Anyone waiting on EEA4 more than me?

[mamag]

Hi anwarj.

good to see you back on the forum. I was feeling lonely for a bit here. Not too many people applying for eea4 compared to the eea2. LOL

I called the HO two weeks ago and it's still waiting consideration. In a few days I will be waiting 5 months. I consider my application straight forward also.

Please any one who applied for the EEA4 in the last 8 month share your experiences.

I sent my EEA4 application form on 10/04/10 after my application form was returned twice , HO received the document on 11-04-10 , finally got COA in June'10 dated 21-05-10. I consider my application straight forward but I am still waiting for my PR

[anwarj]

Okay, so called HO this morning on 0151 672 5626 about my application.

It has not been seen by a case worker as yet (5 months after applying) but it has been checked for completeness. They are trying to process them within 6 months but it could take "slightly" longer (couldn't pin down how long "slightly" implies)

Also asked about return of documents. They can return any documents including passports (so you can travel with that and your COA) and will send a letter to you if they need them back.

Hope that helps everyone... hopefully only 1 more month to go now

[coconutsforme]

Hi Everyone,

To be honest, it is a bit of relief when you visit this forum and read through different experiences many of us came accross with HO.

So well done to everyone who joins, shares and supports with their views.

I've noticed that it is possible to get thru to them over the phones! so there's some improvement...

Well, if you try in the early business hours, you should be able to get through, during the day, obviously, it it harder to reach them.

The Application process is indeed a long and frustrating one, but i was kinda thinking of the following idea that HO could possibly use:

Since you need to send your non EEA passport, why couldn't they just request a certified copies of all the pages of your passport??? they can allocate a panel of solicitors they would accept, the solicitor then will certify it, and we (non EEA members) will include those in the application.

this way:

the solicitors would generate extra business and revenue
the applicant would be able to travel, (as most of the EEA & EU nationals have ID cards)

and there's less risk that it will be lost.

Home office can still carry out their assessment but once the decision has been made, they can request the original passport for the stamp to be endorsed.

what are your thoughts on that?

[anwarj]

Coconutsforme

That sounds like too much of a reasonable and sensible idea for ukba to take up. As mentioned before, people from other countries just won't believe me when I tell them that they hold on to your passport for the duration.

[lina katen]

All the HO have to do is charge a fee for applications so that they have enough money to hire more case worker and problem solved. but this retarded law that EEA member should not be charged for EEA applications thinking it will save us money when infact all it does is cost us a hell of a lot more than what the application fee would have cost.

So any idea that envolves charging EEA member I think is not within the law.

With this new government cutting funds on shcool projects what do you think they will do to the HO eea application budget.

[yusfaith]

Okay, so called HO this morning on 0151 672 5626 about my application.

It has not been seen by a case worker as yet (5 months after applying) but it has been checked for completeness. They are trying to process them within 6 months but it could take "slightly" longer (couldn't pin down how long "slightly" implies)

Also asked about return of documents. They can return any documents including passports (so you can travel with that and your COA) and will send a letter to you if they need them back.

Hope that helps everyone... hopefully only 1 more month to go now

anwarj, I am in a similar situation, my application will be 5 month by August 10th and what i have realised about HO's staff answering our call is that, they all give different information. I called in June and the guy i spoke to said my application was assigned to a case worker in 1st week of May, and the second time i called this month, another person said my application has not yet been assigned to case worker. So I dont really know who to believe and I have just fed up calling them waisting my telephone bill without a concrete info from HO. I hope they will have a change of heart one day about our application.

[lina katen]

Okay, so called HO this morning on 0151 672 5626 about my application.

It has not been seen by a case worker as yet (5 months after applying) but it has been checked for completeness. They are trying to process them within 6 months but it could take "slightly" longer (couldn't pin down how long "slightly" implies)

Also asked about return of documents. They can return any documents including passports (so you can travel with that and your COA) and will send a letter to you if they need them back.

Hope that helps everyone... hopefully only 1 more month to go now

anwarj, I am in a similar situation, my application will be 5 month by August 10th and what i have realised about HO's staff answering our call is that, they all give different information. I called in June and the guy i spoke to said my application was assigned to a case worker in 1st week of May, and the second time i called this month, another person said my application has not yet been assigned to case worker. So I dont really know who to believe and I have just fed up calling them waisting my telephone bill without a concrete info from HO. I hope they will have a change of heart one day about our application.

Most likely you mis-heard. The case might have been asigned to a case work team not a case worker. A case work team means still waiting conisideration.

