Her husband, Gwynne, died in 2023 of cancer. It was on a trip back from the UK in 2022, when they visited their second son in Brighton, that they first learned they should have made a formal application to stay in Sweden after Brexit.
She said her husband had been meticulous at keeping up with news relevant to British people in Sweden and had taken responsibility for all the administration in their household. She was sure he would have made the Brexit application had he known about it.
While late applications are permissible under the UK’s withdrawal agreement with the EU, Thomas’s submission was rejected in 2024 as she could not demonstrate “reasonable grounds” for applying late. A subsequent application to stay under national immigration laws was also rejected.
As someone with ADHD and debilitating allergy to bureaucracy, I can't help but relate. I see what you're saying, of course, but I also know that it's too damn hard to navigate this kind of crap and figure out exactly what paperwork you need to submit and to where. Things slip through the cracks, and some forgiveness should be afforded.