Revelations that the Home Office has written to 1,473 EU nationals advising them that their UK settled-status grants were issued “in error” have sparked threats of legal action and sent fresh shockwaves through corporate mobility teams. The Guardian reported on 27 September that campaign group the3million is preparing a judicial review, arguing the policy breaches the Withdrawal Agreement. Affected individuals include long-term staff in finance, tech and higher education who relied on settled status for onward assignments, mortgages and student loans. Many were told that missing passport scans or dual-nationality technicalities voided their status, despite having lived in Britain for years. Lawyers warn that if the revocations stand, employers could inadvertently fall foul of right-to-work legislation. From a risk-management perspective, global companies are now auditing staff records to ensure that EU employees can evidence continuous residence. Immigration advisers recommend downloading digital status files from the UKVI portal and linking them to current passports— a step some staff neglected after travel-document renewals. HR directors are also updating policy to cover legal-fee support where status is challenged. Politically, the dispute reignites fears of a ‘Windrush 2.0’. Opposition MPs have demanded an immediate moratorium on revocations until an independent review reports. The Home Office maintains that letters were sent only in clear cases of administrative error, but has agreed to pause enforcement pending appeal outcomes. Mobility practitioners should brief line managers not to request immediate contract terminations; instead, employees should be placed on paid leave while status checks are resolved to avoid claims of unfair dismissal or discrimination.
Source: The Guardian
