Top French chef Claude Bosi denied settled status after 23 years in UK
24 January 2020, 16:28
Michelin-starred chef Claude Bosi has told of his outrage after being told that he has been refused settled status despite living in England for 23 years.
Mr Bosi, who runs the Bibendum restaurant in Chelsea, shared a letter showing that his application for the EU Settlement Scheme, to allow him to live and work in the UK after Brexit, has been denied.
The Home Office letter reads: " Dear Mr Bosi, you applied on 16 October 2019 for a document certifying permanent residence to confirm you are a European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss national who has exercised Treaty rights in the UK for a continuous period of five years. I am writing to let you know that your application in the UK ha been refused."
An outraged Mr Bosi wrote online: "Did I do something wrong?"
He posted on Instagram: “I have been in England for 23 years and today they have send me this.“I love Britain I considered until today like home but they just told me after 23 years of tax paid /VAT paid I’m not welcome anymore.”He added: “[sic] WTF it’s going on in this world.. #thankyoubrexit @borisjohnsonuk did I do something wrong…?”
Mr Bosi first worked as a sous chef at Overton Grange in Ludlow, Shropshire, before being promoted to head chef and by January 1999 it received its first Michelin star.
In 2000, he opened his own restaurant Hibiscus and was awarded a Michelin star, receiving his second four years later.
He relocated the venture to London and then, after it closed in 2016, moved to run the kitchen Bidendum in the Michelin House building.
It was awarded two Michelin stars less than a year after opening.
The Home Office has been contacted for comment.
Last week, the department said more than 2.45 million EU citizens had been approved and the number of applications had hit more than 2.7 million.There is a backlog of more than 300,000 applications waiting to be processed.
Those not granted settled status may have been granted pre-settled status – meaning they have temporary leave to remain and would need to apply again for permanent permission at a later date after living in the country for five years.
