The UK Government is being urged to extend the deadline for a scheme allowing EU citizens living in the UK to apply for settled status.
The current deadline is June 30 and Jenny Gilruth, Scotland’s Europe Minister said thousands of those eligible in Scotland have not yet applied reports PA.
Applying to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) will afford them legal status to carry on living and working in the UK now the Brexit transition period and freedom of movement has ended.
Ms Gilruth said: “The risks for EU citizens who do not apply to the EUSS by the 30 June deadline will be life-changing – they won’t be able to work, study, claim benefits, drive a car or open a bank account. In short, their lives will be turned upside down.
“We know that thousands of eligible fellow citizens living in this country have yet to apply – I call on the UK Government to therefore extend that 30 June deadline.
“In my view, this is a simple and practical way of avoiding another Windrush scandal.”
“The Scottish Government stands ready to do all we can to help citizens who do not apply, and my message to everyone from the EU who lives and works here remains this: Scotland is your home, you are our family, and we want you to stay here with us.
“But, until the UK Government extends the deadline for their EU Settlement Scheme, I must, sadly, reiterate that it remains critical that all EU citizens complete an application by 30 June 2021.”