[coconutsforme]

Okay, so called HO this morning on 0151 672 5626 about my application.

It has not been seen by a case worker as yet (5 months after applying) but it has been checked for completeness. They are trying to process them within 6 months but it could take "slightly" longer (couldn't pin down how long "slightly" implies)

Also asked about return of documents. They can return any documents including passports (so you can travel with that and your COA) and will send a letter to you if they need them back.

Hope that helps everyone... hopefully only 1 more month to go now

anwarj, I am in a similar situation, my application will be 5 month by August 10th and what i have realised about HO's staff answering our call is that, they all give different information. I called in June and the guy i spoke to said my application was assigned to a case worker in 1st week of May, and the second time i called this month, another person said my application has not yet been assigned to case worker. So I dont really know who to believe and I have just fed up calling them waisting my telephone bill without a concrete info from HO. I hope they will have a change of heart one day about our application.

Most likely you mis-heard. The case might have been asigned to a case work team not a case worker. A case work team means still waiting conisideration.

I haven't received COA as yet. But reading all the above quotations i guess the right thing will be mentally preparing myself for more distress...

Can't remember by wife's birthday but have memorized HO telephone number)))

[mamag]

ANY RECENT EEA 4 GOOD/ BAD NEWS

[anwarj]

Hi, update:

Just called UBKA re EEA4 as I am now 5 months and 2 weeks from application. Still not been assigned to a case worker or case work team. Asked
1) How long are current processing times before a case gets to a case work team or caseworker - they can't provide that information as they only provide the "target" time to processing which is 6 months
2) When it gets to the case worker or case work team, how long does it take to typically process a straightforward case - they dont have those numbers either

Then asked, is there any way to escalate a case - guess what the response was... they cant provide any information...

Not sure why I bothered to call really...

Any thoughts on how to escalate/prioritise your case, maybe from someone who has successfully done so?

[noble72uk]

Hi, update:

Just called UBKA re EEA4 as I am now 5 months and 2 weeks from application. Still not been assigned to a case worker or case work team. Asked
1) How long are current processing times before a case gets to a case work team or caseworker - they can't provide that information as they only provide the "target" time to processing which is 6 months
2) When it gets to the case worker or case work team, how long does it take to typically process a straightforward case - they dont have those numbers either

Then asked, is there any way to escalate a case - guess what the response was... they cant provide any information...

Not sure why I bothered to call really...

Any thoughts on how to escalate/prioritise your case, maybe from someone who has successfully done so?

Hi anwarj

you still can contact your local MP to push your application.

if your application long six months that mean the UKBA has breached the law.

when you complain use the UKBA Guidance see below


European Casework Instructions
CHAPTER 5 - RESIDENCE CARD APPLICATIONS

5.8 Six-month rule
Community law requires us to decide applications for a Residence Card within 6 months from the date of receipt of the application. Every effort should be made to do so, particularly where an applicant draws our attention to an alleged breach of this requirement. Failure to comply with this requirement could leave the Home Office open to a claim for damages.

[anwarj]

Noble, thanks very much for that very useful bit of information. I think I will have to write a letter to my MP highlighting this to him.

[giruzz]

I'm just wondering...can you submit an application without sending the passport?

I can submit my national ID because then I will still have my passport...but my gf needs the passport to travel for business (at least once a month).

Thanks,

Giruzz

[Mary1]

Hi giruzz

I'm just wondering...can you submit an application without sending the passport? Yes as long as you provide valid ID for both you and your EEA national. See the caseworker instructions on the BIA website

..but my gf needs the passport to travel for business (at least once a month). Doesn't matter...If she is your EEA unmarried partner then HO only require adequate proof of her existence as she is named in the application. Its your passport they will require at the point of endorsement.

Also note you can still send both your passports and as soon as you receive your Certificate of application or even before its issued you can request for your pp's to be sent back and this will not in anyway affect your application.

Mary

[juso73]

Hello Mary1,
are you sure that I can ask for our passports to be sent back without thi prejudicating our application? They have been with the Home Office for 6 months on Thursday and we would really love to travel to my husband's home country with our now 6 month old daughter but cannot because my husband has no passport... We have received our CoA in February 2010 already.

We were hoping to get it all send to us in the next days as it's 6 months now but after reading the posts here I am no longer sure. Who has experience with this? And what would I need to do to get our passports back asap? Thanks so much!!!

