Successful EU settled status scheme drop-in on Saturday

‘We were going to open at 10 but I arrived here at twenty to and there was someone here so we opened up early,’ said immigration officer Sarah Oakley, one of two staff who were on duty to receive applications during the morning.

There was a steady flow of applicants until about 1.30 and during that time 64 applications were received: ‘It’s been much better than other events we have held,’ said Officer Oakley.

Previously, people had had the chance to return applications during sessions at Beau Sejour, at Health and Social Care, care homes and to employers: ‘We had only a handful of people coming in to Beau Sejour,’ she said.

‘We’ve even had Irish people who’ve heard the advert and called up.’

She put the success of Saturday’s open day down to promoting it using adverts in the Guernsey Press and on radio, whereas before they had depended on social media, consulates, employers and douzaines to spread the word.

‘Nobody knows how many EU citizens and family members of EU citizens are in Guernsey,’ said Officer Oakley.

‘We were thinking there were maybe 4,000 but now we’re looking at about 3,000. We’d be happy if we had 3,000 applications in.’

As of Saturday lunchtime, 2,850 applications had been received.

‘The main advantage of applying is that people who come in post-Brexit who have not registered will have to travel with a passport,’ she said.

The scheme opened in April, 2019, and applies to anyone from EU, EEA or Switzerland who arrives to live in the Bailiwick before the end of this year. Registrations need to be submitted by 30 June 2021. Forms and information leaflets are available online at www.gov.gg/immigration. Applicants can download the form or alternatively forms can be collected from The Passport Office on the White Rock, Sir Charles Frossard House reception, Beau Sejour, Alderney States Office and Sark Constables Office, as well as parish douzaine and constables’ offices.

n Any enquiries should be directed to Immigration and Nationality, New Jetty, White Rock, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 2LL. Tel: 01481 741420. Email: immigration@gba.gov.gg