We were recently instructed by a Peru national (“the Applicant”) to assist with making an application for Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme. Our client came to us after facing issues in their employment with providing sufficient evidence of their immigration status in the UK.
The Applicant entered the UK in 2001 and was granted a Permanent Residence Card of a family member of an EEA national in 2015.
The case was complex. The deadline for most people to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme was 30th June 2021. The Home Office guidance states that Applicants can still apply for the EU Settlement Scheme if either:
- the deadline for you to apply is after 30th June 2021
- you have ‘reasonable grounds’ for why you are applying now, and not by the deadline or in the time since the deadline passed
Our task was to thoroughly analyse the Applicant’s immigration history and to take detailed instructions from the Applicant to establish if they are ‘reasonable grounds’ for why the Applicant is applying now, and not by the deadline or in the time since the deadline passed.
Our involvement (what we did)
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- Obtaining detailed instructions from the Applicant’s and analysing the Home Office guidance of EU Settlement Scheme for the Home Office definition of ‘reasonable grounds’
We took detailed instructions of the Applicant’s immigration history and why no application for EU Settlement Scheme was made before 30th June 2021. We needed to establish if the Applicant’s reasons for making the said application in time comes within the Home Office definition of ‘reasonable grounds’ under the Home Office guidance of EU Settlement Scheme.
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- Legal representations and explanation of circumstances
We prepared a witness statement for the Applicant which provided ‘reasonable grounds’ for why they are applying now, and not by the deadline. The witness statement also provided the reason why the Applicant wishes to remain in the UK.
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- Strategy
A key element of our approach was to show that the Applicant had ‘reasonable grounds’ for why they are applying now, and not by the deadline. Our approach was also to show that the UK was their permanent home and has remained in the UK for a long time.
Outcome
- Decision issued on 17 October 2025
- No further enquiries or document request
The application was approved without additional questions – confirming that our approach, combining legal precision, transparent disclosure, and strategic reframing effectively addressed any of the Home Office concerns.
Key takeaways for similar cases
- EEA nationals and family members of the EEA nationals who were living in the UK by 31 December 2020 can still apply for EU Settlement Scheme after 30 June 2021 if they can show that they have ‘reasonable grounds’ for why they are applying now, and not by the deadline or in the time since the deadline passed.
- Submitting a witness statement will be helpful in explaining why you are applying now, and not by the deadline. Also explaining your intention to settle in UK will also be helpful for a late application for the EU Settlement Scheme to be considered and granted.
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