The election of the Conservative government and its large majority means that Brexit is due to leave the EU on 31st January, 2020. The exact shape of Brexit and the potential deals involved is likely to occupy the government for much longer.
In the meantime, the situation for people living in the UK who aren’t British citizens is going to remain similarly uncertain for some time to come, with the possibility of a no-deal Brexit further muddying the waters.
Immigration and residency issues
Whether you’re looking to come and live or work in the UK, or are already here, post-Brexit immigration law and your rights are still far from settled. The issues regarding registration requirements are likely to be particularly complex.
At present, a points-based system regulates immigration from outside the European Economic Area (EEA), which consists of EU and other European countries. The government has been proposing a new Australian-style points system, but the nature of this has so far yet to be made clear.
Speculation and leaks have suggested that, in some ways, the system will be similar to the current points-based system. You can view this on our Immigration Law page.
Tier 1 (highly-skilled migrants) will remain broadly similar.
Tier 2 (skilled migrants) will instead be ‘skilled workers’ and in most cases will require a specific job offer.
Tier 3 (low-skilled workers) has already been abolished under the current system. Tier 4 (students) and Tier 5 (temporary workers) will be ‘sector-specific rules-based’ – in other words planned centrally to match demand from specific areas of the economy.
But at the moment, nothing has been formally announced.
Rights for workers is another complex issue that’s likely to become only more complicated in the months ahead. That’s the case whether you work in an EU country, are an EU citizen working over here, or are an employer of EU nationals.
Whatever happens, you can be sure that our professional Brexit solicitors will be here to clarify, advise and, above all, help.
Brexit and Family Law
Currently, there’s no agreement for European family law legislation to continue on a reciprocal basis between EU member states and Britain after withdrawal takes place.
There are many issues that could potentially arise after Brexit if you are divorcing or separating and one of you has connections with an EU state.
Here are just a few questions that could arise with a no-deal Brexit:
- How will a maintenance order be enforced if my former spouse or partner lives in an EU country?
- In what ways will Brexit affect my prenuptial agreement?
- What protections will I have if my ex moves to an EU country and wants to take the children there?
- If my partner is from an EU country, where will a divorce take place? Will there have to be duplicate proceedings or will a UK divorce suffice?
- Will my same-sex marriage or civil partnership be recognised by EU states after Brexit?
- I’m from an EU member country. What rights do I have to stay in the UK after my divorce from a British citizen?
Our family law team will be able to advise you on these and other issues related to Brexit. For more information, see our Family Law section.
Softening the impact of Brexit
The cost of Brexit and its financial impact, positive or negative, will be debated for many years to come. But we believe that whatever happens, those at the sharp end should not suffer unduly, whether from uncertainty or financial loss. That applies to whether you need professional advice, or are making a UK visa application, or anything else related to Brexit.
Most of our work is funded by legal aid, and, for private clients, you’ll find that our fees are substantially lower than those charged by most other law firms. We’re based in Aldershot, Hampshire, and have offices all over the UK, which means we can likely help you wherever you are.
For more details, please call +44 (0)1252 268 068 or fill in our contact form.