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Original poster

Disgusted at how the UK government will charge EU nationals £65 and no iPhone app

779 replies

Rosepetalgeranium · 29/12/2018 08:30

Even if someone has been here working hard and paying tax for decades they will have to pay £65 to stay and there's only an android app to apply not even an iPhone app!

OP posts:
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8
coldheartwarmhands · 30/12/2018 18:51

Stardust91. The scheme isn't fully open yet; this is sort of a preliminary stage and if the Withdrawal Agreement doesn't get ratified, then it may not be relevant anyway - you've got until 2021, so might be worth saving your £65 for now!

llangennith · 30/12/2018 18:52

Isn't it the same in most countries?

Fatasfook · 30/12/2018 18:55

This is what they were doing while we were all distracted with whether JC said woman or people, he wasn’t wrong whichever one he said.
This is disgraceful- Brexit is shameful. The British have nothing to be proud about.

DGRossetti · 30/12/2018 18:58

Isn't it the same in most countries?

Ask a Brexiteer. They seem to be experts on how other countries do stuff.

howrudeforme · 30/12/2018 19:03

@pluckedpencil - how does one Eu National marrying another give more freedom of movement and how do you become a prisoner of one country?

Pluckedpencil · 30/12/2018 19:16

@rudeforme. Marrying another EU national never gave more freedom of movement. But when we got married and had kids, we did it on the premise that some of our life would be spent in his home country, and some in mine. Now we find ourselves without that option because although I met dh in uk and he worked in the UK for ten years, 4 years ago we moved to another EU country and so I can't come back to UK with my family unless dh earns over a threshold now. Despite the fact that both of my kids are UK citizens, I am a UK citizen, he is European and lived there for ten years. Still hoops all over the place. Meanwhile, anyone who happens to be born in the UK that day is regarded as a UK citizen. Dh can't apply for citizenship unless we move back right now, but given that kids are in the middle of elementary school....

SantaClauseMightWork · 30/12/2018 19:24

Posters like pluckedpencils are the reason why I generally feel disgusted at the injustice of immigration systems that change policies with blanket effects. I have no sympathies for May whatsoever. She brought a few of these policies in her time as home minister.

VenusClapTrap · 30/12/2018 19:27

It is fucking insulting, and I’m livid about it. It makes me want to up sticks and move our business to mainland Europe and let them have the massive taxes we pay instead.

Goingonandonandon · 30/12/2018 19:28

it's a bit like entering in a contract stating 'you use this service. There are some rules; here they are. The rules will apply until we change our mind and we can change our mind at any time'. Now if this contract applies to, I don't know, renting a car. Fine. But it is applying to people's lives, who came here following the rules, sticking to their side of the bargain. Now the rules change, and so many people don't seem to care one bit that we are talking about people's lives, homes, jobs, families, friends. It just shows just how heartless some people are and it's frankly frightening.

coldheartwarmhands · 30/12/2018 19:39

I have no sympathies for May whatsoever. She brought a few of these policies in her time as home minister.

Absolutely, and despite that, the Government of the time was returned with a majority in 2015/2017. Those policies were welcomed by the majority of the voting public. The policies, and the Brexit vote, reflect the public mood towards immigration - and the country will be judged on the international stage as a result.

coldheartwarmhands · 30/12/2018 19:43

There are some rules; here they are. The rules will apply until we change our mind and we can change our mind at any time'.

Exactly right. Which is why I don't fully understand why people from other EU countries have been prepared to take the risk of settling here without citizenship, even though British immigration law has always had moving goal posts.

We (Britain, not me personally) don't have a particularly consistent track record when it comes to welcoming people from other countries.

SantaClauseMightWork · 30/12/2018 19:44

it's a bit like entering in a contract stating 'you use this service. There are some rules; here they are. The rules will apply until we change our mind and we can change our mind at any time'
It’s not just a bit like this. It’s every bit like this and more. Imagine if someone took the decision to move to the UK based on a set of offers made by the government to highly-skilled immigrants. Then a couple of years down the line, they feel like they need to charge hundreds of £s more per person along with the rules around how you can get visitors from your family, how long do you have to stay (effectively equalling the amount of deposit required for a first time buyer sometimes!), etc.
Remember, I am talking about highly-skilled workers. May couid always say ‘these rules apply to people who enter into an immigration contract with us from today onwards’. Only a hideously cold heart will apply these changes across board and only a corrupt system will let this injustice happen. NHS may need workforce, but hey ho, we are moving towards a USA-style system anyway so that is all fine. Hmm

Goingonandonandon · 30/12/2018 19:48

coldheart, because they have every right to be here. They do, have every, fucking right to be here. Don't you get it?

