Accessibility statement for ask about the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status)
This web page is run by Home Office. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, you should be able to:
- change colours, contrast levels and fonts
- zoom in up to 400% without the text spilling off the screen
- navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
- listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)
We have also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
How accessible this website is
Some people may find parts of this service difficult to use because:
- navigating using a keyboard, as the focus and focus order is not always clear
- navigating by landmarks, as the webchat is not in its own landmark
You can see a full list of any issues we currently know about in the ‘non-accessible content’ section of this statement.
Feedback and contact information
If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille submit the ask a question about applying for settled status form.
We will consider your request and get back to you in 30 days.
Reporting accessibility problems with this website
We are always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we are not meeting accessibility requirements please email webmessenger-accessibility@homeoffice.gov.uk.
Read tips on contacting organisations about inaccessible websites.
Enforcement procedure
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the 'accessibility regulations'). If you're not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
If you are in Northern Ireland and are not happy with how we respond to your complaint you can contact the Equalities Commission for Northern Ireland who are responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the 'accessibility regulations') in Northern Ireland.
Technical information about this website's accessibility
The Home Office is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
Compliance status
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.
Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations
We are aware of the following issues.
Keyboard navigation
When searching for an answer, the keyboard focus can be trapped on the answer. This means the tab key does not move the keyboard focus. To escape the trap, press shift+tab. This fails WCAG 2.1.2 - no keyboard trap.
When selecting the ‘Start now’ button the focus does not automatically move to the webchat. To move the focus from the Start now button to the webchat, press the tab key 6 times. This moves the focus through the footer links. This is not a logical focus order. This fails WCAG 2.4.3 - focus order.
The webchat may ask you a question. When it does, the answers are shown as buttons. These buttons are difficult to navigate to using tab and shift+tab. This is because the keyboard focus order is not logical. To respond to the question, enter your answer in ‘Send a message’ and press return. This fails WCAG 2.4.3 - focus order.
When navigating the webchat using tab and shift+tab, the keyboard focus may move to the messages. These messages are not interactive. Use shift+tab to move the keyboard focus to newer messages. Use tab to move the keyboard focus backwards in time. This may fail WCAG 2.1.1 - keyboard accessible.
The keyboard focus for ‘Send a message’ is indicated by a flashing cursor. Therefore it may not be possible to see the keyboard focus for ‘Send a message’. Enter a character, if this appears, then ‘Send a message’ has keyboard focus. This fails WCAG 2.4.7 - focus visible.
When the webchat opens, the ‘Start a conversation’ and ‘What are you looking for cards’ are not interactive but do receive keyboard focus. This means there is an extra tab stop. To move to the interactive element, press the tab key. This fails WCAG 2.1.1 - keyboard accessible.
When searching for an answer, the results are a list of answers. Each answer is not interactive but does receive keyboard focus. This means there is an extra tab stop. To open the answer, press tab to move the keyboard focus to the arrow, which is an interactive element, and press enter. This fails WCAG 2.1.1 - keyboard accessible.
When magnified, the webchat window can hide the keyboard focus, when it is on the underlying page. Press tab until the focus returns to the webchat. This may fail WCAG 2.4.11 - focus not obscured.
Use a screen reader
The webchat is not in its own landmark. This means the webchat cannot be navigated to using landmarks. To start a webchat conversation, use headings to go to ‘Start a conversation’. To search for an answer, use headings to go ‘What are you looking for’. This fails WCAG 1.3.1 - info and relationships.
We plan to fix these accessibility issues by December 2024.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 19 April 2024. It was last reviewed on 7 May 2024.
This website was last tested on 19 April 2024. The test was carried out internally by the Home Office.
We tested the service based on a user's ability to complete key journeys. All parts of the chosen journeys were tested. Journeys were chosen on a number of factors including usage statistics, risk assessments and subject matter.