EU Settlement Scheme status upgrade to be automated

The Home Office has recently announced that people who hold pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme will start to have their status automatically upgraded throughout 2025. Our blog tells you all you need to know about this update and how it affects you.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

From late January 2025 and onwards, the pre-settled status of people in the UK on the EU Settlement Scheme will begin to automatically change to settled status following the introduction of an automated system.

This new system will make it so that people with pre-settled status do not have to apply for settled status themselves; this was usually only possible after being resident in the UK for five years. With the new system being automatic, people who hold pre-settled status will no longer have to do anything at all, so they will avoid the stress of having to apply themselves.

The Home Office has also stated that this new process will be more streamlined and straightforward due to the fact it is automatic.

How do I become eligible for automatic settled status?

Not everyone who holds pre-settled status will be automatically converted at the same time.

First, your pre-settled status must first be approaching its expiry date for you to be able to get settled status automatically.

The Home Office will then carry out checks against information that the Government holds, to make sure that you have remained a resident in the UK while holding pre-settled status. They will also check your criminal record. Once these checks have been completed and if you have passed them, you should become eligible for automatic conversion to settled status.

How will I know if my EUSS status has been automatically converted?

When your pre-settled status is close to its expiry date, the Home Office will contact you by email to tell you that you will be considered for automatic conversion to settled status.

If they decide that you are not eligible for settled status, they will inform you by email. In this case, your pre-settled status under the EUSS should be automatically extended by five years, which has been the case for everyone whose pre-settled status is about to expire under the existing rules.

Can I still apply for settled status myself?

If you do not want to wait until your pre-settled status comes closer to its expiry date to find out if you are eligible for settled status under the EUSS, then you can still apply using the existing system.

Automatic conversions are not replacing the existing system of applying for settled status yourself, the new system is just going to exist alongside the existing process.

Future updates to automatic conversions

Although the Home Office is only just about to introduce automatic conversions to the EUSS, they have outlined some of the future changes they may make to the automatic system throughout 2025.

For example, they plan on expanding the automatic conversion process to benefit more people who could be eligible through other means later in the year.

Also, they will be making plans for those who no longer meet the conditions of their pre-settled status; for example, people whose status has lapsed due to them not being continuously resident in the UK whilst holding pre-settled status.

We will keep you updated with any future updates that the Home Office announces for the EUSS.

How we can help

Anyone who is interested in applying for settled status under the EUSS by themselves instead of waiting for an automatic conversion, may need the assistance of an immigration expert; this will be especially important if you have a complex situation or struggle to do things by yourself.

Luckily, our helpful team is here to help you apply for settled status. If you are interested in our services, then contact us by phone, email, our website chatbot, or book a free 10-minute assessment to discuss what you need help with.

Then, you can book a longer, paid consultation that will last either 30 minutes or an hour, which depends on what you choose. You can also choose between having the consultation with one of our immigration specialists, or with our Principal Solicitor, Nathan Woodcock. This longer consultation is where you will be given advice and where we will help you plan your next steps. Visit our ‘what to expect’ webpage for more details about our process.

If you are still unsure about whether to use our services, then please visit our client success stories and our testimonials webpages to see how we have helped clients in the past.

Get in touch with us today for our EUSS expertise.

Ready for assistance?

If you have any questions, or want to book an appointment with one of our legal experts, contact Woodcock Law today. Call us on +44 (0)20 7712 1705 or email info@woodcocklaw.co.uk.

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