Settled EUSS lost after becoming a British citizen queries

Hello everyone.

I need your help regarding a series of matters. I have had my british citizenship application approved and in November I will have the ceremony. As I understand, I will lose settled status. I plan on travelling frequently to my home country, Romania. So when I leave the UK to Romania I will have to use my Romanian passport and when I come back I must use my British passport? As I won’t have settled status anymore.

Also another thing that worries me. My wife is non-EU and she joined me in the UK in July 2020. In august 2020 she got pre settled status as a direct family member as she is my wife. We continue to live together in the UK. In July 2025 she will have to apply for Settled Status as she will have 5 years of pre-Settled status, but as far as I remember she must give my unique reference settled status number to be linked to her application for settled status. As I will be British and not have EUSS settled status anymore, I presume I will not be able to give her that unique reference number anymore. Can she apply without my unique reference number? As she joined as my wife thru EUSS scheme. I do not want to have a surprise and her not being able to apply for EUSS settled because of me not having settled status anymore and being British. I also don’t earn a lot of money so I wont be able God forbid to apply for her thru a British Route for Spouse Visa.

Can you help me out please as I am very confused?

lemoneye wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 2:08 pm

So when I leave the UK to Romania I will have to use my Romanian passport and when I come back I must use my British passport? As I won’t have settled status anymore.

Basically, yes.

lemoneye wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 2:08 pm

Can she apply without my unique reference number

She might have to go through Lounes, but you becoming British doesn't make it impossible for her to obtain settled status (I assume you're keeping Romanian citizenship)

meself2 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 11, 2024 8:52 am

lemoneye wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 2:08 pm

So when I leave the UK to Romania I will have to use my Romanian passport and when I come back I must use my British passport? As I won’t have settled status anymore.

Basically, yes.

I'm not sure this is correct. My Settled Status remained active after naturalising, and to this day I can log in to https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status and see my status.

I always travel only with EU passport so I don't lose multiple documents. Never had an issue re-entering; once they asked me for the reason of my visit, and I just said "I live here" and they've let me through. Worst case I can just pull up a photo with my UK passport and naturalisation certificate.

meself2 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 11, 2024 8:52 am

lemoneye wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 2:08 pm

Can she apply without my unique reference number

She might have to go through Lounes, but you becoming British doesn't make it impossible for her to obtain settled status (I assume you're keeping Romanian citizenship)

She most certainly will have to go via the Lounes case. There are some very specific conditions you, as the dual UK-EU family member, will have to meet after your naturalisation, for her to rely on your past Settled Status. If you look up Lounes there are lots of infos on here and the internet.

mezien wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 11, 2024 3:11 pm

meself2 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 11, 2024 8:52 am

lemoneye wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 2:08 pm

So when I leave the UK to Romania I will have to use my Romanian passport and when I come back I must use my British passport? As I won’t have settled status anymore.

Basically, yes.

I'm not sure this is correct. My Settled Status remained active after naturalising, and to this day I can log in to https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status and see my status.

Your status is now no longer valid, despite the fact it shows on the gov.uk website. I specifically called the helpline multiple times to ask why my status kept showing after I naturalised.

mezien wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 11, 2024 3:11 pm

I always travel only with EU passport so I don't lose multiple documents. Never had an issue re-entering; once they asked me for the reason of my visit, and I just said "I live here" and they've let me through. Worst case I can just pull up a photo with my UK passport and naturalisation certificate.

A photo of your naturalisation certificate isn't proof you are British - only the original is, and you are told to apply for a British passport to use it. What you do to avoid losing documents is your choice, but a very picky border agent could ask on what grounds do you live in the UK, as you no longer have a valid immigration status or a visa. Once the new system to visit the UK from the EU is rolled out, you would need that if you intend to enter the UK on a EU passport.

lemoneye wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 2:08 pm

So when I leave the UK to Romania I will have to use my Romanian passport and when I come back I must use my British passport? As I won’t have settled status anymore.

There is no requirement to use the British passport to enter the UK, but it is recommended, so you can avoid possible questions about your status etc.

lemoneye wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 2:08 pm

as far as I remember she must give my unique reference settled status number to be linked to her application for settled status

Your URC won't disappear, you can find it in your e-mail from HO. Also they won't delete your status from the system (mine is still active after 1.5 years after naturalising).

lemoneye wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 2:08 pm

I do not want to have a surprise and her not being able to apply for EUSS settled because of me not having settled status anymore and being British.

I made a post last month because I have the same problem. It is probably a Lounes case and she can apply using a paper form. However, Home Office guys told me she doesn't need a paper form in order to apply, because her initial application for Pre-settled was done online, so I am not really sure