General discussion on CSI and Settled Status. Big issues for people on the EEA-Applications Routes

[pterodactylus]

@alterhase58, Thank you very much for your response.

My question was slightly different; I know that CSI is no longer a requirement (as long as you have pre-settled/settled status), but did this come into effect on the 1st of January 2021 for everyone with pre-settled/settled status or it is different for every person, from the day they obtained pre-settled/settled status onwards?

Judging by the posts (and common sense), it should be the latter, but I got confused due to some of the recent changes in the guidelines.

Regarding the immigration history (i.e. good character requirements) checks, I have come to the conclusion that providing SED S041 should be enough. Please, correct me if I am wrong.

[alterhase58]

@alterhase58, Thank you very much for your response.

My question was slightly different; I know that CSI is no longer a requirement (as long as you have pre-settled/settled status), but did this come into effect on the 1st of January 2021 for everyone with pre-settled/settled status or it is different for every person, from the day they obtained pre-settled/settled status onwards?

Judging by the posts (and common sense), it should be the latter, but I got confused due to some of the recent changes in the guidelines.

Regarding the immigration history (i.e. good character requirements) checks, I have come to the conclusion that providing SED S041 should be enough. Please, correct me if I am wrong.

Correct - EU law and regulations ceased at 11pm on 31.12.2020 and therefore CSI no longer required under any circumstance.
Whether the requirement ceased when an EU citizen was granted settled status before is probably for a lawyer to comment on, especially as EU regulations still applied until that date.

[pterodactylus]

@alterhase58, Thank you very much for your response.

My question was slightly different; I know that CSI is no longer a requirement (as long as you have pre-settled/settled status), but did this come into effect on the 1st of January 2021 for everyone with pre-settled/settled status or it is different for every person, from the day they obtained pre-settled/settled status onwards?

Judging by the posts (and common sense), it should be the latter, but I got confused due to some of the recent changes in the guidelines.

Regarding the immigration history (i.e. good character requirements) checks, I have come to the conclusion that providing SED S041 should be enough. Please, correct me if I am wrong.

Correct - EU law and regulations ceased at 11pm on 31.12.2020 and therefore CSI no longer required under any circumstance.
Whether the requirement ceased when an EU citizen was granted settled status before is probably for a lawyer to comment on, especially as EU regulations still applied until that date.

Judging by some of the posts from 2020 (for instance, from May), though, people were already talking about this prior to 01.01.2021, so unless something was explicitly changed in the last months of 2020, I believe I am right in thinking that the requirement ceased when an EU citizen was granted pre-settled/settled status.

Does anyone else have anything to add?

[pterodactylus]

Hi guys,

Please, correct me, if I am wrong in the following scenario:

• An EU citizen is applying for BC in 12 months after obtaining Settled Status.
• HO will check 4 years (before getting Settled Status ) + 1 year after.
• In some circumstances the candidate must have CSI, but only for the first 4 years.
• The 5th year the applicant is free of immigration control as per possessing Settled Status. Therefore, in
any case, he doesn’t need to have CSI for this year.

You're correct on all counts.

HO do, however, check the full 10y prior to the application date when they consider the Good Character Requirement. According to the official caseworker guidance, not having had CSI (when required) may have an impact on the GCR which means CSI may be relevant for more than the 4y preceding settled status.

At this point, however, it's unclear how badly it impacts the GCR and the guidance does mention that when it comes to CSI discretion can be exercised. So far it seems that it either doesn't have an impact or HO commonly exercise discretion in favour of the applicant provided there aren't any more significant breaches.

Sorry for bringing this (relatively) old post up, but this is precisely what I was talking about. @AnotherUUID, do you reckon anything of significance has changed between August and now?
Thank you!

[alterhase58]

@alterhase58, Thank you very much for your response.

My question was slightly different; I know that CSI is no longer a requirement (as long as you have pre-settled/settled status), but did this come into effect on the 1st of January 2021 for everyone with pre-settled/settled status or it is different for every person, from the day they obtained pre-settled/settled status onwards?

Judging by the posts (and common sense), it should be the latter, but I got confused due to some of the recent changes in the guidelines.

