Every European national, including children, living in the UK must ratify their immigration status to ensure that they are legally able to stay.
A free advice and support drop-in service to help European nationals living in the city apply for settled status in the UK will be available at Manchester Town Hall Contact Centre.
A spokesman for Manchester City Council said specialist immigration advice officers from Bury and Bolton Citizens Advice will work alongside their colleagues from the local Manchester Citizens Advice at their hub every second Wednesday from 10.00 am – 1.00pm. They will be offering advice and support to vulnerable people who need help in applying for permanent immigration status as part of the EU Settled Status Scheme.
When Europe leaves the EU the European Treaty rights for free movement of people will no longer apply which means that every European national, including children, living in the UK must ratify their immigration status to ensure that they are legally able to stay. People have until December 2020 to apply.
People need settled status to ensure that in the future they are entitled to access the services they need, including the right to work, healthcare, education, travel as well as ensuring that children also have secure immigration status.
Councillor Sue Murphy deputy leader of Manchester City Council said:
“It is a free online application but many vulnerable people may not even know about the scheme or if they do know about it they may not have the skills to apply. Everyone currently in the UK from Europe needs to apply and that also means families with children who need to ensure that they also have secure immigration status.
“We would encourage anyone who is unsure of their status to drop in to one of these sessions and one of the specialist advisers will be able to offer advice and if they need it, help to apply online.”
Alice Tligui from CABB says:
“All EU, EEA and EFTA nationals living in the UK need to do something to ensure their immigration status is secure. Its really important that people get some immigration advice so that they understand their options and make the right choice depending on their circumstances.”
The drop-in service will operate every second Wednesday 10.00 am – 1.00pm in the Town Hall Contact Centre:
9 and 23 October
6 and 20 November
4 and 18 December
Additional drop-in services in Manchester are also available at Europia Office, St Wilfred’s Enterprise Centre, Royce Road, Hulme every Thursday 10 -1.00pm.