Brexit, the short-hand for the withdrawal of Britain from the European Union (EU), has emerged as a hot topic for discussion in recent years. It started hitting the headlines ever since the introduction of the bill for it in 2016.
At that time, it was decided that the separation of Britain from the EU would take place precisely after a couple of years from that date. But after many agreements and disagreements on the date, the official date for the landmark change has been decided upon as October 31, 2019.
Immigration to the UK is one of the aspects that may undergo some radical changes as a result of it.
The three possibilities concerning Brexit
Given the shorter time frame, it seems unlikely that the government of the UK would reach an agreement with the representatives of the European Union before the end of October this year.
As a result, it is not certain if Brexit would happen as per the schedule. Going by the chain of events, there are three possible scenarios: Brexit may happen with a deal, it may happen without a deal, or it may not happen at all. Also, chances are ripe for the postponement of the event to a later date.
How it may affect the migration of the EU passport holders to the UK
With the cloud of uncertainty looming large on various sectors in Britain due to the inevitable event, soothsayers have started making their future predictions. While no one knows for sure how things will turn out to be in the event of a no-deal Brexit, there are two schools of thought. Some experts put their money on the positive side of it, whereas others believe it could lead to chaos.
While there is no denying the fact that there will be changes, the million-dollar question is how it will alter the existing system of migration to the UK for the EU passport holders.
Considering the uncertainties surrounding the decision on Brexit, it is hard to predict the outcomes with accuracy. It is not hard to decipher what the majority of people may expect if no-deal Brexit becomes a reality, though. Read on to know more about how the move may influence the existing arrangements for immigration to the UK for the nationals of the EU countries.
Travelling, residing, and working in EU countries
As of now, EU nationals do not need any visa to live, holiday or work in the UK. But things may change after Brexit, especially if it happens without a deal. While the current arrangement may continue for a shorter stay until December 2020, the holders of the EU passport may need a work permit to take part in any of the financial activities in the UK. These include doing a paid job or running a business.
An important thing to remember here is that these probabilities are inevitable, regardless of whether Brexit happens with or without a deal.
The status of the EU passport
The citizens of UK whose EU passports are set to expire in a few days’ time need to apply for EU settlement scheme at the earliest. It is recommended that they set the ball rolling for it from now on to avoid any inconvenience or hassle at the subsequent stages after the separation of Britain from the EU.
New rules and regulations of the United Kingdom immigration services will come into existence by January 2021. These rules will apply to both the categories of EU passport holders: those who are already in the UK and those who are planning to do so.
From January 1, 2021, revised rules and regulations concerning Immigration to the United Kingdom will replace the existing arrangement. The registration under the EU settlement scheme will be necessary from the beginning of 2021 for staying legally in the country. Therefore, it is important to apply for the same from now on.
Existing challenges in the UK
Notwithstanding the inevitable, the representatives of courts and the Home Office in the UK have their work cut out for themselves. It will take a Herculean effort on their part to not only formulate a plan but also implement it in quick time.
Final thoughts
At present, it may seem as if January 2021 is too far away. But it is almost like a few hours when one takes the amount of outstanding work into consideration. The existing problems and challenges in the UK are likely to aggravate matters even further.
As far as immigration to the UK is concerned, it is a complex topic. Careful deliberation with all ends considered is necessary to make the right decision. The future the immigration to the UK for EU nationals depends a lot on how these institutions would discharge all the responsibilities.