Regarding the immigration history (i.e. good character requirements) checks, I have come to the conclusion that providing SED S041 should be enough. Please, correct me if I am wrong.

Correct - EU law and regulations ceased at 11pm on 31.12.2020 and therefore CSI no longer required under any circumstance.
Whether the requirement ceased when an EU citizen was granted settled status before is probably for a lawyer to comment on, especially as EU regulations still applied until that date.

Judging by some of the posts from 2020 (for instance, from May), though, people were already talking about this prior to 01.01.2021, so unless something was explicitly changed in the last months of 2020, I believe I am right in thinking that the requirement ceased when an EU citizen was granted pre-settled/settled status.

Does anyone else have anything to add?

Actually the subject goes back a few years because applicants for EU Permanent Residence cards have been refused on the basis of missing CSI. In about May 2020 (or earlier?) it was noticed that the Home Office had updated one caseworker guidance document with references to CSI, which of course rang alarm bells and now is a constant worry to applicants. For many EU citizens Settled Status was the first immigration application they made in the UK and when it came to naturalisation it was a total surprise.... In September 2020 there were more updates re. CSI.
https://www.freemovement.org.uk/it-just ... tizenship/
The problem with Settled Status is that it is purely residency based, but when it comes to naturalisation (different laws and regulations) your whole immigration history is examined, and that applies to all applicants.

[pterodactylus]

Thank you for the clarification. I hope that a recent applicant would be able to shed some more light on the matter.

[mznstr]

Hi all,

I arrived to the UK in Sep 2011 and had my CSI (EHIC) until Sep 2014, which is when it expired.
I wasn't sure at the time what the purpose of this was and never used the NHS, so did not bother to renew my EHIC.
I then graduated from uni in Jun 2015 and started my current job in Sep 2015.

I choose my qualifying period from Sep 2015 until now.

Are there any grounds to refuse the application based on this?
I also did an internship in a company in 2014-2015 as part of my degree, which sadly I only have a P45 for...

Any help with this will be greatly appreciated!

[alterhase58]

Hi all,

I arrived to the UK in Sep 2011 and had my CSI (EHIC) until Sep 2014, which is when it expired.
I wasn't sure at the time what the purpose of this was and never used the NHS, so did not bother to renew my EHIC.
I then graduated from uni in Jun 2015 and started my current job in Sep 2015.

I choose my qualifying period from Sep 2015 until now. For naturalisation the qualifying period is always 5 years back from the application date - you can't choose as was possible for EUPR.

Are there any grounds to refuse the application based on this? There have been no reports here of applicants being refused purely due to CSI issues. There has been a trickle of reports in more than one forum where applicants have been approved with CSI issues. Caseworkers appear to have discretion on this subject. You will be asked whether you had CSI when you were a student or self-sufficient person. So you need to explain what you did have or not. Note that "breaches in immigration requirements" can be taken into account beyond the 5 year residency period.
I also did an internship in a company in 2014-2015 as part of my degree, which sadly I only have a P45 for...

Any help with this will be greatly appreciated!

[mznstr]

Hi all,

I arrived to the UK in Sep 2011 and had my CSI (EHIC) until Sep 2014, which is when it expired.
I wasn't sure at the time what the purpose of this was and never used the NHS, so did not bother to renew my EHIC.
I then graduated from uni in Jun 2015 and started my current job in Sep 2015.

I choose my qualifying period from Sep 2015 until now. For naturalisation the qualifying period is always 5 years back from the application date - you can't choose as was possible for EUPR.

Are there any grounds to refuse the application based on this? There have been no reports here of applicants being refused purely due to CSI issues. There has been a trickle of reports in more than one forum where applicants have been approved with CSI issues. Caseworkers appear to have discretion on this subject. You will be asked whether you had CSI when you were a student or self-sufficient person. So you need to explain what you did have or not. Note that "breaches in immigration requirements" can be taken into account beyond the 5 year residency period.
I also did an internship in a company in 2014-2015 as part of my degree, which sadly I only have a P45 for...

Any help with this will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you - I doubt this will have a significant impact on the application, but worth asking.
Would you write about this in a separate cover letter/document and attach the EHIC card for 2011-2014 or would you not even mention about this until asked?

