In the wake of Britain’s decision to leave the EU, Greek nationals who call the UK home are reassessing their options and taking urgent legal advice on their status in the country.
Greek national Aristotelis Tsallios, who has lived in London for 18 years, told the BBC this week that he contacted a migration lawyer “as soon as the referendum result came out on Friday”.
Mr Tsallios said he would “very hastily” try to apply for citizenship to stay in Britain – the country that has given him three clinical science higher education degrees and the chance to open his own business consultancy.
“I never thought I would need British citizenship, so I never applied for it. Now it looks like I have to do it,” he said.
“I’m sure now the applications for a citizenship are going to skyrocket.
“In order to be on the safe side — and not wait until any legislation changes — I will apply as quickly as I can.”
Mr Tsallios said he had experienced the “division the referendum has created in this country” within hours of the result being announced. He described one experience at a London train station as shocking.
“Some guy was coming out of the train, he started pushing people and shouting ‘f*** off, my country. We don’t want you anymore. Don’t you understand that? Enough already’,” he said.
“I was in shock because [in my] 18 years in London I have never heard someone speak openly like this in front of such a huge crowd.
“It was the first time in 18 years that I actually felt like a foreigner or someone who’s unwanted.”