Brexit is far from over, it has been eight months since Prime Minister Theresa May triggered Art.50 of The Treaty of European Union that sets out the process on how a Member State could leave the union voluntarily.
Gene Alcantara, immigration adviser, answered some of the questions that are relevant to Filipinos living in the UK and other European countries.
What can you advise Filipinos, from other European countries working in UK and those living in the UK for more than five years with no Permanent Residency?
European Filipinos who are now in the UK in exercise of their EEA Treaty Rights should not worry about their status for now. The Prime Minister is expected to write an email to 100,000 EU citizens in the UK to reassure them that: “I couldn’t be clearer: EU citizens living lawfully in the UK today will be able to stay.” EU citizens, including EU Filipinos, have made a huge contribution to this country.
However if they have already completed 5 years of living and working in the UK, and they have the documentary evidence to prove this, then they should waste no more time and apply for Permanent Residence status.
This will give them a biometric residence permit (similar to Identity card) that they can show to any existing or potential employer, or landlord to prove their resident status. It only costs £65 to apply to the Home Office’s Liverpool office for this. After 1 year on Permanent Residence, they will be able to apply for British citizenship, provided they pass the two Knowledge of Life and Language tests.
If they need advice or assistance, they should approach a licensed immigration adviser.
More information on the most likely effect of Brexit on the Filipinos in UK, could be found on his article for the ABC-CBN Europe News Bureau.
Brexit and what lies ahead for Filipinos in the UK
As if on cue, The Guardian published part of the letter sent to a Romanian national seeking emergency accommodation in The UK. The letter was written on behalf of Home Secretary Amber Rudd, advising the Romanian national that, “You could avoid becoming destitute by returning to Romania or another EU member state where you could enjoy access to all your ECHR [European Convention on Human Rights] without interference.”
The letter sounds alarming but it also compels those who might be affected to prepare for the worst possible scenario.
Home Office letter to EU national
Sources:
Alcantara, Gene, (2017) Brexit what lies ahead for Filipinos in the UK
Townsend, Mark, (2017) Home Office letter tells EU citizen ‘go home or go elsewhere’