From the 24th August 2020, there has been a change within the EU citizenship rules. All citizens of Northern Ireland, whether they claim British citizenship, Irish citizenship or both, are now treated as EU citizens for immigration purposes, so they can apply for their non-EEA family members to join them in Northern Ireland suing the EU Settlement Scheme. The move is a departure from the previous rule, where all persons born in Northern Ireland were classed as British and so unable to sponsor non-EEA family members.
To classify Northern Irish citizens as British for immigration purposes was in contravention of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA), which recognises the right to identify as British, Irish, or both for all persons born in Northern Ireland. It that non-EEA family members of persons born in Northern Ireland was only able to join them in the UK with a Family Visa – and that costs significantly more than the EU Settlement Scheme application.
The move follows a legal case for a Northern Irish citizen whose US-born husband was unable to relocate to Northern Ireland as she was classified as British by the authorities. This was despite her holding an Irish passport.
Please note that this arrangement will only apply to applications that were made before the 30th June 2021 and the relationship must have existed before the end of 2020.
Scarsdale Solicitors – Manchester, Rochdale and Oldham
If you need advice on this matter or any other immigration issue, call the team at Scarsdale Solicitors Oldham, Scarsdale Solicitors Manchester and Scarsdale Solicitors Rochdale. If you require the assistance of Manchester Immigration solicitors, Rochdale immigration solicitors and Oldham immigration solicitors, call us today on 0161 660 6050.
