Wiltshire's EU Citizens have less than a month to apply for settled status
Those living and working here for five years can apply for right to remain indefinitely
EU Nationals living in Wiltshire have until 30th June to apply for the EU settlement Scheme.
Those eligible are being urged to apply as many across the UK could miss the fast-approaching post-Brexit deadline and risk becoming illegal migrants overnight.
Almost 15,000 EU nationals have been granted permission to continue living in Wiltshire ahead of this month's application deadline
Around 14,880 people successfully applied to the scheme in Wiltshire by the end of March, according to Home Office figures.
WHO CAN APPLY?
EU citizens who have lived in the UK for at least five years, and meet certain criteria, can receive settled status and remain in the country indefinitely if they apply by June 30th.
Those who have lived in the country for less time can obtain pre-settled status, and the chance to reapply for settled status once they have done so for five years.
In Wiltshire, 9,290 applications had been granted settled status by March 31st, and 5,590 pre-settled status - with 430 applications either refused, withdrawn or deemed invalid.
WHO HAS APPLIED?
In Wiltshire, the highest number of applications were submitted by people from Poland (5,340), followed by those from Romania (3,150) and Portugal (1,010).
Across the UK, 385,000 people applied to the EUSS between January and March - down from 855,000 in the three months to December, and 713,000 during the first three months of last year.
Professor Charlotte O'Brien from York University said: "The universal rule of deadlines is that people will miss them.
"Those who miss the deadline will become, overnight, unauthorised or illegal migrants, subject to a hostile environment and possible removal.
"It means they will go from being lawful, in many cases long-term and economically contributing EU citizens, to people who cannot lawfully work, rent, or even drive a car."
She added that guidance for caseworkers dealing with late requests was not sufficiently clear and may trigger a "late application lottery".
Madeleine Sumption, director of the organisation which analyses immigration and migration issues affecting the UK, said: "Covid has had an extraordinary impact on migration, and low migration from EU countries is one consequence of that.
"In fact, there's evidence that net migration from EU countries was actually negative last year.
"Add to that the impact of a more expensive and restrictive visa system for EU citizens and it makes sense that not many have come under the post-Brexit immigration rules."
Apply for the EU Settlement Scheme here.