Growers relieved after Home Office revises immigration rules
The ever moving drama that surrounds Brexit is causing ongoing, unhelpful uncertainty for horticulture businesses. In that context this article suggests at least a ray of light! It tells us:
EU nationals will be allowed to live and work in the UK after 31 October even under a no-deal Brexit, the government has announced.
The Home Office announcement contradicts previous Brexit position statements which said the EU freedom of movement policy would end immediately after 31 October under a no-deal.
That position would have meant EU citizens could only enter Britain from November onwards on short-term visits, sparking concern over farm labour supplies.
However, the Home Office’s latest announcement sets out a range of measures termed ‘leave to remain’ that will replace the EU freedom of movement policy.
Leave to remain proposal
The policy will allow EU and Swiss workers, along with close family members, to enter Britain, even if they have not applied for settled or pre-settled status.
This initial free movement will only be possible for a transition period of 14 months until 31 December 2020.
After this date, any worker wishing to remain in the UK must have applied to stay under a new temporary leave to remain scheme.