[alterhase58]

Hi all,

I arrived to the UK in Sep 2011 and had my CSI (EHIC) until Sep 2014, which is when it expired.
I wasn't sure at the time what the purpose of this was and never used the NHS, so did not bother to renew my EHIC.
I then graduated from uni in Jun 2015 and started my current job in Sep 2015.

I choose my qualifying period from Sep 2015 until now. For naturalisation the qualifying period is always 5 years back from the application date - you can't choose as was possible for EUPR.

Are there any grounds to refuse the application based on this? There have been no reports here of applicants being refused purely due to CSI issues. There has been a trickle of reports in more than one forum where applicants have been approved with CSI issues. Caseworkers appear to have discretion on this subject. You will be asked whether you had CSI when you were a student or self-sufficient person. So you need to explain what you did have or not. Note that "breaches in immigration requirements" can be taken into account beyond the 5 year residency period.
I also did an internship in a company in 2014-2015 as part of my degree, which sadly I only have a P45 for...

Any help with this will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you - I doubt this will have a significant impact on the application, but worth asking.
Would you write about this in a separate cover letter/document and attach the EHIC card for 2011-2014 or would you not even mention about this until asked?

You will be asked about this at your UKVCAS biometrics appointment, i.e. they have it on their checklist. You may as well upload your card and cover letter before then and they just tick it off. Note that UKVCAS are not Home Office UKVI employees so you won't be able to discuss this area in detail.

[pzas21]

Hi all,

I arrived to the UK in Sep 2011 and had my CSI (EHIC) until Sep 2014, which is when it expired.
I wasn't sure at the time what the purpose of this was and never used the NHS, so did not bother to renew my EHIC.
I then graduated from uni in Jun 2015 and started my current job in Sep 2015.

I choose my qualifying period from Sep 2015 until now. For naturalisation the qualifying period is always 5 years back from the application date - you can't choose as was possible for EUPR.

Are there any grounds to refuse the application based on this? There have been no reports here of applicants being refused purely due to CSI issues. There has been a trickle of reports in more than one forum where applicants have been approved with CSI issues. Caseworkers appear to have discretion on this subject. You will be asked whether you had CSI when you were a student or self-sufficient person. So you need to explain what you did have or not. Note that "breaches in immigration requirements" can be taken into account beyond the 5 year residency period.
I also did an internship in a company in 2014-2015 as part of my degree, which sadly I only have a P45 for...

Any help with this will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you - I doubt this will have a significant impact on the application, but worth asking.
Would you write about this in a separate cover letter/document and attach the EHIC card for 2011-2014 or would you not even mention about this until asked?

You will be asked about this at your UKVCAS biometrics appointment, i.e. they have it on their checklist. You may as well upload your card and cover letter before then and they just tick it off. Note that UKVCAS are not Home Office UKVI employees so you won't be able to discuss this area in detail.

Hi everyone,

I have been asked about the CSI during my UKVCAS appointment, which I didnt have any, as I was not aware of this rule... When I asked them back if this is a requirement, they just told me that they have in the checklist to ask, but, so far, from all the applicants, only one was able to provide CSI, so hopefully it is not so important for the citizenship...

Will let you know for the outcome of my application anyway.

[alterhase58]

Thank you - I doubt this will have a significant impact on the application, but worth asking.
Would you write about this in a separate cover letter/document and attach the EHIC card for 2011-2014 or would you not even mention about this until asked?

You will be asked about this at your UKVCAS biometrics appointment, i.e. they have it on their checklist. You may as well upload your card and cover letter before then and they just tick it off. Note that UKVCAS are not Home Office UKVI employees so you won't be able to discuss this area in detail.

Hi everyone,

I have been asked about the CSI during my UKVCAS appointment, which I didnt have any, as I was not aware of this rule... When I asked them back if this is a requirement, they just told me that they have in the checklist to ask, but, so far, from all the applicants, only one was able to provide CSI, so hopefully it is not so important for the citizenship...

Will let you know for the outcome of my application anyway.

Thanks for the feedback.