[humanist]

It has been 5 months (only) since I sent my EEA4 application. UKBA was quick in sending Certificate of Application but since then I have not heard from them. I called them a couple of weeks ago but I was not given any information, other than that my application is in process.

I am hoping to switch my job and move into an investment bank in the near future. Which means that I will go through very strict checks and requirements by my prospective new employer. Furtheremore, my new job will require extensive foreign traveling. Please note that investment banks have very strick criterias, much higher than ordinary employers.

My PP is with UKBA, with resident card (5yr as EEA family member) expiring in November this year.

Now my question is that, if UKBA takes longer than 6 month and because of that if I lose opportunities to progress in my career, can I sue UKBA for lost opportunities/lost income? Has anyone gone through this?

Looking forward to your answers

Cheers

[KAM111]

I have recently been naturalized as British citizen without going through EEA4 procedure. You automatically get PR after 5 years so apply directly for naturalization. A PR stamp only confirms your PR status rather than granting it.

[humanist]

I have recently been naturalized as British citizen without going through EEA4 procedure. You automatically get PR after 5 years so apply directly for naturalization. A PR stamp only confirms your PR status rather than granting it.

Many thanks for your post KAM111

Please share some more details with us. What documents did you present for naturalization, how long did it take and if you face any challenges at all.

Looking forward.

Thanks

[coconutsforme]

Dear Humanist!

I don't think you'll get anywhere with this, mainly because you do not have this job yet. You could complain and write to HO around mid September that they are taking longer time to assess your case than permitted, which in my opinion will speed up the release of your passport should all the docs be in place.

As to the new employer, you will still have to show your COA which confirms your status and legal rights during the consideration period.

Be ready that some prospective employers may hit back by saying: ''With all due respect we would like to see your passport first before employing you as there is no guarantee that you will have it''

[yusfaith]

It has been 5 months (only) since I sent my EEA4 application. UKBA was quick in sending Certificate of Application but since then I have not heard from them. I called them a couple of weeks ago but I was not given any information, other than that my application is in process.

I am hoping to switch my job and move into an investment bank in the near future. Which means that I will go through very strict checks and requirements by my prospective new employer. Furtheremore, my new job will require extensive foreign traveling. Please note that investment banks have very strick criterias, much higher than ordinary employers.

My PP is with UKBA, with resident card (5yr as EEA family member) expiring in November this year.

Now my question is that, if UKBA takes longer than 6 month and because of that if I lose opportunities to progress in my career, can I sue UKBA for lost opportunities/lost income? Has anyone gone through this?

Looking forward to your answers

Cheers

I am just in similar situation with you humanist, my EEA4 application is now over 5 months and nothing yet. I have called them several times but I was getting different answer and my solicitor now advised that we should wait for the 6 months to be over, then, he will write a letter reminding HO about the 6 months rules. But i hope to hear good news from them soon by the grace of God.

[radi8]

Hi all,

Good to hear from you gays.I applied using EEA3 and EEA4 on 9/08/2010,waiting for COA.I'll let you know the timeline.
cheers

[Murka]

Hi to everyone! Very happy today, got our passports back with permanent residence! Here is the timeline:
Applied(EEA3&4) on12/02/10
COA recived on 03/03/10
Called last week and was told "applications with the caseworkes team in the final stages", didn't tell me how much longer to wait
Today recived documents back with permanent residence stamped on 19 July.
Waited for 6 months and 2 days all together. Best of luck to everyone on this forum!

[humanist]

Hi to everyone! Very happy today, got our passports back with permanent residence! Here is the timeline:
Applied(EEA3&4) on12/02/10
COA recived on 03/03/10
Called last week and was told "applications with the caseworkes team in the final stages", didn't tell me how much longer to wait
Today recived documents back with permanent residence stamped on 19 July.
Waited for 6 months and 2 days all together. Best of luck to everyone on this forum!

Wow, Good news Murka, congrats.

This gives me hope, as my application is approaching 6 month mark.

[lina katen]

Congrats Murka

I’m approaching 6 months soon also. Thanks for posting your timeline.
Give's people hope here. There are a few people in this forum who will reach the 6 month period soon, so it will be interesting to see results in the next month. Please people keep us posted

I have a few questions for Murka

Was your application straightforward?
Were you assigned a case work team early on?
Did you receive a case number with your COA?
Did the HO ask for any additonal information?

[humanist]

BTW, what does case number stated on COA impliy? Does it mean anything good, like case been assigned or something?

My COA, which I recieved in late March, 2 weeks after application, has a case number on it.