Since 31 December 2020, people with EU pre-settled status are able to sponsor their family members. Pre-Settled Status is the immigration status granted under the EU Settlement Scheme to European citizens and their non-European family members who have not yet lived in the UK for a continuous 5-year period at any point in the past. It is the status that allows those individuals to work towards meeting the requirements for Settled Status.
To be granted pre-Settled Status, you must:Have started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 (unless you are applying as the existing close family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who started living here by then)
- Have started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 (unless you are applying as the existing close family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who started living here by then)
- Prove you have been resident in the UK for the past 6 months.
You can stay in the UK for a further 5 years from the date you get pre-settled status. And sponsor family members. This applies to all family visa categories, even “parent of a child” applications, as pre-settled status is now a qualifying status for the child’s other parent where the child does not live with the applicant.
There are also sponsorship provisions for Turkish workers and businesspeople granted limited leave, but only for partner visas.
When your family member applies, they’ll need to prove their relationship to you. If you cannot bring your family member under the EU Settlement Scheme, they may still be able to come here in a different way. If you would like any further information or advice about the issues explored in this article, please talk to us.