[pterodactylus]

Thank you - I doubt this will have a significant impact on the application, but worth asking.
Would you write about this in a separate cover letter/document and attach the EHIC card for 2011-2014 or would you not even mention about this until asked?

You will be asked about this at your UKVCAS biometrics appointment, i.e. they have it on their checklist. You may as well upload your card and cover letter before then and they just tick it off. Note that UKVCAS are not Home Office UKVI employees so you won't be able to discuss this area in detail.

Hi everyone,

I have been asked about the CSI during my UKVCAS appointment, which I didnt have any, as I was not aware of this rule... When I asked them back if this is a requirement, they just told me that they have in the checklist to ask, but, so far, from all the applicants, only one was able to provide CSI, so hopefully it is not so important for the citizenship...

Will let you know for the outcome of my application anyway.

Would you have needed CSI for any period during the past 5 years (i.e. a period during which you didn't work and didn't have private insurance) or was it for a period during which you were a student/self-sufficient between 5 to 10 years ago?

Edit: Sorry, it seems that yours is the latter case.

[pzas21]

Would you have needed CSI for any period during the past 5 years (i.e. a period during which you didn't work and didn't have private insurance) or was it for a period during which you were a student/self-sufficient between 5 to 10 years ago?

Edit: Sorry, it seems that yours is the latter case.

Yes, that is correct. It is the latter for me.

[rsetter11]

Hi all,

I arrived to the UK in Sep 2011 and had my CSI (EHIC) until Sep 2014, which is when it expired.
I wasn't sure at the time what the purpose of this was and never used the NHS, so did not bother to renew my EHIC.
I then graduated from uni in Jun 2015 and started my current job in Sep 2015.

I choose my qualifying period from Sep 2015 until now. For naturalisation the qualifying period is always 5 years back from the application date - you can't choose as was possible for EUPR.

Are there any grounds to refuse the application based on this? There have been no reports here of applicants being refused purely due to CSI issues. There has been a trickle of reports in more than one forum where applicants have been approved with CSI issues. Caseworkers appear to have discretion on this subject. You will be asked whether you had CSI when you were a student or self-sufficient person. So you need to explain what you did have or not. Note that "breaches in immigration requirements" can be taken into account beyond the 5 year residency period.
I also did an internship in a company in 2014-2015 as part of my degree, which sadly I only have a P45 for...

Any help with this will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you - I doubt this will have a significant impact on the application, but worth asking.
Would you write about this in a separate cover letter/document and attach the EHIC card for 2011-2014 or would you not even mention about this until asked?

You will be asked about this at your UKVCAS biometrics appointment, i.e. they have it on their checklist. You may as well upload your card and cover letter before then and they just tick it off. Note that UKVCAS are not Home Office UKVI employees so you won't be able to discuss this area in detail.

Just wanted to mention my own experience at my UKVCAS appointment in January. Part of my qualifying period was under 18 & my EUSS was granted on the basis of my parent's EUSS (rule for applicants under 21, the applications are linked), meaning my period of residence was 5 years instead of the usual 5+1. I wasn't asked about CSI during the appointment. It might've been because I self-submitted documents before the appointment, or I had the atypical situation of being continuously employed (bar the first 6 months of residence)?

[Karolmicha]

Why would you need to show residence for 5 years PLUS 1 ? Isnt it 5 continuous years from the application date ? Where does the plus 1 come from ?

[rsetter11]

Why would you need to show residence for 5 years PLUS 1 ? Isnt it 5 continuous years from the application date ? Where does the plus 1 come from ?

No no, I've said that I was under 18 during part of my qualifying period (5 years for non-married applicants). Most applicants have to have 6 years of total residence (separate from the qualifying period), meaning 5 years to gain EUSS and wait 1 year until one held EUSS for a year before applying - hence I mentioned 5+1. In my case, as I've gained EUSS through an EUSS-holder parent 3 years into my residence, so I could apply with 5 years of residence total after completing the qualifying period.

[amka]

Hello,

I'm not sure if this is the right topic to post my question, so please let me know if I should post somewhere else.

