The University of Liverpool has been selected by the Home Office to take part in a private pilot of the new application process for the EU Settlement Scheme.
In a managed live trial in the North West, EU citizens working and studying at the University of Liverpool, Liverpool Hope and Liverpool John Moores together with staff working at 12 NHS Trusts will be invited to make real applications for settled status through the new digital process.
This private pilot, which follows the standard approach for the launch of new Government services, will begin on 28 August 2018 and more details will be made available to eligible staff over the course of the next month. The initial pilot phase will be accessible by invite only. Up to 4,000 applicants will be able to apply on a voluntary basis.
Assuming eligibility, all those who go through the process will be granted settled status.
Certain features to be included in the settlement scheme application process will not be available. Applicants will need to attend an appointment with a Home Office representative who will help to take them through the online application process.
The 12 NHS Trusts and three Universities that are taking part in the private pilot are:
- Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
- Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust
- Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust
- The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust
- The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
- Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Liverpool Hope University
- Liverpool John Moores University
- The University of Liverpool
Carol Costello, Director of Human Resources at the University of Liverpool said: “We know that EU Citizens have experienced an unsettling time over the last two years and we have been working hard to encourage clarity on the settlement process.
“We are pleased to be taking part in this important pilot to ensure the Home Office’s EU Settlement Scheme is ready to use and accessible before roll out by the Government.
“This is particularly good news for eligible staff and students, who will be amongst the first in the country to be granted settled status.”
In light of the pilot announcement the University will be updating its Brexit pages for Staff and Students with further information and guidance.