my driving test is straightforward! Now to pass the bloody thing!

Irish citizens will always be able to live in the UK. Their right to do so (and British citizens' right to live in Ireland) predates and is not dependent on the EU.

Jazzie, I really hope so.

Obviously we don't know, but given that many people in Northern Ireland only hold an Irish passport despite being British, the government are going to need to work something out. There is also the GFA to factor in as a positive.

I'd do it. Deal with what happens next when you need to. Do your test, get your Masters and then re evaluate in a year. Your Masters will stand and your Driving Test will too. You can't put your life on hold.

That is how I feel, I can't put my life on hold. Had mad wild thoughts of moving back to Dublin asap though to try and get on a postgrad there.

But I don't want to as my life is here! It would be very tough, both practically and emotionally, to suddenly up and leave. Whatever about planning to go further down the line.

OP that's a scaremongering website. It's propaganda.

I think your a troll

My hubby is Irish and he thinks your a troll no one Irish will be deported ever

Lol

Lmao

It's a website that discusses immigration law because it is constantly shifting and changing in the UK. It's not 'propaganda'.

Oh yeah. New poster.... why don't I spot them?!

immigration law because it is constantly shifting and changing in the UK.

No it's not. Take your propaganda elsewhere. Breitbart maybe.

Am not a troll. Very happy for MNHQ to scan behind the scenes at my account.

It isn't propaganda, saying so doesn't make it true.

I would take a case that the case in question involved a non Eea family member of an Irish national, in which case their rights do still fall under EU treaties and the Irish national wouldn't automatically be treated as settled but would be required to prove they're exercising treaty rights in order to sponsor their family member.

The UK doesn't even deport Irish nationals (I'm talking actually deport not just remove) apart from exceptional cases.

Freemovement (clue in the name), whilst being run by reputable solicitors so won't lie, is anti immigration control and so likely to paint the home office in the worst possible light

Your covered by the CTA that predates 1921
So your a fucking troll
If your getting a masters then your not stupid

You would no more have issues than somone from jersey so

"I would take a case that the case in question involved a non Eea family member of an Irish national, in which case their rights do still fall under EU treaties and the Irish national wouldn't automatically be treated as settled but would be required to prove they're exercising treaty rights in order to sponsor their family member."

That's a fair suggestion. I guess what I don't like is feeling that there is a scrap of doubt over the certainty of Irish status once Brexit happens.

Scorn me all you like, but it's a discussion forum, and I am allowed to give voice to my mild concerns such as spending over £10k on signing up for a degree only for something to go wrong regarding my eligibility to live here. That's a big sum of money to me. I won't spend it lightly without feeling confident.

I am not losing sleep over this. I am just a cautious person by nature, I like to talk out the different possible scenarios, it helps me process things and make decisions.