By Chris Houghton, immigration law specialist

Oxford is known globally as a cultural and scientific hotpot for immigration.

The city has a heavy presence of Europeans as well as non-EU employment migrants. With Brexit, however, there brings a certain amount of ambiguity and unrest amongst them. There are a number of visa options to allow migrants to continue staying in the UK legally, but there is a concern that businesses will relocate as a direct result of Brexit.

The science park based out in Culham, for instance, is another one of Oxford’s many business parks with a large amount of investment from European businesses that continues to drive science and innovation worldwide. Further to this, many European families send their children to the multi-lingual Europa School in Culham (formerly the European school, which closed in September 2017, less than a year after the historic referendum on 23 June 2016).

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Oxford University’s Migration Observatory recently released a study confirming that there are 'two points on which studies consistently agree. First, that the fiscal impact of EEA migrants is more positive than that of non-EEA migrants; and second, that the impact of recent migrants is more positive than the impact of migrants overall’.

Oxford Mail:

Chris Houghton, an Oxford-based immigration specialist at Reeds Solicitors. 

It should not be considered all doom and gloom though, since the UK Government has reached an agreement with the EU that will protect the rights of EU citizens and their family members living in the UK. It has also reached an agreement with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and a separate agreement with Switzerland.

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These agreements mean that most citizens from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland will need to apply to remain in the UK. They can then continue living their lives here as they do now.

The current settlement process is a straight forward online application and, in some instances, can be approved within 24 hours. If you are an EU citizen, you and your family will be able to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021.

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If your application is successful, you will be granted either settled or pre-settled status.

Also, as recommended by the independent Migration Advisory Committee earlier this year, there will be no cap on highly-skilled workers coming to the UK from either EU or non-EU countries.

Non-EU migrants can still apply for employment sponsorship under the Tier 2 system, investment categories, Tier 4 student visas and many more.

Brexit will certainly create a lot of confusion for Oxford’s businesses and academic institutions but, providing people are properly educated on the legalities, the impact on Oxfordshire and the surrounding areas should be limited.

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There are organisations offering assistance with the transition: for instance, Oxlep is an organisation based in Oxford whose main aim is to ‘drive economic growth in Oxfordshire’ and they are taking it upon themselves to try to ensure that ‘Oxfordshire businesses get a better understanding of what ‘Brexit’ means to each of them individually, as well as the steps they need to take, both now and in the coming months and years.’

In short, there has been plenty of miscommunication surrounding Brexit and Oxford, and the wider community, but there are options available to work and remain in the UK.

Chris Houghton is Immigration Advisor & Head of Immigration Law at Reeds Solicitors