EEA Family Permit and Registration Certificate compulsory?

Hi,

I am Italian, I live and work in the UK since to 2011 and my husband is American (we just got married a couple of weeks ago). My husband currently lives in the US and has started applying for jobs to join me here in the UK.

He is also now in the process of applying for the EEA Family Permit but one of the questions asked in the application is my Registration Certificate number as an EEA National.
I don't have that so I have just looked at the online form to apply for a Registration Certificate and I am requested to send my original passport and credit card details by post to the Home Office.

I don't really feel comfortable doing this and we have found on a number of immigration blogs that it is not compulsory to provide Registration Certificate number on the EEA Family Permit Application anyway. We have also found that it is not even compulsory to apply for an EEA Family Permit after all.

Can someone more experienced please confirm this?

Does my husband then have to apply for an EEA Family Permit or can he just show up at the airport with the marriage certificate and get a stamp on his passport and acquire the right to work in the UK immediately for the next 6 months?

Or can he just apply for an EEA Family Permit leaving blank the Registration Certifcate field?

Thank you very much for your help!

Martina

A registration certificate is not compulsory.

Nor, technically, is an EEA family permit, as entry is possible under 11(4). However, don't enter as a visitor, as his rights to work may be comprimised.

To avoid delays at the airport and work complications, it may be better to apply for an EEA family permit from a competent ECO.

Thank you very much, Vinny.

Just to be on the safe side, I think we will then proceed with the application for the EEA Family Permit leaving blank the Registration Certificate field.

Thank you very much for your reply.

Martina&Jeff