'My mum has lived here for 60 years - why should she have to jump through hoops to get settled status?'
We've been speaking to Emilie Knight from York, whose mum is still waiting to hear back from her settled status application.
It's claimed more than 300 EU citizens in York are stuck in a Home Office backlog waiting to hear from their applications for settled status.
The York Lib Dems - who form part of the ruling coalition at City of York Council- are urging the Government to grant EU citizens the automatic right to stay in the UK: "The latest EU Settlement Scheme statistics show that, as of the end of March, 8,490 applications have been made with 8,190 of these applications concluded, leaving 300 local residents in a limbo with less than 5 weeks to go till the deadline of the scheme.
"The figures also reveal that 3,610 EU-born residents have only been granted temporary ‘Pre-Settled Status’. That means a total of 3,910 applicants have still not been given the permanent right to stay.
"Whilst the Office for National Statistics projected that there was an estimated EU population in York of 7,000, this figure is subject to a confidence of +/-3,000 so the percentage of EU residents who have applied is open to significant variation.
"City of York Council has proactively engaged with the EU citizens living in York, to offer advice and support through the application process. A dedicated Community Involvement Officer has been appointed by City of York Council, with a focus on supporting EU residents in the city through this difficult time".
Emilie Knight is from the York for Europe group; her mother is French, has lived in the UK since 1961, is married and has had children here. Emilie's mum is among those waiting to hear back on her application: "My mum is 81 and lives in York with my father. She's French and was granted indefinite leave to remain, and as far as she was concerned that was the end of it.
"When applying for settled status came up, we were assured by official outlets that you don't have to apply if you have indefinite leave to remain, but different groups were telling us different things.
"To apply you need a smartphone and an email address, which is perfectly reasonable for younger people but not for people like my mum - she doesn't have an email address or a smartphone, and doesn't need one.
"In my mother's case she trusts me and I can be trusted with her data, but for anybody who doesn't have anyone they can rely on then it becomes a very different prospect.
"We're all conscious of data risks, but now I'm aware of the risk to my mother's data as well as mine. The process itself is quite straightforward, but for someone who is older and not familiar it can be confusing.
"Having applied, you get no acknowledgement or an email to say that your application has been successful or received - you're left wondering if it's worked.
"We did this a month ago, and didn't want to risk waiting so I had to start the process again before then hearing that it had already been received.
"We still don't know if my mum has settled status yet. Having arrived in 1961 it seems ludicrous that she's having to go through this. What's made me sad and angry is that my mum said to me the other day 'if they won't let me stay I'll sell the house and move to Calais so that I'm not too far away'.
"No one at that age should be thinking like that; to be thinking like that when you've been living most of your adult life in this country with children and grandchildren here - it's just a nonsense and an appalling way to treat people.
"We said these problems would arrive a few years ago during the 2016 referendum, and were given assurances that there would be no change for existing EU citizens - but there has been uncertainty.
"I'm not happy about the situation and I will continue to be vocal about it".
In a statement the Future Borders and Immigration Minister Kevin Foster said: "Every day, thousands of people are being granted status under the hugely successful EU Settlement Scheme. I urge people who are eligible to apply as soon as possible, secure the rights they deserve in UK law and join the 4.9 million people who have already been granted status.
"The Government is committed to making sure everybody eligible for the scheme can apply, including those who are the most vulnerable or need extra support. We have made available up to £22 million in funding through to 30 September 2021 for a network of now 72 organisations across the UK. This includes charities, local authorities and local government associations, who are working to help vulnerable and harder to reach groups apply to the scheme.
"Anyone who is yet to apply should do so now. The Home Office has a dedicated team of more than 1,500 people working on the EU Settlement Scheme, with support available seven days a week by telephone and by email. We have already confirmed someone who has applied to the EU Settlement Scheme by the 30 June deadline, but has not had a decision by then, will have their rights protected until their application is decided".