MORE than 15,000 EU nationals have applied to continue living in Bolton after Brexit.

Home Office figures reveal that by the end of September 2020, 15,060 people successfully applied to continue living in the area after December 31.

European Union nationals wishing to continue living in the UK must apply under the EU Settlement Scheme by June 30 2021.

Those who have lived in the UK for five years and meet the criteria, can receive settled status and remain in the country indefinitely.

In Bury almost 7,000 EU nationals have applied to stay living in Bury through the EU Settlement Scheme.

New figures show that across the borough there were 6,950 applications made by September 2020.

Of those applications which had been concluded, 54.8% were given settled status, 42.9% pre-settled and 2.1% received 'other outcomes' meaning they were refused, withdrawn or void, or invalid. 'Other outcomes' do not result in a grant of UK residence status.

By nationality, the most applicants were Polish accounting for 1,600, followed by 970 Italians and 850 from Non-European Economic Area (EEA) countries.

Non-EEA applicants are those who do not hold citizenship of EU or EEA countries but are currently residents in the UK under EU law.

22.7% of all the applicants were under 18 years of age.

Whilst many EU nationals have already received their Settled Status, thousands have not and the latest statistics from Greater Manchester (as of September 2020) show that 8,800 applications from the 10 boroughs are still outstanding.

EU nationals in England, Scotland and Wales must apply for the EU Settlement Scheme by Wednesday, June 30 this year if they wish to continue residing in the UK without losing rights.

This process is currently experiences delays with Manchester-based charity Europia strongly urging EU nationals across Greater Manchester to register themselves and their children before time runs out.

Kush Chottera, executive director, Europia said: “Europia has taken this upon ourselves to support local authorities and organisations during these extremely difficult times when they are grappling with the coronavirus pandemic.

"Europia has published vital statistical work analysing Home Office data to find out more about who is applying and receiving status in each local authority in Greater Manchester.

"Armed with detailed community intelligence, we hope to help shape their policy response and service provision to reach as many EU nationals as possible.

"The implications of EU nationals not applying for their EU Settlement Scheme by June 30 is that thousands of people risk falling foul of the UK Government’s ‘hostile environment’ immigration policies. This means losing the right to work in the UK, to access education when a child finishes statutory schooling, loss of state benefits and the right to accommodation, a requirement to pay for NHS services, and potentially being detained and removed from the UK.

"The Windrush scandal showed what can happen when residents don’t hold the legal permit to reside in the UK. Hundreds of people were affected decades after their arrival in the UK, being evicted from their homes, losing their jobs or their right to medical assistance and, in some cases, being deported. Most of the people affected were unaware they were breaking the law.

"This could potentially happen again when Europeans’ sons and daughters apply for further education or entry to University in fifteen years’ time. Even new-born babies born in the UK from European parents must be included in EUSS applications.

"Let’s look to a brighter future where current and next generation EU nationals live, work and thrive among us and are able to fully contribute to the communities which make up our Greater Manchester."

EU nationals must apply online for themselves and all their children through the Government website: gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families/applying-for-settled-status#content

Free Support with applications in EU languages is available from Europia: europia.org.uk/what-we-do/euss-support