Returning to the UK after a sabbatical

[ft707]

Hi everybody! Can somebody help with the following questions? Many thanks:

I am a visa national married to an Italian girl. I ve been working on a 4yr work permit for the last 3 years, but left my job and have been travelling with my wife abroad for four months.

Now we are returning to the UK to interview for new jobs, but I don´t know what to expect at Immigration. My WP normally expires in 8 months time but since I left my job I guess it´s now worthless(?)

1) What will be my immigration status? Will I be allowed entry to switch status to "something else"?

2) What possible status can I switch to while looking for a new job? My wife has been away with me so she doesn´t have an address or a job in the UK.

FatTim07

[John]

FT707, why not apply for an EEA Family Permit? Your wife is Italian and therefore also an EEA Citizen. Accordingly she has community rights to live and work in the UK, or indeed anywhere else in the EEA.

As her family member you also have those same rights. However you need an EEA Family Permit in your passport to prove that.

The application fee for an EEA Family Permit? Free! Thanks to community law.

Where are you now? Italy? Wherever, apply for an EEA Family Permit, at the nearest British Embassy/Consulate.

[ft707]

Thanks for your reply John!

Currently we are in Australia. I understood that to apply for an EEA Family permit, I need to be resident in Italy (is that right?). I am on a tourist visa here in Australia so didn´t think I can apply for the EEA FP here. I will contact the British consulate here to check that.

Many thanks again!

FatTim07