EEA4 permenant residence... and immigration officer

andrej wrote:I've heard stories of naturilised citizens whose place of birth on UK passport indicates outside of UK being asked questions like: "How did you get this passport?"...

I've seen with my eyes, and heard with my ears, this one:
EU airport (not the UK!), passport check to leave the country, the couple in front of me, 40 something, in the queue just before me, hand their documents to the border guard, who stands to a side of the queue, no computer checks. The guy is white, the lady is of African ancestry. The guard asks the lady her residence card, the lady clearly point the ID card of an EU country she has already given him, adding she is obviously a citizen of that EU country. The guard calls a colleague and he explains him the case. Take in account they are to the side of the stopped queue, and there are possibly 10 people able to clearly follow their conversation, the couple and me included. The main point of their conversation is their complete agreement that the lady is not etnically a "real" European, so, ID notwithstanding, she must provide the residence card. They turn, and ask the lady just that, in those terms. My jaw is sincerely on the ground, the husband is fuming, the lady is actually laughing at the crass ignorance and the idiotic beloved of the guards, who are probably not even realising the issue they are raising using sentences like "as you are not an original one they should have issued you a residence card, not an ID card". The husband get confrontational, the guards call a third colleague, they explain him the issue, they take the couple out of the queue, I am waived through with my ID card still on my hand, they don't even bother to ask me to open that. Later on, I see the couple on the plane, they must have been able to convince in some ways the guards that the ID card was enough to let her out of the country, even if the hue of the skin was not the expected one. The husband was still fuming, the lady was less distraught, I'm afraid she may have been just more accustomed to such episodes.
I must add that this didn't really happen decades ago, unfortunately ...

aledeniz wrote:

andrej wrote:I've heard stories of naturilised citizens whose place of birth on UK passport indicates outside of UK being asked questions like: "How did you get this passport?"...

I've seen with my eyes, and heard with my ears, this one:
EU airport (not the UK!), passport check to leave the country, the couple in front of me, 40 something, in the queue just before me, hand their documents to the border guard, who stands to a side of the queue, no computer checks. The guy is white, the lady is of African ancestry. The guard asks the lady her residence card, the lady clearly point the ID card of an EU country she has already given him, adding she is obviously a citizen of that EU country. The guard calls a colleague and he explains him the case. Take in account they are to the side of the stopped queue, and there are possibly 10 people able to clearly follow their conversation, the couple and me included. The main point of their conversation is their complete agreement that the lady is not etnically a "real" European, so, ID notwithstanding, she must provide the residence card. They turn, and ask the lady just that, in those terms. My jaw is sincerely on the ground, the husband is fuming, the lady is actually laughing at the crass ignorance and the idiotic beloved of the guards, who are probably not even realising the issue they are raising using sentences like "as you are not an original one they should have issued you a residence card, not an ID card". The husband get confrontational, the guards call a third colleague, they explain him the issue, they take the couple out of the queue, I am waived through with my ID card still on my hand, they don't even bother to ask me to open that. Later on, I see the couple on the plane, they must have been able to convince in some ways the guards that the ID card was enough to let her out of the country, even if the hue of the skin was not the expected one. The husband was still fuming, the lady was less distraught, I'm afraid she may have been just more accustomed to such episodes.
I must add that this didn't really happen decades ago, unfortunately ...

What EU country was this? This is something that would have made me kick off just as an observer. It boils my blood. Some EEA member states don't give a damn about the lack of implementation of EEA immigration rules and laws...

Hubba wrote:One thing that I've noticed that makes my life much easier is how you approach the IO. Always, and I mean always, before even handling them your passport, have it opened on your Residence Card and say it out loud what you're presenting to them ("Here's my passport. I've taken the liberty of leaving it opened on my Residence Card already"). Some IOs start the questions even before checking your passport.

Very wise!

Directive/2004/38/EC wrote:

Hubba wrote:One thing that I've noticed that makes my life much easier is how you approach the IO. Always, and I mean always, before even handling them your passport, have it opened on your Residence Card and say it out loud what you're presenting to them ("Here's my passport. I've taken the liberty of leaving it opened on my Residence Card already"). Some IOs start the questions even before checking your passport.

Very wise!

Not my wisdom, but from an IO! He once told me that when I've presented a landing card (well, on my trip immediately after the one through Calais I've already mentioned).

Hi all,
I received my Residence card 2 weeks ago. My wife is french national. We had a plan to visit turkey in January as my sister's family is coming over there but slightly change of plan due to family issues my wife would have to travel back to France next week as she is going by road with father in law. But I am still travelling to Turkey and my wife will join me over there in last few days.

I just want to ask that will it be fine that I am travelling without my wife to Turkey ? Because this would be my first trip since i got my RC. But we will come back together to UK. Will Immigration would ask that why my wife didn't go with me etc. ??

Note: I am going to Turkey with Turkish visit Visa.
Thank you in advance.

rockford85 wrote:I received my Residence card 2 weeks ago. My wife is french national. We had a plan to visit turkey in January as my sister's family is coming over there but slightly change of plan due to family issues my wife would have to travel back to France next week as she is going by road with father in law. But I am still travelling to Turkey and my wife will join me over there in last few days.

