Anyone waiting on EEA4 more than me?

[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.

[lina katen]

Hi

I have no idea what it means some people get asigned a case numbers some dont. Some get asigned a case work team some don't. Some get thier PR within 6 months some dont. I'm establishing a pattern to find out.

[humanist]

Hi

I have no idea what it means some people get asigned a case numbers some dont. Some get asigned a case work team some don't. Some get thier PR within 6 months some dont. I'm establishing a pattern to find out.

Keep us posted with your findings

[Murka]

Hi to everyone! Lina Katen and Humanist thank you for congratulations, sorry was too busy booking tickets and packing for my holiday.
Here are the answers to questions:
Our application was pretty straight forward-husband worked all 5 years, but first 1.5 year as self-emploed and then emploed, we have a child together.
Don't know when applications were assigned to case work team, called once then it was 4 months and rude man on the phone refused to give any info. Then called in the begining of August and was told it's in the final stages.
I did receive case number on my COA. HO did't ask for any additional documents and they didn't call me. But we sent nearly 2kg of documents and very detailed explanation letter.
Good luck to everyone who is still waiting!

[radi8]

Hi guys,
Apologies for mis-spelling in the last post.
Just to let you know, a frend of mine got PR last week - 5 months after he applied.That's good news.

[anwarj]

Progress at last?!?

Just off the phone with UKBA. I have been assigned to a case work team and my application is "still under consideration" now @ 5 months, 3 weeks and 2 days... I've been pretty much been calling weekly to check status.

Oh the anticipation!

[anwarj]

Humanist

I obtained a new job with an investment bank while my passport was with the home office. I went through the most stringent background checking I've ever encountered for any job.

Despite that, there was no problems with the lack of passport. I provided the UKBA employer helpline number and my case reference to the agent who secured me the job, he passed it on to the 3rd party who did my referencing along with a >photocopy< of my current and previous passports.

It shouldnt prevent you from getting the job.

[humanist]

Humanist

I obtained a new job with an investment bank while my passport was with the home office. I went through the most stringent background checking I've ever encountered for any job.

Despite that, there was no problems with the lack of passport. I provided the UKBA employer helpline number and my case reference to the agent who secured me the job, he passed it on to the 3rd party who did my referencing along with a >photocopy< of my current and previous passports.

It shouldnt prevent you from getting the job.

Hi Aanwarj,

Thanks for your reply and feedback. Its a very good news for me that investment banks accept candidates whose cases are at UKBA, despite their strick checks.

Would you please kindly share with me your experience. I mean what checks they made? Since this is off topic, please send a private msg. I shall appreciate and look forward.

Thx

[kami123456]

hi every one please tell me how i contact the home office i tried many times but one message i hear they are high volume of calls after that phone disconect please tell me

[msi786]

hi every one please tell me how i contact the home office i tried many times but one message i hear they are high volume of calls after that phone disconect please tell me

Try early in the morning on either 0845 010 5200 or 0151 672 5626.

[anwarj]

Update: 6 Months & 2 days

Called UKBA again, its getting to be fairly regular now. EEA4 application is in its "final stages". They couldnt confirm a decision but assured me it wouldnt be too long now, nice girl on the phone who didnt sound surly at all and actually seemed very pleasant and talkative.

[lina katen]

I got inspired by Anwarj so I decided to call also after 6 months wait. I was told that it was in the final stages. I can't stop to wonder if they are genuine or just saying it to buy some more time. Either way it’s exciting news.

Also when they say final stages do they mean the application is being considered by the case worker or does it mean a decision was made and further procedures such as issuing a visa is underway?

Anjwar keep us updated !!!

[walesky28]

Finalisation Stage As Well- 6 Months + 3 Weeks.

Hi All,

I've been a lurker on these boards but i haven't really commented for a while. Apologies all. I should really have beenmore pro-active

I'm in the same situation, a breakdown is as follows:

September 2004- Got Married an EEA national

February 2005- Granted 5 Year Residence Card (Dated 8th February)

2007-2008- We had a few personal issues amongst which a miscarriage as well as other financial issues-marriage irretrievably broke down.

March 2008- Got Granted a Decree Absolute. (in all married 3.5 years, all the time residing together and both working in the UK)

April 2008- Informed home office by way of a letter of my change of circumstance with a view to retaining residence.


...Fast Forward to February 2010

February 3rd- Sent Completed EEA4 Form, Passport, Supporting Documents via recorded delivery to the Home Office.

February 4th- Post Office Proof of Parcel Recipt Online

March 3rd- Got Sent COA Dated the 1st March

In the Interim Till August 1st, I had not chased anything up, and have received no calls from the Home Office requesting extra documents.

August 2nd 2010- Called The 0151 6725626 number- got advised application was still "Under Consideration"

Called Again August 9th (6 Months + 5days) and got told my application was with a caseworker. I was advised to call again within a couple of weeks. I asked if they needed any more details or documents from me and the adviser over the phone responded that they do not need any more documents or information from me.

Called Again on the 20th August. I was advised that my application is in it's final stages or with the finalisation department. It was completed on the 10th August. A decision has been reached however they cannot tell me over the phone what it is (fair enough).

Furthermore, it is waiting on a managers final endorsement before all my documents can be collated together and sent out to me.

So it seems the process is that after a decision is made, a few passports are forwarded onto a manager for the manager to rubberstamp the endorsements or decisions. it is only after this point they can send the passports, the accompanying letter and the documents back to the applicant.

I'm assuming as it is holiday season this month- this final process can only take longer. So i'm prepared to wait for another month realistically.

Also, i can only also assume that the outcome will be positive- i've got a good immigration history (still got several valid Visas on my passport), have furnished them all documents and followed all the rules to the letter.

Also, they have not asked me for any further documentation, which i'm assuming they would if a clear decision cannot be made with what i've supplied so far.

However with these guys, you just don't really know.

Which all means i might be wrong on this and my assumption on what the decision could be- Firstly i don't want to jinx myself and secondly it's probably advisable to try not to make informed assumptions when these guys are concerned-as these guys at the Home Office seem to defy common sense and logic.

So i'm keeping my fingers crossed and i will update you if i have any more news.

Good luck to you all.

[londonfemale]

Hi,
Applied on eea3 and eea4 about 3 months ago still no answer .I will get redundant next week also spoke to home office advisor and was told they recommed to continue exercising treaty rights. I would like to know if i leave my job(eea member) whilst application being processed .Does it effect our application or i have to continue exercise treaty even after completion of 5 yrs and 3 months.Any advice will be much appreciated.

[walesky28]

London Female- As far as i understand it, the requirement is you have had to be exercising treaty rights for five continuos years. From what you said, your five years and three months is surplus to requirements, so it seems you are in the clear. And in any way, you have already submitted your documents. If your application is straightforward, chances are they will base any decision upon the documents you already have in hand and it seems unlikely (or even unreasonable) for them to ask you to prove you are still currently exercising treaty rights.

I think you will be fine with the documents already supplied. However, hope you have lots of patience and be prepared to wait. From anecdotal evidence nowadays it seems EEA applications are taking up to seven months in some cases. I honestly think they have a bit of a backlog currently due to being understaffed in August- holiday month and all that.

Hope this helps. Good Luck.

[londonfemale]

thanks walesky28