Costa Koushiappis, a 39-year-old Greek Cypriot, has been forcibly removed from the UK following complications with his post-Brexit residency application.

Despite living in the UK since 2017, Koushiappis faced deportation due to a backlog in processing requests for residency status, specifically for EU citizens affected by Brexit.

On November 2, 2022, he filed for an administrative review after his application for pre-settled status was initially denied.

The process is expected to take up to two years because of the backlog.

He was removed on a flight to Amsterdam from Edinburgh, after receiving just three days' notice, which his employer at Two Wheels, Stuart West-Gray, called 'a disgrace.' Immigration lawyer Andrew Jordan, from the charity Settled, criticized the Home Office for violating the withdrawal agreement and promised to take the case to the EU.

Jordan asserts that Koushiappis was entitled to have his residency rights protected and processed within the UK according to the withdrawal agreement.

The Home Office has declined to comment on the specific case.