EEA4 fast processing times or wishful thinking

I'm glad to see progress is being made. Congrats to those who have received their PR.

My application was sent off the last week in September; I didn't receive the CoA until January. We put in a request to get my husband's passport back last week, and I am hoping that they decide to just send it all back with the decision. This waiting sucks!

Best of luck to all those still waiting.

After I lodged a complaint with the Complaints Department and Mr. Whiteman (with my local MP on cc) we just received our documents back with the residence card.

EEA4 sent 03 September 2012
EEA4 received by UKBA on 04 September 2012
Requested return of EU Spouse Passport 26 September 2012
EU Spouse Passport returned 02 October 2012
COA received 12 October 2012 (dated 09 October 2012)
Sent complaint on 25 March 2013
Received Response from EU application Teamlead that application has been processed and was provided with Tracking # on 27 of March 2013
Received PR and documents on 02 April 2013

My gf and I have been waiting for 6 months and 1 day.

I have just called the home office and they are saying to just 'wait' there is nothing they can do.

giruzz

spike_UK wrote:Thanks mate, you can read all my posts and I had a strange story,, well it wasnt strange but nobody was agree with me but I was right and I won
Here is all information:
I lived with my EEA spouse from January 2007 and got married on November 2008 got my RC on 2009 which ends 2014.
I applied for PR on February 2012( 5 yrs of relationship with my EEA meeting all the requirement as treaty rights and residance) regardless 5 yrs marriage or RC. I got refused on August 2012 with appeal, appeal was withdrew by homoffice and asking documents before marriage!! I got PR this week dated 05/03/2013
Now I'm not waiting for 1 year to go over PR, I will now apply for Naturalization based on 6 yrs durable relationship(January 2007-2013)
If you have the same story, don't hesitate and read UKBA website. Good luck mate.

I am going to apply in June based on living together 2 year and 3 years marriage. I am planning to write an cover letter each steps with the proofs but my only concern is I am planning to apply without passports since it is summer and we are planning to go summer holidays and also in september we have to attend 2 wedding outside of UK. What do you guys think is it possible to apply without passport?

dasjoker wrote:

spike_UK wrote:Thanks mate, you can read all my posts and I had a strange story,, well it wasnt strange but nobody was agree with me but I was right and I won
Here is all information:
I lived with my EEA spouse from January 2007 and got married on November 2008 got my RC on 2009 which ends 2014.
I applied for PR on February 2012( 5 yrs of relationship with my EEA meeting all the requirement as treaty rights and residance) regardless 5 yrs marriage or RC. I got refused on August 2012 with appeal, appeal was withdrew by homoffice and asking documents before marriage!! I got PR this week dated 05/03/2013
Now I'm not waiting for 1 year to go over PR, I will now apply for Naturalization based on 6 yrs durable relationship(January 2007-2013)
If you have the same story, don't hesitate and read UKBA website. Good luck mate.

I am going to apply in June based on living together 2 year and 3 years marriage. I am planning to write an cover letter each steps with the proofs but my only concern is I am planning to apply without passports since it is summer and we are planning to go summer holidays and also in september we have to attend 2 wedding outside of UK. What do you guys think is it possible to apply without passport?

A refuse, as your case is not very strong based on what you planning, you might go for your holidays then come back and apply.
I applied same as you(3.5 years marriage+1.5 year before marriage) still got refused but won at the end(13 months). Good luck mate

Some news - My PR confirmation arrived today after 5 months and 2 weeks. It was issued on an ISD as my passport was in my possession which shouldn't be a problem. However, I did notice two things:

• Firstly, the vignette design seems to have dramatically changed to a predominantly green style with the UK silver emblem on the top left (as you would find on visas issued under UK immigration law).
  
  Secondly, my case was dealt with by the CCD Liverpool team which I find unusual and a tad disconcerting. Should I be concerned?

Has anyone had their EEA4 application dealt with by the CCD with a UK immigration-style issued vignette?

Would appreciate comments - thanks.

Plum70 wrote:Some news - My PR confirmation arrived today after 5 months and 2 weeks. It was issued on an ISD as my passport was in my possession which shouldn't be a problem. However, I did notice two things:

• Firstly, the vignette design seems to have dramatically changed to a predominantly green style with the UK silver emblem on the top left (as you would find on visas issued under UK immigration law).
  
  Secondly, my case was dealt with by the CCD Liverpool team which I find unusual and a tad disconcerting. Should I be concerned?

