imbik wrote:Applying for spouse and 2 children ( under 21 ) was a tough but informative experience, so I can share any info with people who is in our situation. By the way, I will write all the steps we have taken when it is ready.
I finally managed to finish it and want to share as I promised last week.
EEA_1 FAMILY PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS FOR A FAMILY WITH CHILDREN
Here is the whole process we have gone through;
I and my wife have been married for 20 years and have two children (17 and 9). My wife is an EEA national (BG), I and the children are non EEA nationals (TR). We are currently living in Turkey.
In August 2016, instead of researching in Turkey, I sent my wife to the UK in order to get some info from a lawyer about family visas (at the time we didn’t have any idea about the EEA FP). The lawyer told my wife that she needed to stay in the UK for at least 6 months and to have enough salary (equal to 18.600 pounds per year) before she applies for us. We later learned that it was for UK citizens but it cost us 2 months to figure it out. Anyway, I started my own research in October 2016 and found some consulting firms in Turkey, and then I visited one of them. They said that it is called EEA FP and my wife would need to stay in the UK till she receives one payslip at least, then she could apply for us. I reached to two other firms and they all said the similar things and requested around 1000 pounds for the application (which is good money in Turkey).
After reading the official guidance in the GOV.UK I realized that we can apply for EEA FP all together before my wife goes to the UK. On 13 November 2016 I found this priceless forum and another Turkish one. Both encouraged me and we applied ourselves on 13 December 2016.
Main and supporting documents we collected;
1- Printed, named, dated and signed application form for each non-EU national
2- Original Turkish marriage certificate and a copy of it ( no translation, moreover we don’t have anything from BG)
3- All non EU TR passports (including old ones)
4- An ordinary copy of BG passport and ID card (they didn’t accept the original ones)
5- Declaration letter from the EU national
6- Marriage document (called form B in Turkey) from civil registry (Apostilled and then translated)
7- Relationship photos in MS office word (2 for each page, in order )
8- Birth certificate and declaration from the hospital for each child (translated)
9- A copy of certificate of consent for children to have a passport and travel alone (translated)
10- My civil index report showing all family members from civil registry (Apostilled and then translated)
11- My payslips for the last 3 months, statement of employment and a letter from my company
12- My criminal record (translated)
13- Student certificate from the school for each child (translated)
14- EU national’s bank account and activity for last 3 months
15- Flight tickets
16- Address statement from local authority for the family
ONLINE APPLICATION;
You will need to apply for an EEA Family Permit for each non EU family member (at any age), so one for you and one each for your children. Once you register an account with Visa4UK then you should click on 'Apply for Myself' and complete the details. The type of visa you want is 'Other->EEA/Swiss Family Member->Family Member of an EEA National'. That should create an electronic application form for you to complete online which you then print once completed. Repeat the same process for your children (if necessary) but select 'Apply for Someone Else' at the beginning. You will get informing e-mails for your registration and application.
1- Using small or capital letters makes no difference (it will change them all to capital letters)
2- How long do you intend to stay in the UK? 6 months, permanently or indefinite, at the end you will get 6 months EEA_1 FP, just be honest.
3- We stated that we would stay at our friend’s house; you can find a hotel instead.
4- Write N/A for financial questions about EU national (if he/she is living with you in home country, if she/he is already in the UK for more than 3 months, should be a qualified person)
5- You can confirm whatever you write then go back, edit or save. But if you submit, can’t edit anymore.
6- After finishing the online form save it as pdf. and transfer it to a flash memory.
7- Print the form, add your name and date it, and then sign as needed. Be sure that the bar code on the form should be visible (if not, change your printer properties). If your children under 21, put both parent’s name and signature. (while filling the online form use EU national's name for your children under 21)
8- There is no fee for EEA FP, moreover if you choose the correct online form it will not ask you to pay a fee.
TLSCONTACT APPLICATION;
Register an account with TLScontact (in your country) using your e-mail address. Select the application type as ‘’other’’, enter your GWF number (on your printed application form) and determine the appropriate appointment date / hour (it will show you the available times). Do it for each non EU national without losing time as you need the appointments to be in the same date / hour. When you try to arrange more than 1 appointment, it will ask you to group them, so you say ‘’yes’’. Print all appointment forms as they may ask at the entrance. They will inform you every step of your application by e-mail regularly.
Bring all documents together and group them as individuals. Even you are a family, each application is evaluated separately. If you don’t staple or clip on, they probably will do it in TLScontact. Be there at least an hour earlier than your appointment time. Deliver your documents and wait for your fingerprints and photos to be taken. Don’t forget to sign digitally by pen after that. Anyone 16 or older should sign it him/her self, otherwise also sign on behalf of your children. Before you leave inform them how you will take back your passports and other documents. (Yourself or cargo package to your address). If you choose yourself or someone else apart from you, don’t forget to fill the relevant form (for each person) and bring it with you for passport return.
For our family;
Online application: 13 December 2016
Document delivery to TLScontact: 20 December 2016
Passports and documents return: 05 January 2017
DECLARATION LETTER;
This is something really important (especially if you are a family like us). EU national should explain the whole situation using short sentences. When and how your relationship began and how is it going for today. State your togetherness, generally explain your plans in the UK and kindly ask for EEA FP giving reference from Directive 2004/38/EC.
Sample Paragraphs;
1- Application: EEA Family Permit .......................
Subject: A declaration letter from EU national ........................
Reference: Directive 2004/38/EC .......................
2- Introduce your family (names, nationalities, passport numbers, etc.)
3- Write about your relationship /marriage and children’s births
4- Point to your flight to the UK as a whole family, explain where you will be staying.
5- Tell them you have a clear understanding of Directive 2004/38/EC (particularly article 6) and kindly ask ECO to issue EEA FP for each non EU national.
6- Declare that each info in your letter is true. Name, date and sign it.
7- Add a list of supporting documents
Ok, that is all. There may be some differences between countries, but more or less should be a similar process. By the way, I never claim that all our supporting documents are needed or this is how it goes. Moreover, please be aware that being a family is slightly different than being just a couple.
I kindly ask the moderators to make up the deficiencies and to correct any mistake I may have made.
Have a great evening