And it's the likes of May stating that they 'will have to go to the back of the queue' and insisting that they now have to apply for the privilege of doing something perfectly within the rules and internationally recognised that plays in the hands of bigots and racists who vote for them.

Sara107 · 30/12/2018 19:49

To all the people saying it’s no big deal, £65 is not much, I would say wake up and see what is happening. These people came here legally and fulfilled all the requirements but the rules are being changed retrospectively. The £65 is not the point here at all, it is that the entire legal foundation of people’s lives has been undermined. Look at what happened to the so called Windrush generation (many from Canada, Oz etc as well as Caribbean) - they came legally, the rules were subsequently altered and you must be living under a stone if you haven’t seen some of the difficulties they have faced. EU citizens are now in a similar situation- any government can change the rules again in years to come. People who fail to get the right documents for some reason may be deported ( not in April, but maybe in years), or refused things they are entitled to like healthcare. The right of family members to join EU residents will change and may become even more restrictive if later governments wish. So it’s not the money, it’s not the app, it’s not even the feeling that a country where you have made your home is turning against you, it is the uncertainty, the not knowing what will happen in years to come with your rights, your family etc. It is a bleak and quite frightening experience.

coldheartwarmhands · 30/12/2018 19:53

Goingonandonandon - their continuing "right to be here" is dictated by Government, who are elected by wider society. Trusting the British electorate on matters relating to immigration is a huge gamble.

SantaClauseMightWork · 30/12/2018 19:57

Trusting the British electorate on matters relating to immigration is a huge gamble.
It’s not just a ‘British electorate vs British government’ situation. Now it involves complications like corrupt media, Facebook data usage, stakes that involve big businesses. It should never go down to vote in a system like this.

avenueq · 30/12/2018 19:58

My father in law used to ask me why I hadn't become a British citizen yet. I always said there's no need, it's all EU. I think I was deluded because in my country of birth the EU is seen in such a different light.
I will now consider applying for British citizenship, but only if I can keep my other nationality as well. No way am I giving up all that my original passport will give me for a blue one that restricts my freedom.

SantaClauseMightWork · 30/12/2018 20:00

And we must remember that this corrupt political system will turn its hunger towards the locals once there is a shortage of foreigners. It already has.

Tiddler7 · 30/12/2018 20:05

AnnaMagnani

I am so upset by this.

My DM has been here 60 years, married a Brit, now a widow, British children, doesn't even have a passport from her country anymore, is frail and will be difficult for her to travel to the embassy to get one.

She's worked in the NHS her whole life, has the ruined spine from all the heavy lifting to show for it and this is the thanks she gets. She'd even have had automatic citizenship through marriage but Theresa May changed the rules and we can't do it retrospectively. My DM can't go through a citizenship test now - she's elderly, it's too much.

The Home Office ad of a bunch of millenials is offensive to the true picture of EU citizens in this country.

Anna so what passport does your DM have now..?

Life in UK test is only for people up to age of 65 I think. Anyone older doesn't need it as far as I know. But I might be wrong.

User758172 · 30/12/2018 20:10

and this is the thanks she gets

I’m sure she’s benefiting from living here and enjoyed her life in this country. None of us is owed anything. Confused

swingofthings · 30/12/2018 20:12

, entitled does not even cover it
Entitled? You're comparing registering to a professional body to being able to stay in your home country? Did they tell you that only those working PT had to register, those FT didn't need to because they are more valued? Of course not.

Am I entitled? Yes, to be treated with the same dignity I was given when I came here and that others are still receiving.

KennDodd · 30/12/2018 20:13

Well we get what we vote for and making life difficult for foreigners is what Leavers wanted and voted for. I am truly ashamed to be British at the moment.

avenueq · 30/12/2018 20:13

I've been on MN for 16 years and 10 years ago could not have imagined so many unsympathetic responses as on this thread. Says a lot about how the UK as a whole has changed.

redsummershoes · 30/12/2018 20:18

entitled?
many of the people we are talking about already have indefinite leave to remain by default of living in the uk for a certain number of years. that is being taken away for the low fee of the average weekly supermarket spend of a small family...

swingofthings · 30/12/2018 20:21

I’m sure she’s benefiting from living here and enjoyed her life in this country. None of us is owed anything
Indeed. When the NHS collapses, I expect you'll be posting these same words to those blaming the government for it. It was nice whilst it lasted!