Has anyone had their EEA4 application dealt with by the CCD with a UK immigration-style issued vignette?

Would appreciate comments - thanks.

Congrates mate, what is next?

spike_UK wrote: Congrates mate, what is next?

A couple of trips with Hubby!

Congratulations!

Hi all, i have finally received my PR.i was away for 26 days and yesterday when i reached my place, i found my PR was issued on the 25th March. my husband told me he received the SD on the 27 March, which made exactly 6 months of waiting. Good luck to all those who are waiting and thanks for all those who did support me while i was waiting.

[quote] Secondly, my case was dealt with by the CCD Liverpool team which I find unusual and a tad disconcerting. Should I be concerned?

Has anyone had their EEA4 application dealt with by the CCD with a UK immigration-style issued vignette?[/quote]

I'm assuming it was dealt with the CCD Liverpool team as all EEA4 applications are made down there. But I could be wrong. Still waiting for to hear about my application, been 5 months and counting. [/quote]

mrbaseball wrote:I'm assuming it was dealt with the CCD Liverpool team as all EEA4 applications are made down there. But I could be wrong. Still waiting for to hear about my application, been 5 months and counting.

Well my application started off with the European casework team, then moved to the Immigration casework team and finally the criminal casework team. A thought I had was maybe with the overall UKBA backlogs different teams are mucking in to help whatever way they can to hit performance targets.

I have no worries about them running necessary checks on me but was just surprised to see such a specialist team involved with European cases.

@plum70
I read your many interestng posts. So enormous congratulations.

sheraz7 wrote:@plum70
I read your many interestng posts. So enormous congratulations.

Thanks Sheraz. I am glad that the process is done.

Congrats to those who have received their PR.

I have sent EEA3 and EEA4 together on 15th March and have not received Certificate Of Application yet. How long normally I should wait for it?

Thanks

Hello all I got my PR yesterday in the morning. After more than six months of wait. My PR was issued on the 17th of march so it takes some considerably amount of time to be delivered looking at the time I got it in the post.

My Time Line

Sent application 14th of September 2012
17th of September 2012 HO recieved application
15th of October COA sent from HO
17th of march 2013 PR issued
04th April 2013 PR recived in the post

GOOD LUCK TO ALL WHO ARE STILL WAITING..........

A tip to those whose applications are five months into this process and still pending:

When my application reached the 5-month mark I wrote a reminder letter to the UKBA asking if perhaps they required anything additional from me to assist in finalising my application. I also quoted the relevant section in law that requires applications to be decided within 6 months.

I cannot know if this catalysed the conclusion of my case but my PR doc. was dispatched the same day my letter was received by the UKBA, by next day signed for delivery (at the UKBA's expense).

Might've been coincidence but still worth a try I think.

Plum70, Spike_UK and others, it is very warming having read through all stories spanning 59 pages of this forum last night to see how you have stayed on to help others even after having received your own PR.

Mine has been in process for exactly 6 months and 3 weeks now, and I have a feeling I am here for the long run.

Through all my phone calls and communications it more than obvious to me that Home Office / UKBA, is going through a very dark time at the moment. Slow processing times, agency strikes and some very negative press, it appears there could not have been a worse time to apply. Having said that it does appear they are still processing some applications, after reading the forum.

Here is my timeline of actions so far:

10/09/2012 RC EEA Family Permit Expired (Unmarried Partner, of 7 years)
14/09/2012 EEA4 Application Sent (Unmarried Partner, of 7 years)
15/10/2012 COA Received (Confirming application start date 14/09/2012)
01/03/2013 5 Months + 2 wks into process called HO (Told to call on exactly 6 mo)
14/03/2013 Exactly 6 Months into process called HO (Told to wait for update, no further information requested, none available)
14/03/2013 Requested passport back
14/03/2013 Sent formal letter of to UKBA L20QN, requesting alternative advice
20/03/2013 Passport received (returned to me)
26/03/2013 Sent email to Member of Parliament soliciting assistance with the case.
27/03/2013 Received email from office of MP that they had chased my case and would revert as soon as possible.
04/04/2013 Contacted office of Rob Whiteman, Chief Executive of UKBA to assist with the application.
05/04/2013 Sent formal complaint letters to the agency

Has anyone else been waiting this long? Any other ideas on what the hold up could be?