I'm currently filling out my online naturalisation application and the only 'requirement' I'm not meeting 100% is the CSI requirement. I arrived in the UK in Feb 2009 at 14 years old, finished High School in 2013 and then went to university. I studied at uni from Sep 2013 until July 2017 when I graduated. While studying I was in a part-time job from May 2014 until July 2017. I have an employment gap between 30 July 2017 and 30 October 2017 as I relocated back home upon completing my studies (I studied in a different city) and was looking for jobs.

From the posts I've read on the forum, some people recommended attaching a cover letter to explain why I didn't have CSI while studying/ during a gap in employment, which I will do.

However, my question is to do with the last part of the application. Does not having CSI count as being in the UK illegally or just in breach of the law? I'm asking because one of the last questions on the application is as follows:

"If you are the husband, wife, or civil partner of a British citizen, you must have been in the UK for the last 3 years. If you are not the husband, wife, or civil partner of a British citizen, you must have been in the UK for the last 5 years. This is called your ‘qualifying period’.

- You must have been in the UK on the first day of your 3-year or 5-year qualifying period
- You must not have spent more than 270 days outside the UK during a 3-year qualifying period, or 450 days during a 5-year qualifying period
- You must not have been outside the UK for more than 90 days in the last 12 months
- You must not have been here illegally in the 3-year or 5-year qualifying period

Do you meet these residence requirements? Yes/No"

Therefore, I'm not sure if I should mark Yes or No here if I didn't have CSI?

The next two questions ask:

"Are there any reasons why you cannot meet the requirements to become a British citizen (for example, you have had too many absences from the UK)?"

"If you do not meet the statutory requirements to become a British citizen, are there any special circumstances why you think the Home Secretary should still grant your application?"

Again, if I didn't have CSI should I mark yes in the first question and then give an explanation in the second question also referring to the cover letter attached?

Then the last question asks: "Do you have any other details that you would like to be considered regarding this applicant and their application to be registered as a British Citizen?"

Should I use this as another opportunity to explain my CSI situation?

Or should I just mark all of these as "No" and then when it comes to uploading my documents and proof of CSI, upload a cover letter explaining why I never obtained it?

I hope my questions make sense!

Thank you so much for your help.

[Aniko84]

Hi all,
I have submitted and payed for my citizenship application and will be going to my document check appointment tomorrow.. I have received a "scary" email about my missing CSI document, which I don't have.
I have settled status, indefinite leave to remain and all that, but I have a 6 weeks gap in my employment...
Anyone have advice on how to at least explain this to the case worker tomorrow? Would it make a difference? Is anyone here who got their citizenship while unable to provide CSI document?

Thank you in advance,
Aniko

[alterhase58]

Hi all,
I have submitted and payed for my citizenship application and will be going to my document check appointment tomorrow.. I have received a "scary" email about my missing CSI document, which I don't have.
I have settled status, indefinite leave to remain and all that, but I have a 6 weeks gap in my employment...
Anyone have advice on how to at least explain this to the case worker tomorrow? Would it make a difference? Is anyone here who got their citizenship while unable to provide CSI document?

Thank you in advance,
Aniko

If you were employed (exercising treaty rights as a worker) CSI would have been irrelevant - the six weeks gap I assume is between jobs so would count as job-seeking. Note you won't be talking to a caseworker! It will be a UKVCAS employee, a third party - they will tick the box. Applicants have been approved with CSI missing - nobody has been refused purely relating to CSI.

[Aniko84]

Hi all,
I have submitted and payed for my citizenship application and will be going to my document check appointment tomorrow.. I have received a "scary" email about my missing CSI document, which I don't have.
I have settled status, indefinite leave to remain and all that, but I have a 6 weeks gap in my employment...
Anyone have advice on how to at least explain this to the case worker tomorrow? Would it make a difference? Is anyone here who got their citizenship while unable to provide CSI document?

Thank you in advance,
Aniko

If you were employed (exercising treaty rights as a worker) CSI would have been irrelevant - the six weeks gap I assume is between jobs so would count as job-seeking. Note you won't be talking to a caseworker! It will be a UKVCAS employee, a third party - they will tick the box. Applicants have been approved with CSI missing - nobody has been refused purely relating to CSI.

Thank you for your reply, I appreciate it. The guy at my appointment didn't care and said that most people who they deal with don't have this insurance... I know there is still no guarantee for anything, but it was a bit of a relief to hear that.

