Back to News

Advice NI in Northern Ireland Helps EU Settlement Scheme Reach One Million Milestone

Advice NI is providing help and support to local residents and vulnerable people to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

  • It comes as one million EU citizens and their families receive status ahead of Brexit on 31 October
  • Advice NI helps people in Northern Ireland by providing free advice to anyone applying for EU Settled Status
Advice NI has helped EU citizens in Northern Ireland get granted status by providing qualified advice both over the phone and by email and text.
 
The EU Settlement Scheme is designed to make it straightforward for EU citizens and their family members to guarantee their rights after the UK leaves the EU. To apply they only need to complete 3 key steps – prove their identity, show that they live in the UK, and declare any criminal convictions.
 
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens living in Northern Ireland can gain free, confidential and multi-ligual advice on how to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme. Advice NI provides free assistance with proof of identity, eligibility and suitability as well as assistance in completing the online application.
 
Advice NI’s EUSS Service can be contacted for free and in confidence by calling FREEPHONE 0800 138 6545, by emailing euss@adviceni.net or by texting EUSS to 66644. A webchat facility is also available through the Advice NI website on www.adviceni.net/EUSS.
 
Advice NI CEO Bob Stronge said:
 
“As the Brexit deadline is fast approaching, it’s important now more than ever that people are aware of the support available to them when making their application to the EU Settlement Scheme.
 
Now that the scheme is established, at Advice NI we want to ensure we’re reaching everyone who will need our support in applying to the scheme. We’re here to help anyone with any questions about the scheme, just get in touch.”
 
Advice NI is part of a network of local authorities, charities and employers across the UK working to help EU citizens apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.
 
Home Office figures show that so far the highest number of applications have come from Polish, Romanian and Italian citizens.
 
Minister of State for the Home Office Brandon Lewis said:

“EU citizens have made incredible contributions to our country – which is why I’m so pleased that over one million people have been granted status, enshrining their rights in law.”
 
As well as a dedicated Settlement Resolution Centre, providing phone and email support to people applying, the Home Office has awarded up to £9 million in funding to 57 charities and community organisations to help EU citizens apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.
 
Additional support is also available to those who do not have the appropriate access, skills or confidence to apply online. This includes more than 200 Assisted Digital locations across the UK where applicants can be supported through their application.
 
 
ENDS
 
 
Notes to editors:
  • Advice NI in partnership with Migrant Centre NI and its EUSS Support and Guidance Centres including Advice North West, Community Advice Newry, Mourne & Down, Community Advice Craigavon, Community Advice Antrim and Newtownabbey, Mid East Antrim Community Advice Services, Community Advice Fermanagh, Community Advice Banbridge, East Belfast Belfast Independent Advice Centre, Community Advice Causeway, Community Advice Armagh, Omagh Independent Advice Services is providing help and support to local residents, vulnerable people and their family members to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme
  • For further information on the support Advice NI provides please contact 0800 138 6545 or email euss@adviceni.net
  • For further information on the EU Settlement Scheme please contact the Home Office Press Office on 020 7035 3535.
  • EU citizens and their families deal or no deal, EU citizens will have until at least 31 December 2020 to apply: https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families/applying-for-settled-status
  • A fact sheet on the EU Settlement Scheme can be found here: https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2019/07/18/media-factsheet-eu-settlement-scheme/
  • The figure of one million people having been granted status has been obtained from internal management information and is not part of the Official Statistics.