DEMAND for a special advice service for EU citizens in Scotland nearly doubled in the month ahead of the deadline for a post-Brexit residency scheme, according to new figures.
The EU Citizens Support Service (EUCSS), which also helps EEA and Swiss citizens, had more people accessing its support last month than the previous two combined.
In April there were 448 people accessing the EUCSS which increased to 545 in May and 1075 in June, according to operator Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS).
CAS has compared the figures to the total numbers requiring immigration advice from their network, which are 627 in April, 776 in May and 1410 in June.
EUCSS manager Hamish Fraser said: “We knew the demand for advice would increase as the deadline for the settlement scheme grew closer, and were pleased to be able to help so many people get their applications in.
“Now the deadline has passed, we are still here to help. People can still apply for settled status.
“So the EUCSS remains open to help people make their application.
“Like all Citizens Advice services, the EUCSS is free, confidential and impartial.”
READ MORE: EU expert explains what Scottish independence could mean for the Border
Last week SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford raised concerns over the deadline for the settlement scheme, which was June 30.
He raised the issue of unprocessed cases, saying: “Overnight, thousands of our friends and neighbours could become illegal immigrants.”
Charities also warned thousands of EU children living in the UK would become undocumented because applications to the EU Settlement Scheme had not yet been made on their behalf.
Some parents have previously applied to the scheme for themselves and were now “scrambling” because they have realised they must also do so for their children.
Others have been struggling to apply for their children who do not have passports, because embassies have been closed during the pandemic.
Marieke Widmann, policy and practice adviser at the Children’s Society, said: “The reason we are focused on children is the fact that they will bear – especially children in care – will bear the consequences of somebody not having applied on their behalf.”
Immigration minister Kevin Foster previously told the Commons: “We will take a pragmatic and flexible approach to considering late applications made after the deadline.”
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