[WINTERBLUE]

Hello,

I'm not sure if this is the right topic to post my question, so please let me know if I should post somewhere else.

I'm currently filling out my online naturalisation application and the only 'requirement' I'm not meeting 100% is the CSI requirement. I arrived in the UK in Feb 2009 at 14 years old, finished High School in 2013 and then went to university. I studied at uni from Sep 2013 until July 2017 when I graduated. While studying I was in a part-time job from May 2014 until July 2017. I have an employment gap between 30 July 2017 and 30 October 2017 as I relocated back home upon completing my studies (I studied in a different city) and was looking for jobs.

From the posts I've read on the forum, some people recommended attaching a cover letter to explain why I didn't have CSI while studying/ during a gap in employment, which I will do.

However, my question is to do with the last part of the application. Does not having CSI count as being in the UK illegally or just in breach of the law? I'm asking because one of the last questions on the application is as follows:

"If you are the husband, wife, or civil partner of a British citizen, you must have been in the UK for the last 3 years. If you are not the husband, wife, or civil partner of a British citizen, you must have been in the UK for the last 5 years. This is called your ‘qualifying period’.

- You must have been in the UK on the first day of your 3-year or 5-year qualifying period
- You must not have spent more than 270 days outside the UK during a 3-year qualifying period, or 450 days during a 5-year qualifying period
- You must not have been outside the UK for more than 90 days in the last 12 months
- You must not have been here illegally in the 3-year or 5-year qualifying period

Do you meet these residence requirements? Yes/No"

Therefore, I'm not sure if I should mark Yes or No here if I didn't have CSI?

The next two questions ask:

"Are there any reasons why you cannot meet the requirements to become a British citizen (for example, you have had too many absences from the UK)?"

"If you do not meet the statutory requirements to become a British citizen, are there any special circumstances why you think the Home Secretary should still grant your application?"

Again, if I didn't have CSI should I mark yes in the first question and then give an explanation in the second question also referring to the cover letter attached?

Then the last question asks: "Do you have any other details that you would like to be considered regarding this applicant and their application to be registered as a British Citizen?"

Should I use this as another opportunity to explain my CSI situation?

Or should I just mark all of these as "No" and then when it comes to uploading my documents and proof of CSI, upload a cover letter explaining why I never obtained it?

I hope my questions make sense!

Thank you so much for your help.

This is a good question - what have you done? I've selected 'no' on the two first questions and yes on the last one. I suggest explaining your situation in the last question. I have looked everywhere online for anyone that has been rejected and so far no one has been rejected as far as I am aware.

Good luck with your application and keep us updated

[iliketea]

I have been a student for the whole of my qualifying period. I have translated E104 form from my home country which I intend to use as proof of CSI. Do I need to provide additional explanation regarding this - i.e. explain that it's meant to prove CSI and/or upload the Kent practice note? Or do I just upload it and assume they know what it's for?

[alterhase58]

I have been a student for the whole of my qualifying period. I have translated E104 form from my home country which I intend to use as proof of CSI. Do I need to provide additional explanation regarding this - i.e. explain that it's meant to prove CSI and/or upload the Kent practice note? Or do I just upload it and assume they know what it's for?

You may as well load that form plus a short explanation that it's your evidence of CSI. Not aware what the Kent Practice Note is but if it relates to the topic shouldn't harm to include it. You will also be asked at the biometrics appointment whether you had CSI - that's on the UKVCAS checklist.

[iliketea]

I have been a student for the whole of my qualifying period. I have translated E104 form from my home country which I intend to use as proof of CSI. Do I need to provide additional explanation regarding this - i.e. explain that it's meant to prove CSI and/or upload the Kent practice note? Or do I just upload it and assume they know what it's for?

You may as well load that form plus a short explanation that it's your evidence of CSI. Not aware what the Kent Practice Note is but if it relates to the topic shouldn't harm to include it. You will also be asked at the biometrics appointment whether you had CSI - that's on the UKVCAS checklist.

On my biometrics appointment, would they say if E104 is sufficient evidence or not? As far as I'm aware it should be? What if they say it's not?