Qs for EEA Family Permit App (hope I have everything I need)

[Valentina]

I have an appointment this week to hand in my EEA Family Permit Application, and its an understatment to say Im nervous and a bit worried Ive got everything in order.

Just a quick overview: Im Canadian, and my husband is Northern Irish and has applied for and recieved his Irish passport, (he is still living in N.Ireland with no plans of moving to Ireland) We both have Crohns disease, mine is in remission and has been for some time, so I am able to work and move a lot easier right now, but in the future (when he is stable or in remission), we plan to move back to Canada. That being said I have no intentions of mentioning my illness when applying for the permit, but we have had to mention his because he is relying on public funds right now until he can get his illness under control. So Im hoping that my savings and proving that work should be easy for me to find in my field (graphic design) should be fairly easy will be enough because obviously he is in no position to support me.

There are 3 points Im still a little unsure of.

1) In the section where it asks how long you intend to stay for.. is there a WRONG answer? If I say aprox. 5 years is that not a sure enough answer. We just dont know how long it will be, but I dont want to give a short time frame just in case.

2) I need to show my "assets" I have savings accounts, an RSP and 2 cars, the banking info is easy enough to show, but how do you show the cars as an asset? do I just bring a copy of my owner slips, or do I have to estimate how much I think the cars will be worth when I sell them? (I will be selling them when I am approved and ready to move).
Also I still owe an amount on one of the cars, but will pay off the remainder of the loan when I sell it. This brings up another point, do I need to show that I have student loans that I am still paying off, I really hope not

3) On all the info given to me so far with application forms, guidelines etc it asks for my birth certificate. up until I made the appointment for Thursday, they sent me an email reminding me of documents to bring with me.. all of a sudden its asking for the long form of my birth certificate. well of course I dont have that, and so have applied to get it but it will take 15 days. so after all this I might have to cancel my appointment. Im hoping to bring everything on Thursday anyways and point out to them that this isnt mentioned in anything else they gave, and see if its not necissary, but I dont want to piss them off by wasting there time and going without it.

Sorry if this is all over the place (and a bit long), Im just a bit overwhelmed and nervous that Im not ready for my appointment on Thursday.. any help of advice would as always be greatly appreciated.

Valentina

[JAJ]

I have an appointment this week to hand in my EEA Family Permit Application, and its an understatment to say Im nervous and a bit worried Ive got everything in order.

Just a quick overview: Im Canadian, and my husband is Northern Irish and has applied for and recieved his Irish passport, (he is still living in N.Ireland with no plans of moving to Ireland) We both have Crohns disease, mine is in remission and has been for some time, so I am able to work and move a lot easier right now, but in the future (when he is stable or in remission), we plan to move back to Canada. That being said I have no intentions of mentioning my illness when applying for the permit, but we have had to mention his because he is relying on public funds right now until he can get his illness under control. So Im hoping that my savings and proving that work should be easy for me to find in my field (graphic design) should be fairly easy will be enough because obviously he is in no position to support me.

Have you thought about how your route to permanent residence and British citizenship will work on an EEA Family Permit vs a normal UK-rules spouse visa?

[Valentina]

Have you thought about how your route to permanent residence and British citizenship will work on an EEA Family Permit vs a normal UK-rules spouse visa?

I have. to be honest its all confusing and hard to think of anything else but which will be the fastest, easiest way for us to be together, weve been together for over a year now and married since September. Its very frustrating to have spent less than 3 months total together.

Weve been advised by lawyers and different advice bureau's to go this route. If only because he has been off work for a few years now due to the Crohns, and so relies for the majority of his income through government funds. We were told that because of that, there was a higher chance of the spouse visa being rejected, or at the very least taking a long time. I have savings, and a good job, but not sure its enough to offset his lack of assets.
Until he is well enough to work again this will be the way it is, so his moving to Canada isn't really an option right now either.

I guess I dont really want to become a British Citizen, Im quiet happy to be Canadian, and hope to make Canada my home with him some day in the future. Im hoping the Family Permit will allow me to work, live and receive medical care, and am not really looking for much else.

Sorry so long winded.. just thinking this all through while I type

[JAJ]

I guess I dont really want to become a British Citizen, Im quiet happy to be Canadian, and hope to make Canada my home with him some day in the future. Im hoping the Family Permit will allow me to work, live and receive medical care, and am not really looking for much else.

In the circumstances the EEA permit may be the best option for you. Just be aware you won't get Permanent Residence until 5 years have passed. Normally you can't apply for British citizenship until you have Permanent Residence, but in your case there may be two work-arounds:

- assuming your husband is a British citizen you may be able to bypass the need for Permanent Residence by lodging your naturalisation application (prepared as normal) in person at the British Embassy in Dublin, once you have 3 years UK residence

- as your husband is an Irish citizen you should be able to apply for Irish citizenship by naturalisation after 3 years residence in Northern Ireland (this is a special concession for spouses), assuming the law doesn't change. Bear in mind the Irish are very slow to process applications, 2-3 years is typical (British nationality applications currently take 4-6 months).

Nothing stopping you applying for both British and Irish citizenship once you're eligible. Understood that your existing objective is to just join your husband as quickly as possible. However, don't let that cause you to be short-sighted about pathways to settlement and citizenship in the longer term.

It's understood you just want to join your husband as quickly as possible. However don't let that distract you from longer term issues re settlement and citizenship. For example, it may affect if and when you can yourself claim social benefits in the United Kingdom.