Introduction
Have you recently applied for the EU Settlement Scheme and received your decision? Understanding your status and the next steps can be challenging. This guide will help you navigate the process, whether you’ve been granted pre-settled or settled status, or if your application was refused. If you need further assistance, Contend’s highly trained AI legal experts are here to provide guidance and support, ensuring you understand your rights and options. With Contend, accessing legal help in the UK has never been easier.
If you’ve applied to the EU Settlement Scheme, you will receive an email from the Home Office with your decision. This email will inform you about the status you have been granted. It’s important to remember that processing your application can take some time, so don’t panic if you haven’t received your decision yet. You can check how long it typically takes to get a decision on the GOV.UK website.
Sometimes, family members’ applications may be processed faster than yours, even if you linked your applications. If you want to know the status of your application, you can contact the EU Settlement Scheme Resolution Centre for assistance.
Contacting the EU Settlement Scheme Resolution Centre
- Phone: 0300 123 7379
- From outside the UK: +44 203 080 0010
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 8:30pm; Saturday and Sunday, 9:30am to 4:30pm
You can also ask questions about the scheme on the GOV.UK website, and they will respond within five working days. If you have a phone plan that includes free calls to landlines, your call to the Resolution Centre is likely to be free.
What if You’re Not Happy with Your Status?
If you receive pre-settled status instead of settled status, or if your application is refused, your decision letter will explain why. It will also inform you if you can apply again or appeal the decision.
Pre-Settled Status vs. Settled Status
If you expected to receive settled status but were granted pre-settled status, you may have made an error when applying. Contact the EU Settlement Scheme Resolution Centre to clarify what happened. If you did accept pre-settled status by mistake, you can reapply to change it to settled status.
Reapplying for Settled Status
You should consider reapplying if you can provide new information or evidence that shows you’ve lived in the UK for five continuous years. The good news is that it’s free to apply, and there’s no limit on how many times you can do so. For guidance on what evidence you can provide, check the relevant resources on GOV.UK. You can also seek help from Contend’s legal expert chat before reapplying.
Administrative Review of Your Decision
If your decision letter is dated before October 5, 2023, and you believe there was a mistake, you can ask for an administrative review. You have 28 days from the date on your decision letter to request this review, which costs £80. If the Home Office changes its decision due to an error, you will get a refund.
You might want to request a review if:
- You are retired and have lived in the UK for less than five years.
- You stopped working due to illness or injury but have lived in the UK for less than five years.
- You submitted evidence showing you’ve lived in the UK for five years, and you think there was a mistake.
If you miss the 28-day deadline for a review, you can still reapply to the EU Settlement Scheme for free.
Appealing Your Decision
If you applied after January 31, 2020, and received pre-settled status instead of settled status, you can appeal this decision. If your decision letter is dated before October 5, 2023, you can also request an administrative review.
Appealing costs £80 for a written appeal or £140 for a hearing. If you win the appeal, you will get your fee back. However, appeals can take a long time, so it’s often better to reapply or ask for a review.
You should consider appealing if:
- You previously requested an administrative review and it was denied.
- You lack documentary evidence but have witnesses or other forms of evidence.
- You believe the Home Office misinterpreted the law.
If you’re in the UK, you have 14 days to appeal from the date on your decision letter. You can appeal online or use the form IAFT-5. If you’re outside the UK, you have 28 days to appeal, and you can use form IAFT-6.
If You’ve Been Refused Status
Your decision letter will outline the reasons for any refusal. You can appeal this decision or request an administrative review if the letter is dated before October 5, 2023. You can also reapply to the EU Settlement Scheme, but if the deadline has passed (which was December 31, 2020, for those living in the UK), your application will likely be denied.
If you need assistance after a refusal, reach out to Contend’s legal expert chat for guidance. They can help you understand your options and navigate the next steps.
For more information on appeals and administrative reviews, visit the GOV.UK website.
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