Many thanks
Shawshank

Yaw the only option u have left is harassing them, get access to a cheap phone and keep calling them at least more than 3 times a day. this is the only way to fight back bulling, there is not a fixed rule! u r facing the barbarians... so ur best bet is ur stick in ur hand or ur phone in ur hand.

been married with Eu national for more than 5 years lived together 7 years and lived in uk 11 years.
I applied 05 Feb 12
Called for progress first time after six and half months on mid Aug12
called them again around Sep12
MP, Solvit, Complaint, Eu petition, Request passport back, etc...but didn't work
Started to call them every single day few times then I got COA, cant remember when.
Got refused January 13
appealed and still waiting for the result back from court

“The common mistake that bullies make is assuming that because someone is nice that he or she is weak. Those traits have nothing to do with each other. In fact, it takes considerable strength and character to be a good person.”

Shawshank wrote:Mine has been in process for exactly 6 months and 3 weeks now, and I have a feeling I am here for the long run.

Shawshank, you have followed the appropriate channels and getting your MP involved might help expedite your case. Perhaps follow up with them after a week or so explaining that you still haven't received your PR confirmation. It might help if you cite the relevant section under the EU Directive to give more weight to any follow up correspondence the MP might send to the UKBA. Also give Rob Whiteman ample time to act on your complaint letter.

Dark times indeed...the UKBA directorate is probably understaffed, overrun with myriad applications, crippled by the weight of customer complaints and haemorrhaging from unachieved performance targets. Fun times for the media but not the families still caught in this train wreck.

Pls keep the forum informed as things progress.

Plum70 wrote:

spike_UK wrote: Congrates mate, what is next?

A couple of trips with Hubby!

Sounds like it have fun.

Shawshank wrote:Plum70, Spike_UK and others, it is very warming having read through all stories spanning 59 pages of this forum last night to see how you have stayed on to help others even after having received your own PR.

Mine has been in process for exactly 6 months and 3 weeks now, and I have a feeling I am here for the long run.

Through all my phone calls and communications it more than obvious to me that Home Office / UKBA, is going through a very dark time at the moment. Slow processing times, agency strikes and some very negative press, it appears there could not have been a worse time to apply. Having said that it does appear they are still processing some applications, after reading the forum.

Here is my timeline of actions so far:

10/09/2012 RC EEA Family Permit Expired (Unmarried Partner, of 7 years)
14/09/2012 EEA4 Application Sent (Unmarried Partner, of 7 years)
15/10/2012 COA Received (Confirming application start date 14/09/2012)
01/03/2013 5 Months + 2 wks into process called HO (Told to call on exactly 6 mo)
14/03/2013 Exactly 6 Months into process called HO (Told to wait for update, no further information requested, none available)
14/03/2013 Requested passport back
14/03/2013 Sent formal letter of to UKBA L20QN, requesting alternative advice
20/03/2013 Passport received (returned to me)
26/03/2013 Sent email to Member of Parliament soliciting assistance with the case.
27/03/2013 Received email from office of MP that they had chased my case and would revert as soon as possible.
04/04/2013 Contacted office of Rob Whiteman, Chief Executive of UKBA to assist with the application.
05/04/2013 Sent formal complaint letters to the agency

Has anyone else been waiting this long? Any other ideas on what the hold up could be?

Many thanks
Shawshank

Hi Shawshank, when you applied for your PR did you and your spouse meet the requirement?
If your spouse have exercised treaty right and you two meet the requirement for at least last 6 years then you even qualify for British, ignoring 2 years of cohabitation, that is how I got my PR.
But anyway now that you applied for PR soon hopefully you will receive it.
After I contact Rob Whiteman, it took less than 3 weeks and I received it.
Good luck.

Ow Plum that's so good news. I just checked the post office website and it showing that the envelop I sent to HO ) for posting my docs bak) it's being posted :-S.... So nerve racking. Wish me luck folks.

AranUk wrote:Ow Plum that's so good news. I just checked the post office website and it showing that the envelop I sent to HO ) for posting my docs bak) it's being posted :-S.... So nerve racking. Wish me luck folks.

Looking like a happy Monday to come.

Just giving an update as I've found it very useful.

I requested my passports back from the office in Liverpool, which states they will get them back to you in 10 workings day. Passports did not show up. Complaint being filed, requesting our passports, and contacting my local MP again.

Now over 5 months since I applied, fingers crossed that they show soon.

Non-EU Family Member of a Swedish National
Applied for EEA4 28 Oct.
Application received 29 Oct.
CoA received dated 6 Nov.
Passport request 19 Mar
MP contacted and enquires to made by his office 19 Mar
MP replied - HO stated they are still within their 6 months time frame to process visa.