How to apply for a UK resident card?

[Juanma]

Hi,
My wife (Australian Citizen) and me (Spanish Citizen) came to London, UK a month ago. Our plan is to stay here for years so before we came here she got her EEA Family Permit which allows her to work and stay for 6 months. She is already having job interviews and we are waiting to receive her National Insurance Number, everything is working out so far.

Now we have to apply for her UK resident card which will give her 5 years with the same benefits than the EEA Family Permit. My question is this one, how do you apply for the UK resident card? I read on the UK immigration website that you just send the documents with the 55 pounds fee and post them. Is that the only way? Do you know if you can go to any office in person and do it? We are scared to send our original passports and marriage certificates on the mail. Does anyone have done that process in the past or has more info?

Also I read on the website that you don’t need a residence card to live in the UK, but it can help you to reenter the country and to find a job. Is that true? I through that she needed to get her UK resident card before her EEA Family Permit expires. What do you do if you don't apply for the UK resident card? What other options do you have? Just stay in the country with no visa or permit?

I would appreciate any answer, hope that my message wasn't too long. This issue is very important for us so I wanted to make sure I post all my questions so I don't need to have 3 or 4 different posts.

Regards,

[sheraz7]

Applying EEA2 Rc is optional as long as the EEA national is exercising its treaty rights but having it can make the life more easier. Moreover, EEA2 application form itself is a guide too and after sending the application the original documents such as passport can be requested back which don't affect the application. For dispatching the application and requesting back the original documents a prepaid recorded & secured delivery envelope can be forwarded to them as well.