Article 50 Bill Gets Royal Assent – the Brexit Countdown Begins

To cheers from the Government benches, the Speaker of the House of Commons announced that the Queen had granted Royal Assent to the Article 50 Bill, giving the Government the legal power to commence Brexit negotiations with the European Union.

Article 50 Bill
Successfully Confirm Your Immigration Status in the UK with LEXVISA Solicitors

Why Did the Article 50 Bill Need Royal Assent?

Royal Assent is the final step to be taken before a parliamentary bill becomes law. Put simply, once a bill has successfully passed through three readings in the House of Commons and House of Lords, it is then presented to the Queen or her representative. The Queen will then grant Royal Assent, making the bill an Act of Parliament. From that moment on, the content of the bill becomes law.

The Article 50 Bill went through the same process. When passing through Parliament, a bill has three readings in total, and at each reading the House of Commons and House of Lords are able to make amendments through a debating and voting process. This was the case for the Article 50 Bill, which passed through three readings but to which ultimately no amendments were made. Despite the efforts of the House of Lords, the Article 50 Bill was put before the Queen unchanged. It is very rare for Royal Assent to not be granted – the last time it occurred was 1708 – and it was granted in this instance too, meaning that the Article 50 Bill is now law.

What Happens Now the Article 50 Bill Has Passed?

The Government had a self-imposed deadline of the end of March to enact the Article 50 Bill, and the granting of Royal Assent has meant that that deadline has been met. What follows now is two years of negotiations with the European Union, with the status of EEA nationals in the United Kingdom being a central point under negotiation. As was seen, the House of Lords made amendments to the Article 50 Bill at the third reading that would safeguard the status of EEA nationals, but these amendments were quickly rejected by MPs.

Where the Brexit negotiations will leave EEA nationals and their families resident in the UK is still uncertain. After rejecting the Article 50 Bill amendments of the House of Lords, positive sentiment towards EEA nationals does not seem to be strong amongst MPs, though there will surely be motivation to offer safeguards in reciprocation of protection offered to UK nationals currently living in the EU. But, it is not advisable to second-guess the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU. The only certainty that can be offered at the current time is that until the day the UK withdraws from the EU, EEA nationals and their families will still be able to confirm their status in the UK.

Using Legal Representation to Confirm Your Immigration Status After the Article 50 Bill

Legal representatives, such as our specialist immigration and visa law firm, are qualified to advise you on immigration law and your immigration status. It is possible to instruct an immigration and visa legal representative to submit an application to confirm your immigration status in the United Kingdom.

Caseworkers at the Home Office are trained to reject applications which are improperly prepared, for example by failing to provide the correct supporting evidence. In order to ensure your application succeeds, all necessary documents must be provided.

This can be a significant administrative task and you will need to submit the correct documentary evidence. The UK Immigration Rules are complex and a legal representative can help ensure that your application meets the Immigration Rules.

Successfully Confirm Your Immigration Status After the Article 50 Bill

Our team of solicitors and barristers are specialist immigration lawyers who act in your best interest. We offer a client-tailored approach from the outset. From the very first meeting, we will be able to advise you in respect of your immigration status and the merit of your visa and immigration application before your matter even reaches the Home Office UK Visa & Immigration department. We can assist you with the preparation of your immigration and visa application and ensure that you meet all the requirements of the relevant rules.

We are based in the legal epicentre of London, just across the road from the Royal Courts of Justice in order to ensure we get the best results for our clients.  We are minutes away from the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal, the Royal Courts of Justice and other central London courts.

Preparation is the key to successful immigration applications. Our UK immigration and visa solicitors are here to guide you through the complex immigration rules and requirements. If you wish to meet one of our lawyers, please call our Immigration Team so we can assess your case and arrange your legal consultation.

Contact our London immigration solicitors on 02030110276 or complete our contact form.

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