There are an estimated 3 million European Union (EU) citizens living in the United Kingdom. The Somalis are one of those emigrants who are extremely worried about their future residential status in the UK. ย As they rarelyย use immigration consultant firms, it seems that Somalis from EU countriesย are confused whether or not they can apply visas or permits in the UK.
I have seen aย Somali family whom its members have different EU nationalities. They migrated from their country due to war and sought asylum for different EU countries, and then formally been granted permanent residency. They now wonder what would happen to them as theyย obviously don’t want to find them selves in different countries.
When United Kingdom became a member of the EU, many families have had the opportunity to reunite withย their beloved family members. Somalis from different EU countries got married in the UK and have British born children. The fact thatย many of them are not officially registered as a husband and wife or civil partner would also make theย matter much complicated.
If Britain starts the divorceย proceedings soon, the real possibilities under UK future immigration rules areย questionable, but there could be hopeย for EU Somalis whom UK’s exit from the European Union may affect members of their families.
I am not a lawyer but I can highlight that changes are unlikelyย for exercising the EU treaty rights at least for the upcoming two years as the negotiations between the UK and EU willย continue for a while.
In the past, EU citizens were entitled apply for UK citizenship straight away after six years of residence. However, after 2015 it has been changed to permanent residence card. At this stage, there is no need to panic because legally the UKโs exit from EU may have little effect on those EU citizens who have already established their lives here in the UK.
Certainly, immigration will be a key issue for Britain in the near future and the government may attempt to introduce fresh immigration rules towards new comers. The anti-EU freedom of movement guideline will definitely have some kind of restrictions that may be attached to the personโs residential status, work permit and so on. But, this may only happen if Britain discontinues retaining access toย the single market.
Finally, donโt forget that Britain is a member of European Economic Area (EEA). So, if Britain quits the EU itย still remains as an EEA member. This might mean acceptance of freedom ofย movement. Therefore, as an EEA national you may be allowed to study and work in United Kingdom and you may also be eligible for a residence card, depending on the upcoming brexit negotiations between the UK and the EU asย Britain isย enormously under pressure toย respect principles of freedom of movement if they want to have full access to the EEA single market.
As far as I can predict, Britain will not easily walk away whatsoever from the single market and in return it may allow EU citizens who are already living the UK to remain and work in UK.ย As I am not highly knowledgeable aboutย this subject, I would advice Somali EU citizens living in the UK to gather further information from the immigration consultant firms.
London