UK Delays Deportation of Long-Time Resident Polish Man at Eleventh Hour

Unbuckled Chains: A Tail of Perseverance for a Polish Man in the UK

In an unforeseen twist of events, Mateusz Kulik, a Polish man who's been residing in the UK since his tender age of seven, has dodged the bullet of deportation to Poland. This surprise reprieve comes after UK immigration authorities halted his planned removal having been living there for well over two decades.

Kulik, now at 27, has been a fixture of the UK, completing both primary and secondary education there, and currently works for a UK transport company where he handles customs documents for goods exported to the European Union. Despite his deep-rooted ties to the UK, Kulik's appealing case for the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) was tossed out by the Home Office in 2021, a decision he only learned about a year later.

Stung by the rejection, Kulik requested an administrative review that wasn't finalized until last month. In the interim, his seemingly neverending ordeal left him up in the air, culminating in his detention at Heathrow Airport upon his return from a holiday in Thailand. Immigrational officers held him captive for eight hours, citing his lack of confirmed EUSS status as the reason for his arrest.

"I was left on the verge of despair after being detained for eight hours in a cramped room at Heathrow Airport upon my return from my much-needed vacation," Kulik recounted to The Guardian. "They took my phone, wallet, and interrogated me as to why I was coming back to the country I call home. I spoke better English than Polish."

With his deportation date rapidly approaching on Monday, Kulik's lawyer, Andrew Jordan, from the charity Settled, who represents EU citizens, hastily submitted a new application for EUSS and pleaded with Home Office officials to defer his deportation. While waiting for confirmation that the new application had been received, officials doggedly insisted on proceeding with the removal. However, on Sunday afternoon, just a day before the scheduled flight, the Home Office communicated via email that the deportation has been suspended.

Jordan expressed his immense relief, stating, "We were on the brink of despair, convinced they would push ahead with his deportation without giving a second thought to his protracted struggle to secure his status post-Brexit. It's a massive relief that they've agreed to hold off a few more days for another department to issue a necessary certificate of application." He went on to express his gratitude towards Home Office officials for acknowledging Kulik's 18-year stint in the UK, evident from their records that show his 2004 arrival as a seven-year-old.

As Kulik awaits his next course of action, he expressed cautious optimism, "Hearing about this signal of leniency has given me a glimmer of hope that the heavy clouds might part and shine some light on my future."

A Home Office spokesperson opted to maintain radio silence on the specifics of the case but did confirm that they do not typically discuss individual immigration matters.

Kulik's tale is reminiscent of the struggles faced by long-term EU residents in the UK post-Brexit, particularly those navigating the EU Settlement Scheme. Kulik's parents, both living in Ashford, Kent, and working as an NHS support worker and a delivery driver, respectively, have been approved under the EUSS. Kulik's drawn-out battle with the UK's immigration system reflects a wider concern about the treatment of EU citizens striving to secure their status in the wake of Britain's separation from the European Union.

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Mateusz Kulik, a Polish man who has resided in the UK since he was seven, has evaded deportation to Poland, thanks to a halt in his planned removal by UK immigration authorities, allowing him to live there for over two decades.
Despite his deep-rooted ties to the UK, including completing education and working for a UK transport company, Kulik's application for the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) was initially rejected by the Home Office in 2021, leaving him uncertain about his residency status.
In the midst of his struggle to secure his status post-Brexit, Kulik was detained at Heathrow Airport upon his return from a holiday in Thailand, causing him great distress.
With his deportation date looming, his lawyer, Andrew Jordan, from the charity Settled, submitted a new application for EUSS and pleaded with Home Office officials for a stay of deportation, which was granted just a day before the scheduled flight.
Kulik's case highlights the challenges faced by long-term EU residents in the UK, especially those navigating the EU Settlement Scheme post-Brexit, and the treatment of such individuals striving to secure their status in the wake of Britain's separation from the European Union.
The developments in Kulik's case serve as a reminder of the importance of understanding the policies and legislation surrounding immigration and politics, not just in the UK, but also in countries like Poland, as evidenced by the weekly updates available on platforms like Poland Insider.