Michelin-starred chef refused permission to stay in UK after Brexit

(Left to right) Chefs Claude Bosi, Sat Bains, Heston Blumenthal and Jason Atherton at the Perfectionists' Cafe, at Heathrow Airport. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA. - Credit: PA Archive/PA Images

A Michelin-starred chef has been refused permission to remain in the UK after Brexit – despite living here for 23 years.

Claude Bosi, who runs the Bibendum restaurant in Chelsea, posted on social media to claim he had his application for the EU Settlement Scheme denied.

According to a post on Instagram, in which he pictured a letter he received from the Home Office, he said: “I have been in England for 23 years and today they have send me this.

“I love Britain I considered until today like home but they just told me after 23 years of tax paid /VAT paid I’m not welcome anymore.”

He added: “WTF it’s going on in this world.. thankyoubrexit @borisjohnsonuk did I do something wrong…?”

   
  
 
 
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   I have been in England for 23 years and today they have send me this .... I love Britain I considered until today like home but they just told me after 23 years of taxe paid /Vat paid Im not welcome-anymore WTF it's going on in this world.. #thankyoubrexit @borisjohnsonuk did I do something wrong...?
 A post shared by  Claude Bosi (@claudebosi1) on Jan 24, 2020 at 5:45am PST

According to the letter, Bosi applied in October for permission to live permanently in the UK after being in the country for more than five years, which is known as settled status.

But the response, dated this week, said this request had been “refused”.

According to the Home Office, Bosi applied for permanent residency but did not supply sufficient evidence to meet the criteria and has instead been advised to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme.

A spokesman said: “Mr Bosi made an application for a permanent residence document – something which EU citizens living in the UK are not required or encouraged to do. His application for permanent residence was not successful because he did not provide sufficient evidence to show he met the criteria.

“We have spoken to him to help him to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, which has already guaranteed the rights of over 2.5 million people.

“It’s free, there is plenty of support available online, on the phone or in person, and EU citizens and their families have until 30 June 2021 to apply.”

Last week, the department said more than 2.45 million EU citizens had been approved and the number of applications had hit more than 2.7 million.

Those not granted settled status may have been granted pre-settled status – meaning they have temporary leave to remain and would need to apply again for permanent permission at a later date after living in the country for five years.

Under the scheme, EU citizens and their relatives, plus those from the European Economic Area (EEA) countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway as well as Switzerland, are asked to apply to confirm their immigration status so they can live and work in the UK when freedom of movement ends.

Relatives of EEA and Swiss citizens who are not from any of those countries but all live in the UK under EU law are also being urged to apply.

Once granted status, applicants can use the NHS, study and access public funds and benefits, as well as travel in and out of the country. But first they must prove their identity, show they live in the UK and declare any criminal convictions before the December deadline.