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Hello,

I entered the UK with a EEA Family Permit, which was valid for 6 months. The permit has expired but I haven't been able to apply for a Residence Card yet as it can take up to 6 months and I needed my passport for work related paperwork.

Now my husband and I would like to go on a holiday to Croatia in early July (we would leave and re-enter the UK together) but I am not sure if I would be able to re-enter the UK with my expired EEA Family Permit.

I don't require a visa to enter the UK as a tourist but I am changing jobs in mid July, therefore I wouldn't like to get a tourist stamp on my passport.

Should I postpone any travel until I apply for the Residence Card? or would there be a way of re-entering the UK as an EEA Family member with the expired stamp?

Many thanks

Cocoa wrote:Hello,

I entered the UK with a EEA Family Permit, which was valid for 6 months. The permit has expired but I haven't been able to apply for a Residence Card yet as it can take up to 6 months and I needed my passport for work related paperwork.

Now my husband and I would like to go on a holiday to Croatia in early July (we would leave and re-enter the UK together) but I am not sure if I would be able to re-enter the UK with my expired EEA Family Permit.

I don't require a visa to enter the UK as a tourist but I am changing jobs in mid July, therefore I wouldn't like to get a tourist stamp on my passport.

Should I postpone any travel until I apply for the Residence Card? or would there be a way of re-entering the UK as an EEA Family member with the expired stamp?

Many thanks

Family members of an EEA national, who are not themselves EEA nationals, wishing to return to the United Kingdom should apply for an EEA family permit at a British diplomatic post abroad before returning to this country. An EEA family permit is issued free of charge and on a priority basis.So Since you're NON-visa national the choice is yours.

Cocoa wrote: I don't require a visa to enter the UK...

You are very lucky then. An airline will let you board. You can enter under regulation 11 (4) of the 2006 regs, which transposes article 5.4 of the directive.

There is no need to enter as a tourist.

As said, when you come to the border ask to be admitted as a family member of EEA national (and not a tourist). You will need to prove your relationship to the EEA national so carry your marriage certificate with you.

You will get a 6 months stamp in your passport (the HO internal name for it is "code 1A") but unlike a tourist visa, you are allowed to work with this stamp (or to be precise not prohibited to work).

Jambo wrote:(or to be precise not prohibited to work).

Nice :)

It's worth reading this document to see what might happen on entry.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... iew=Binary

Cocoa wrote:I don't require a visa to enter the UK as a tourist but I am changing jobs in mid July, therefore I wouldn't like to get a tourist stamp on my passport.

If the job is key, then I would suggest postponing travel and applying now for a Residence Card. You should get a COA by then which will make it a lot easier to prove your right to work.

Perhaps it would be better to wait and apply for the Residence card before planning any holidays as I don´t want to risk my new job. I think I can handle the rainy British summer.

Many thanks for all your help.

Cocoa wrote:I think I can handle the rainy British summer.

Don't wish that on us. I hope it's a scorcher!

Cocoa wrote:I think I can handle the rainy British summer.

I think this understated scepticism makes you a shoe-in for British citizenship. But you clearly still put a little too much trust in the weather forecasters!