This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42322018

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Brexit: Right-to-stay forms 'will only take minutes' Brexit: Right-to-stay forms 'will only take minutes'
(about 1 hour later)
It will only take a couple of minutes for EU citizens to register online to stay in the UK after Brexit, Home Office minister Brandon Lewis has said.It will only take a couple of minutes for EU citizens to register online to stay in the UK after Brexit, Home Office minister Brandon Lewis has said.
There would, he said, be a "presumption in favour" of approving applications when the process begins late next year and people should hear in two weeks.There would, he said, be a "presumption in favour" of approving applications when the process begins late next year and people should hear in two weeks.
He promised the system would be much simpler than before and there would be "no more 85-page documents" to fill in. Rather than having to wade through 85 pages as in the past, he said there would be just six to eight questions.
Theresa May has urged all three million EU nationals to stay after March 2019.Theresa May has urged all three million EU nationals to stay after March 2019.
A reciprocal deal on the rights of EU nationals in the UK and British expats on the continent is part of the stage-one agreement approved by the European Commission on Friday - which is expected to be rubber-stamped by all 28 EU members later this week.A reciprocal deal on the rights of EU nationals in the UK and British expats on the continent is part of the stage-one agreement approved by the European Commission on Friday - which is expected to be rubber-stamped by all 28 EU members later this week.
Mr Lewis told the Lords EU Justice sub-committee that Friday's agreement meant people "can be confident they do not have to do anything immediately". Mr Lewis told the Lords EU Justice sub-committee that Friday's agreement meant EU nationals worried about their future "can be confident they do not have to do anything immediately".
When they do begin to apply for what the government has described as "settled status", he said the system would be far simpler than those applying for permanent residency in the past have had to deal with. When the application process for what the government has described as "settled status" begins, he said the system would be far simpler than those applying for permanent residency in the past have had to deal with.
Anyone who has already gone through the process of becoming permanent residents may not have to pay a fee to apply again, Mr Lewis said, while for others charges would be capped at about £72.50 - the cost that Britons pay to renew their passports. "The way we are looking to develop this is using online processes where somebody spends literally a few minutes online and within a couple of weeks your settled status is dealt with and granted," Mr Lewis said.
The immigration minister said the Home Office always had a duty to be rigorous when it came to considering residency applications. Unlike other applicants, existing permanent residents may not have to pay a fee to apply again nor have to supply evidence that they are living in the UK.
For those who don't already have indefinite leave to remain in the UK, charges will be capped at about £72.50 - the cost that Britons pay to renew their passports.
The immigration minister said the Home Office always had a duty to be rigorous when it came to considering applications for permanent residency - which people are eligible for after five continuous years in the UK.
But he admitted the current system was "overly complicated and bureaucratic" and the authorities' approach would have to change when it came to Brexit because of the sheer numbers of people affected.But he admitted the current system was "overly complicated and bureaucratic" and the authorities' approach would have to change when it came to Brexit because of the sheer numbers of people affected.
"There is a presumption that they will be granted," he said. "The only circumstance I can see someone not being granted settled status is if the criminal records check show they are a criminal, or if someone was trying to claim to be an EU citizen in the UK and they were not - a fraudulent application." "There is a presumption that they will be granted," he said.
"The only circumstance I can see someone not being granted settled status is if the criminal records check show they are a criminal, or if someone was trying to claim to be an EU citizen in the UK and they were not - a fraudulent application."
'Nirvana of simplicity''Nirvana of simplicity'
Ministers hope the new system will be up and running in the second half of 2018. Ministers hope the new system will be up and running in the second half of 2018 and have pledged that those given settled status would have "broadly the same rights" as British citizens.
Existing permanent residents who have to reapply will either pay a reduced rate or not pay at all, he added.
Most applications, he said, would only take a couple of weeks to process, while those granted settled status would have "broadly the same rights" as British citizens.
But Labour peer Lord Cashman said the uncertainty many EU citizens were facing was "not imagined".But Labour peer Lord Cashman said the uncertainty many EU citizens were facing was "not imagined".
He called for all EU citizens who already qualify for permanent residence to be registered immediately under a fast-track process.He called for all EU citizens who already qualify for permanent residence to be registered immediately under a fast-track process.
And Lib Dem peer Baroness Ludford said a lot of existing EU citizens were experiencing a "great deal of hassle" and she questioned how the system would produce the "nirvana of simplicity" expected by ministers.And Lib Dem peer Baroness Ludford said a lot of existing EU citizens were experiencing a "great deal of hassle" and she questioned how the system would produce the "nirvana of simplicity" expected by ministers.
Citing cases where EU citizens who had lived in the UK for decades had received letters asking them to leave, she claimed "there was an attempt by the Home Office to create a hostile environment".Citing cases where EU citizens who had lived in the UK for decades had received letters asking them to leave, she claimed "there was an attempt by the Home Office to create a hostile environment".