Worried EU nationals in Courier Country have started making a dash for UK citizenship post-Brexit.
Jamie Kerr, immigration law specialist with Dundee-based Thorntons, said European nationals have been beating a path to his door in the aftermath of the historic referendum vote.
Mr Kerr initially warned European nationals living in Scotland to register with the Home Office two years ago amidst initial debates on whether Britain should leave the EU.
Now that Britain has made the decision to leave the EU, he said European nationals need to apply for a residence card to ensure they are protected – and they should do this “as a matter of urgency”.
He said: “The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon sent out the message that Europeans are welcome here but it’s not in her hands.
“Some Europeans are listening to the Scottish Government and asking why they would want to get a British passport when they won’t be asked to leave.
“But the reality is that they might well be – we just do not know.”
Mr Kerr – who is one of only a few solicitors accredited as a specialist in immigration law by the Law Society of Scotland – said the situation was “very worrying”.
“As the UK voted to leave the EU, all Europeans who are here lawfully under free movement laws will face doubts over their right to remain here,” he said.
“To avoid these uncertainties, I would strongly encourage all European nationals to apply for a British passport, as many will be eligible for British nationality but would previously have not considered or required it.
“I initially warned European nationals living in Scotland to register two years ago.
“It was just after our own referendum and we realised a Brexit vote could come pretty close.
“There are a significant number of Europeans living in Tayside who are eligible but have never had a reason to register with the Home Office.
“People should be doing this now as a matter of urgency.
“There are European nationals registering now.
“We have been inundated with queries from Europeans asking for advice – our first query was at 7am on the Friday of the Brexit vote.”
Mr Kerr has urged EU nationals to apply now to avoid the potential “chaos” which could happen once the new prime minister invokes Article 50.
“Just say they take the line that people who are already here will be able to stay – well, how do they know who is already here?” he said.
“EU nationals usually arrive in the UK with no stamp on their passport or a visa and would have to produce bank statements and payslips to prove how long they have been here.
“Given the number of Europeans living in the UK that is going to be chaos.”
The junior Home Office minister James Brokenshire said the UK Government could only reassure EU nationals they could remain in Britain for now, and that their status in coming years was a matter for a new prime minister.
There are an estimated three million non-British EU citizens living in the UK, including nationals from all European countries.
If you have any questions about registering with the Home Office you can contact Mr Kerr or a member of the immigration team on 01382 229111.
