EU people working in London after Brexit
Hi all,
After Brexit is it difficult, being an EU citizen, to work in the UK? I read something about sponsorship required by the companies if you are actually living in the EU and you would like to work in LN for ex. However, the legislation itself is pretty recent...any suggestion / personal experience? I have seen that many companies haven't relocated yet.
HR from the BB I'll intern this Summer confirmed to me today that EU citizen require a visa for London and that we will soon be reached by their lawyers to assist us in the process. It does not sound like a big deal for them and I do not imagine large companies refraining from hiring EU citizens just because of Brexit
Good to know. People were finding difficult to complete applications. EU citizens can work in the UK? It seems YES. A sponsorship is required but it does not seem a big deal for those companies. What do you suggest putting in an application process? Putting NO could be a possible rejection? I mean, the situation is still a bit complicated and sometimes those application forms are not updated.
I am just a last year student so my suggestion does not mean a lot... Until now I always said that I was legally authorized to work in the UK, and that I would not require sponsorhip, in my application forms. I got a SA offer and today I had to fill the onboarding form, and the same question came up, so I asked HR how I souhld answer. She told me that as a EU citizen I would require sponsorship. Given the Brexit, I don't think that this would still lead to a rejection (not even sure if that used to be the case) in the application forms, but I cannot assure anything.
I am in the same situation, but technically if you take a look at gov.uk it says that until June 30, 2021 you have the right to work in the UK if you are an EU citizen. It also says that after June 30th, no retrospective checks will be needed for existing employees. Given that SA’s start before June 30th, I assume we have the right to work in the UK (as asked in the onboarding surveys).
Good to know. But in my case the exact question is "Will you require sponsorship now or in the future for employment visa?", so the honest answer would still be yes, since even if you do not need it for the SA you would need it for your return offer.
However, in our case since it is onboarding survey and not application one, I guess it won't be a problem if you make a mistake and they'll take time to check answers, especially about this topic which is tricky. They asked me like a thousand time to confirm my nationality, it is surely because they want to be sure to take the appropriate measures for everyone.
With friends and colleagues we are pretty sure it won't be an issue being European to work or relocate in the UK if the employer likes you ofc. However, those "legal" questions are always tricky, especially if application forms are not updated. It would be really difficult for them just to pick the YES / NO answer given your nationality and residence? I don't think so. It's a 3 columns table in a database.
the answer to that question is simple:
NO - if you are a EU citizen and have established residency ON or BEFORE Dec 31 2020 and have already applied and received the letter from the Home Office or are going to do it imminently.
YES - if you have moved or are planning to move to the UK AFTER Dec 31 2020 (and have no ILR, no letter from the EU settlement scheme and no other visa that allows you to work and live in the UK)
The EU settlement scheme clearly says that this is the cutoff date to establish residency in the UK. The application for the scheme is until Mid 2021.
Also: the HR team/employer would want to see your passport (to establish your identity) and your paperwork before you can start anyway (so either ILR or EU settlement scheme letter you get). If you present an empty EU passport with neither one of the other bits, you are not legally allowed to work.
This is correct, but only if the person had moved to the UK before December 31st 2020. You need to establish residency until that date and can then ask to join the UK settlement scheme.
It's actually pretty simple. EU banking is covered by geography: French people cover the French market, Germanic speakers cover DACH, etc. So, if investment banking activities stay in London, banks won't have a problem sponsoring Europeans. And if they decide that the cost of sponsoring their employees is too much, they'll simply relocate these activities to Continental Europe. Either way, as a European, you still have a de facto leg up on non-Europeans for London IB and you can't be replaced by Brits because of language/cultural issues. So no need to worry
That's a more general answer about the issue - people in comments are talking about application forms especially for SA - but it's a good answer. With friends and colleagues from various parts of Europe we are thinking the same. There will still be demand for European workers in Finance in the City or where they will relocate.
That's partly true, but you are not considering that, at least for the next 2-3 years, there will be several EU (non UK) citizens for junior positions with pre-settled status that could be hired without sponsorhip.
It’s now a lot more complicated than this.
If you have bankers in London covering French clients and offering them any regulated activity (eg underwriting, advising on securities etc.), that’s solicitation and that is now strictly prohibited...
Essentially London will become a smaller place financial centre and a lot clunkier as a result of Brexit
But hey it’s good for politics so whatever works
So do you expect finance to become more fragmented in Europe? Paris covers the French-speaking world, Frankurt the DACH region, etc?
Depend what companies, I have found many that do not provide sponsorship (e.g. Barclays).
However BB’s do provide sponsorships.
Interesting and really helpful to know. Makes sense being BARC a UK institution.
Bullshit, Barclays do sponsor
Can confirm
EU Citizen who just started working in London here. With Brexit and everything that comes with it, us EU citizens are now on the same level as other non-UK citizens. Negotiations in regards to reciprocity between countries and work visas are still in the works, so for now you would still need a work visa like anybody else.
I came here before the official Brexit date and was able to apply to the pre-settled scheme so don't need sponsorship but I don't think that it is too difficult for people to get sponsorship at large firms. Most banking and finance roles are considered qualified jobs so not much issue with Immigration office there. I think it's just a question of paperwork that the company has to do on your behalf but there's no such thing as a lottery system as in the U.S. I also don't think that it's an immediate reject if you put "sponsorship needed" in the application forms as it is in other countries. I have many non-UK citizen friends that applied to jobs here and they never had issues with immigration and their applications at large firm. Really does change from when I was applying in the U.S. where I would get an immediate automated rejection email after submitting my application because I needed sponsorship in the future. Also this is just speculation but the UK will probably still have more favorable rules towards citizens of some EU countries in the future because many Brits also work in those countries.
Hope this helps and feel free to DM if you have questions!
Why is everyone giving half-ass replies here. It's so misleading. Europeans will be favoured over non-Europeans that's just so stupid.
There is no limit to Visa applications and only if the company wants to employ you then getting the visa won't be a problem. In the past Europeans were employed so popularly just because there was an access to greater pool of talent freely at a time when the visa process was very complex for non-Europeans. Similarly, the UK students only from Tier-1unis used to get employed in the Europe. Now these guys would have equally been in demand for the rest of the world. But the visa flexibility was not available so they limited to Europe.
Now not only the Europeans are facing similar difficulties as non-Europeans, the non-Europeans have much of the issues relaxed too.
But, it's not all done and doom here.
Offices are actually moving Europe. The Brexit negotiations were not very favourable for the financial services sector so they are moving to different European cities and New York.
A very wise monkey would say there are more chances in Europe than in the UK at junior-level.
Just don't have that ridiculous thought that your European visa application will be favoured over a non-Europeans applicant. The assessment stages don't bother about all this mess but when you start the application you will be asked about the Residency status, 'Permanent Resident or Student Visa?'. Hence, it's much about getting auto-dinged by the system. Most big firms welcome international applicants but it's just about an equal playing field from now on.
so would you say that in the next 5-10 years, capital markets roles and M&A will become less prevalent in london and not as well paid?
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