Ok, finally I received a reply from the UK embassy in Sofia with regard to the certificate. They cannot issue a certificate, but can write a letter with the following text: It is not within the province of the British Embassy to pronounce on the validity of any marriage contracted either in the UK o...
Thanks a lot Obie, the UK embassy here in Sofia have contacted their partners in the UK to see how it can be done. Just awaiting for their reply on it.
Solvit won't help with regard to the requirement of the Bulgarian Immigration Department to give them a certificate from the UK embassy. I have no legal basis with which to challenge the Bulgarian advice, the EC Treaty on which EC legislation on free movement is based does not cover issues relating ...
Haha! There is a huge amount of truth in what you say, and I often refer to what you told me a long time ago - it is ok that you know the law, but nobody else does - I have told many people about your comment! but the advice that I have received here has been tremendously good and accurate. Yes I ha...
What a fantastic post Benifa! Thank you so much! It is a huge relief that I wasn't living here illegally as I had previously thought. I still have my rental agreement from the time I spent here. I had come here to start a business with a friend, but it never went anywhere. I realise now that the acc...
The original reason for the residence card to be denied was that we have not lived together in the UK. When I met with a supervisor and told her it was rubbish, and referred to the Metock ruling she replied "oh! You know about that do you?" This implies to me that she knows we have a right to reside...
I am so sorry Benifa, as I didn't make myself very clear. Although I was living here I was unaware of the need to get the residence card :( so I was actually living here illegally. At the time I wasn't working, just living off of my savings. I was in The Philippines for 11 months. Sorry for the conf...
The plan had always been to apply for the family permit sooner than the six months. I just feel as though we have a great excuse to get it sorted out sooner. Ann will be 5 months pregnant on 27 October, I believe she won't be allowed to fly if she is 6 months pregnant without a letter from the docto...
Yes Benifa, but I only began my job on Wednesday of last week. I am working for a large German company calling contacts to verify the details are correct. The shame of it is that it is a fantastic job with huge potential and I would be more than happy to stay! Thanks a lot for the input, I really do...
I did read that six months is a guideline and there should be a good reason if we apply under that time. We are being discriminated against and therefore I am not going to stay here any longer.
If they deny us entry I will apply again, and again and again!
I have now asked for help from 4 directions: UK Embassy in Sofia Secretary of the Foreign Policy advisor to the Prime Minister of Bulgaria EU Member of Parliament for Sofia (who replied and really wants to help!) A complaint at the EU commission I have, however, found this link: http://www.parliamen...
Thank you both very much for you help. I telephoned the Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister and spoke to his secretary. She was really nice, I told her everything that happened. She understood very well the law and was shocked with regard to what was happening. Someone, (maybe the Policy Ad...
OK here we go again! After they acknowledged that they would give a residence card they told us they needed the marriage docs translated. We duly complied with this. We submitted the application on monday. When we went to get the temporary card they said she could not have it because she only had a ...
Success!!! We had a meeting with two women at the immigration police station today in Sofia. I explained the situation and one of the women was somewhat surprised when I quoted the ECJ ruling of the Metock case! She took our documents away and came back a few minutes later to tell us that Ann will [...
Thank you ever so much once again for all of the incredibly informative advice. I returned to the police station today to discuss the matter with someone, unfortunately the supervisor is only available one hour a week which is on Thursday! 11-12! Amazing. Afterwards I went to the office of the Europ...
You know, I have been coming to Bulgaria for many years, and although I am pleased that they were allowed in (for the sake of friends here) I never understood why! The courruption and beauracracy here borders on the insane! A long time ago in this thread you wrote me that this route won't be easy, a...
I will go back next week with an English friend who speaks Bulgarian perfectly and inform them they have been acting illegally with regard to the registration. If they refuse to listen I will report them to Solvit. Hopefully if I prove this situation is illegal I will get more help with the rest of ...
Yes, one thing I do know is that I have 3 months in which to do this but I want to get started with it right away since there are going to be many problems!
Oh fantastic thankyou Obie! That makes it much easier! I didn't realise it, but Ann had to register at the police within 48 hours of arriving here, so that caused us a lot of problems for these last couple of days. We managed to get her registered in the end though and avoid the fine! Silly question...
Ok a quick update then, didn't have a very successful day today! I am unable to register because I need a contract of employment and it seems that my friend will have a lot of trouble to employ me because there is a law here in Bulgaria that says that a company needs to prove that a Bulgarian cannot...
Sorry I cannot help you much, just to say that I have a UK friend living in Bulgaria. He and his Bulgarian partner (not married) had a baby boy in Bulgaria 2 months ago. The child couldn't take the fathers surname due to Bulgarian law, so they changed his name afterwards. They have both Bulgarian an...
Just a quick update, we collected the visa for Bulgaria this afternoon. Absolutely no problems with it at all. It is a 90 day multiple entry class 'c'. Issued in just 2 days. I guess that will be all from me for the time being! I will be posting again when I have done a few months of hard-graft :win...
It was a rather surly chap at the German passport control (but aren't they all?!) but he just looked at our passports and let us through without any questions. He stamped the passport, but there is only the outline of the stamp! Very disappointed! The Greek journey was really easy, no problem at all...
