A 78-year-old British widow has told the BBC she is struggling to eat or sleep as the Swedish government threatens to deport her over a late post-Brexit residence application.
The report indicates that a 78-year-old British widow has told the BBC she is struggling to eat or sleep as the Swedish government threatens to deport her over a late post-Brexit residence application.
It further notes that joyce Thomas, a retired nurse, moved to Sweden 22 years ago with her husband, who passed away from cancer three years ago.
The threat of deportation arose after Swedish authorities stated they should have submitted a formal application to remain in the country after Brexit.
Thomas has since had numerous applications and appeals rejected, and Tuesday marks the latest deadline for her to leave voluntarily.
“This is absolute hell,” she stated from her home in Sweden.
“I can’t sleep, I can’t eat. You get up in the morning, you don’t know what’s going to happen.”
The Swedish migration minister told the BBC that the government would “examine whether there are measures we can take to make the process easier for those affected” by some consequences of the EU-UK withdrawal agreement.
When the UK left the EU on 31 January 2020, British citizens ceased to be EU citizens, which meant they could no longer stay in Sweden with a right-of-residence status.
During a transitional period, British citizens could apply for residence status under the withdrawal agreement between the UK and the EU – which ended on 31 December 2021.
Thomas stated she and her husband were unaware that they needed to submit an application and she was only informed of the rule once she attempted to re-enter the country in 2023.
After years of appeals, the Migrationsverket, the Swedish government agency responsible for migration, told her last month that her voluntary departure deadline was 8 September.
Her lawyers are arguing against the deportation, but she is still waiting to hear from the government.
Thomas stated the possibility of having to leave her son, grandchildren, friends and husband’s grave has become too much to bear.
“I’m tired, I really am tired and I’m not young anymore,” she said.
