British Deputy Foreign Minister Brandon Lewis said that over 500,000 Poles have already applied for the status.
Lewis also encouraged everyone who did not apply yet, to go to the Foreign Ministry’s website and do it, adding that the process was "really easy”.
British Foreign Minister also said that by the end of December, more than 2.8 million citizens of EU countries had applied for the status of a settled person, 2.5 million of whom had already received such status.
According to Lewis, this proves that this biggest immigrants registration process in the world is working well.
He added that the UK’s aim is to protect all EU citizens already living in the country and not to reject the applications. Usually, the decision process only takes several days, and most applicants are granted the settled status, Lewis said.
Poles comprise the largest group among those applying for the status, with about 19 percent of all the applications being filed by Polish citizens.
The settled status is designed to enable EU citizens and their family members to stay in the UK after the country leaves the union.
To obtain settled status, one needs to prove their identity, show that they are actually residents in the UK and disclose any possible convictions. EU citizens have until June 30, 2021 to apply.
(tf/di)