The city council is urging applicants to the EU Settlement Scheme to seek any support they might need in time for the June 30 deadline.

Residents who are European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss citizens, or their family members, need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) to protect their rights while living in the UK.

If they do not apply by this deadline they could lose their existing rights to live, work, and access free healthcare in the UK.

Oxford-based charity Asylum Welcome, working with the City Council, is now providing an independent and confidential service offering free support and advice to applicants.

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Their service, Europa Welcome, can help residents who need advice on their application or are unable to make an application by themselves.

The service includes confidential appointments where users are provided with help to apply to the EUSS. This includes submitting documents to and communicating with the Home Office.

The service is available via face-to-face appointments, remote video calls, telephone appointments and email.

It acts as a support system for vulnerable and at-risk Europeans and their families who have built a life in Oxfordshire and may feel unsure about their rights in the UK.

If you would like to access it for yourself or your family, visit Asylum Welcome’s website.

Nadeem Murtuja, executive director of communities and customer, Oxford City Council, said: “I encourage any residents who need to support to contact Europa Welcome as soon as possible.

“It is incredibly important that eligible residents do not miss the 30 June deadline. We want to make sure that all Oxford residents are safeguarded and that their rights are protected.”

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And Nazan Ozgur, Europa Welcome’s service coordinator, added: “With the EU Settlement Scheme deadline fast approaching it is especially important that residents let us know if they need support with their applications.

“Those who have not already applied to the scheme need to ensure that they don’t miss the application deadline on 30 June 2021.

“This includes EEA citizens who have lived in the UK for a long time and were still living here by 31 December 2020, their children, spouses of people who are EU citizens, as well as other close family members.”