I just want to ask that will it be fine that I am travelling without my wife to Turkey ? Because this would be my first trip since i got my RC. But we will come back together to UK. Will Immigration would ask that why my wife didn't go with me etc. ??

Note: I am going to Turkey with Turkish visit Visa..

Ok, so this is a super easy question.

As long as your wife is temporarily leaving the UK for no more than 6 months per year, then you can come and go to the UK. She might be here or might not be here. She does not have to be in the UK when you arrive from a trip to Turkey, or if you go to your home country.

After she has been in the UK for 5 years, she will most likely have Permanent Residence. At that point she can be gone from the UK for up to 2 years.

Clear?

It is worth carrying a photocopy of your wife's passport or national ID card, and a photocopy of your marriage certificate when you travel on your own. Though I would recommend you keep it packed away and not generally show it.

Have fun travelling!

If asked, you need to repeat to everyone you meet:

I am married to a French citizen who is working in the UK
I am married to a French citizen who is working in the UK
I am married to a French citizen who is working in the UK
I am married to a French citizen who is working in the UK

Directive/2004/38/EC wrote:

rockford85 wrote:I received my Residence card 2 weeks ago. My wife is french national. We had a plan to visit turkey in January as my sister's family is coming over there but slightly change of plan due to family issues my wife would have to travel back to France next week as she is going by road with father in law. But I am still travelling to Turkey and my wife will join me over there in last few days.

I just want to ask that will it be fine that I am travelling without my wife to Turkey ? Because this would be my first trip since i got my RC. But we will come back together to UK. Will Immigration would ask that why my wife didn't go with me etc. ??

Note: I am going to Turkey with Turkish visit Visa..

Ok, so this is a super easy question.

As long as your wife is temporarily leaving the UK for no more than 6 months per year, then you can come and go to the UK. She might be here or might not be here. She does not have to be in the UK when you arrive from a trip to Turkey, or if you go to your home country.

After she has been in the UK for 5 years, she will most likely have Permanent Residence. At that point she can be gone from the UK for up to 2 years.

Clear?

It is worth carrying a photocopy of your wife's passport or national ID card, and a photocopy of your marriage certificate when you travel on your own. Though I would recommend you keep it packed away and not generally show it.

Have fun travelling!

If asked, you need to repeat to everyone you meet:

I am married to a French citizen who is working in the UK
I am married to a French citizen who is working in the UK
I am married to a French citizen who is working in the UK
I am married to a French citizen who is working in the UK

Thanks for your answer but do they really have a record if in case someone's EU spouse is out of UK for more than 6 month ?

rockford85 wrote:Thanks for your answer but do they really have a record if in case someone's EU spouse is out of UK for more than 6 month ?

If UKBA really really wants to figure it out, you should assume they could. They keep entry records for everyone, and have all the airline/ship manifests. They could go through both and add things up.

In reality, it rare that one of the couple of gone for more than 6 months, and so it is rarely an issue.

Directive/2004/38/EC wrote:

rockford85 wrote:Thanks for your answer but do they really have a record if in case someone's EU spouse is out of UK for more than 6 month ?

If UKBA really really wants to figure it out, you should assume they could. They keep entry records for everyone, and have all the airline/ship manifests. They could go through both and add things up.

In reality, it rare that one of the couple of gone for more than 6 months, and so it is rarely an issue.

You are right that they have an access of flights records etc if they search in deep but they don't really have entry exit record of EU national. Because when my wife travel they just look her ID card or passport and let her exit or enter.

hi . please advice me what to do? i am a eea national and my wife is non eea national. i m living here last 10 year and she 8 years. we have 3 children they were born here.( we are living here on resident permits.we applied twice). now i wanted to apply for a permanent residence for us. or can we apply for British nationality ? what about the children do they have British nationality or should i also apply for them?. last five years i m working as self employed and before that i was working in a private company. i m also claiming working and child text credits and housing benefit (wife and my self). can this effect my application? if so what i should do..please please advise. i will be vary thankful for you replies. and do you recommend to apply through a solicitor? many thanks.[/b]

Hi
I like to share recent incident with you guys and ask for your opinion,
Few days ago flying back home(london) after short holiday and encounter very rude and arrogant immigration officer , I was asked how did I get my permanent resident card which I answered then i was asked loads of silly question about my private life in very inappropriate manner, funny enough the guy could not even talk clear english, I told the guy that his questions are rude and I am permanent resident of Uk and tax payer and not subject to immigration according to law reacted to my condition. in my opinion he's intention was clearly bulling and he was abusing his power, I have been flying frequently for last 7 years and never ad such experience, I like to know if you hold pr throw the sucseesfull eea4 application and working and living in uk are still subject to immigration control?
Thank you for your advice

Always ask them to bring their supervisor to the counter if you have any problem. And write down names. Feel very free to complain!

Hi any march applicant here? I have applied in march for eea4 and not even received certificate of approval! Any idea what should I do? Thanks

mcclane wrote:Hi any march applicant here? I have applied in march for eea4 and not even received certificate of approval! Any idea what should I do? Thanks

You can call and request that the COA be sent to you. I applied in September and didn't receive the COA until the beginning of January.