Applying EEA FP for husband of a British national in Spain
Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 9:09 am
We are in the process of applying for an EEA family permit for my Moroccan husband to accompany me to the UK to visit my family for Christmas. I am a British national living in Spain with my husband, to whom I have been married for over 4 years. We have already visited the UK on two previous occasions and my husband has already provided his biometric data to the UKBA on those occasions. We initiated the visa application at the beginning of October but there were no appointments available with the British Consulate in Madrid before the end of November. The sole purpose of the appointment is to provide the biometric data that is already on file again. We have booked an appointment for 24th November but given that it would seem that a high number of visa applications are being processed through Madrid and that the average processing time is 3 weeks I fear that we will not have the visa back in time for our visit. We would like to know what the best option is in future to ensure that we get a visa in good time before our trip. Due to the fact that the EEA family permit is only valid for 6 months, we could not apply too far in advance. The cost of the 2 and 5 year visitors’ visa is a little prohibitive but we would be prepared to pay for it if we knew for certain that if the visa was granted it would be for the full 2 or 5 year period. What are the chances that they would grant my husband a 5 year visa given that his current Spanish residency card (granted on the basis that he is married to an EU national) and Moroccan passport will expire in 2014? We looked into the longer visas, but no appointments are currently available with the Consulate in Madrid for the next three months (and even longer). There would appear to be no provision under the current immigration rules and procedures for people in our situation. I find the whole situation very frustrating and the attitude of the UKBA and foreign office officials means that I am unable to celebrate family occasions with my husband in the UK, which I believe is my right under article 8 of the ECHR. We do not intend to settle in the UK in the near future and merely wish to be able to visit my family.