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EEA4 vs ILR
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 2:28 pm
by fenix22
HI I cam to the UK and obtained a 5 year residency permit on the European track. My unmarried partner is an EEA national, and I am not. As the 5 year period is ending in a year, I would like to understand what my options are for permanent residency or track towards citizenship in the UK. I am confused about the difference between ILR and EEA4 applications. Finally, in the EEA4 application, if both me and my partner have been employed by an employer ( so not self employed etc) for the whole duration of 5 years, do we still need " comprehensive insurance to cover us? Thanks so much for your help!
One final question, once ILR or EEA4 are approved (if they are), do we need to reprove our relationship if I apply for citizenship? Good to know in advance so we keep our records up to date. Thanks!
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 5:41 pm
by Jambo
ILR can only be obtained via UK immigration rules. Under EEA regulations the term is Permanent Residence. It's similar to ILR but there are some subtle differences. ILR or PR is required for naturalisation.
EEA4 is just the name of the form for PR.
Once PR is obtained, you status in the UK is independent from the EEA national. If you wait for 12 months after the PR is confirmed by the HO, you don't need to provide any evidence related to the EEA national when applying for naturalisation.
I suggest you read
Citizenship FAQs - Common Questions - Read before posting. Where it states ILR, PR can be used instead.
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 5:47 pm
by Jambo
For differences between ILR and PR, see vinny's post -
PR vs ILR.
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 5:56 pm
by Jambo
If the EEA national is working (what you do is irrelevant), CSI is not required.
EEA4 vs. ILR
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 6:02 pm
by fenix22
HI thank you for the reply. so if I am on European track already it would be the EEA4 so PR that I would be going for according to your referenced conversation. However this doesn't answer my question about comprehensive insurance - is it required for EEA4 application? It is unclear in the application itself if it's only required if you had been unemployed/student/self employed only or for everyone. It states you need it for 5 years! in the UK I am covered by NHS so I do not need another coverage - getting a private one would be really expensive, and I can't attribute it to past years if I sign up now. Can you please clarify? Thanks
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 6:05 pm
by Jambo
Check my last post. I guess you missed it as we were posting at the same time.
Thank you!
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 6:09 pm
by fenix22
yes I think we posted at same time

what a relief!
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 3:40 pm
by wjbrown
Hi,
I'm an Irish citizen, born and lived in the UK since the 1980s but have since renounced my UK citizenship and am applying for an EEA Family Permit then EEA2 for my US wife.
Does anybody happen to know what the requirement for CSI at the stage of applying for an EEA4 would be if the EEA national was a student for part of the 5 years covered by the EEA2 residency permit, and employed for the rest.
I am currently a student, it looks as though I have to have CSI when I apply for the EEA2, and we both must have CSI for the duration of the EEA2 while I am a student. I want to know if when I start working after I get my PhD, I can drop the costly CSI and my wife can still get an EEA4 later on.
As an Irish citizen settled here, I am eligible for NHS care normally. My local NHS trust seems to think that my wife would be eligible for NHS care through me once here anyway but the UKBA disagree.
Thanks!
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 5:14 pm
by Jambo
wjbrown wrote:Hi,
I'm an Irish citizen, born and lived in the UK since the 1980s but have since renounced my UK citizenship and am applying for an EEA Family Permit then EEA2 for my US wife.
Does anybody happen to know what the requirement for CSI at the stage of applying for an EEA4 would be if the EEA national was a student for part of the 5 years covered by the EEA2 residency permit, and employed for the rest.
I am currently a student, it looks as though I have to have CSI when I apply for the EEA2, and we both must have CSI for the duration of the EEA2 while I am a student. I want to know if when I start working after I get my PhD, I can drop the costly CSI and my wife can still get an EEA4 later on.
As an Irish citizen settled here, I am eligible for NHS care normally. My local NHS trust seems to think that my wife would be eligible for NHS care through me once here anyway but the UKBA disagree.
Thanks!
If the EEA national is a student, only the EEA national needs CSI. Not the family member. CSI is only required for periods you don't work. CSI has nothing to do with our NHS eligibility (which every ordinary resident has) but with meeting the HO requirements to obtain PR (ridiculous I agree).
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 9:34 pm
by wjbrown
[quote="Jambo"][quote="wjbrown"]Hi,
I'm an Irish citizen, born and lived in the UK since the 1980s but have since renounced my UK citizenship and am applying for an EEA Family Permit then EEA2 for my US wife.
Does anybody happen to know what the requirement for CSI at the stage of applying for an EEA4 would be if the EEA national was a student for part of the 5 years covered by the EEA2 residency permit, and employed for the rest.
I am currently a student, it looks as though I have to have CSI when I apply for the EEA2, and we both must have CSI for the duration of the EEA2 while I am a student. I want to know if when I start working after I get my PhD, I can drop the costly CSI and my wife can still get an EEA4 later on.
As an Irish citizen settled here, I am eligible for NHS care normally. My local NHS trust seems to think that my wife would be eligible for NHS care through me once here anyway but the UKBA disagree.
Thanks![/quote]
If the EEA national is a student, only the EEA national needs CSI. Not the family member. CSI is only required for periods you don't work. CSI has nothing to do with our NHS eligibility (which every ordinary resident has) but with meeting the HO requirements to obtain PR (ridiculous I agree).[/quote]
Thanks for the swift reply.
So if I am a student when the EEA2 period begins, only I require CSI and once I am employed I can drop it and then do not require it for the remainder of the 5yrs or the EEA4 application if I am working?
One thought which springs to mind is that since we will both be eligible for NHS care, can I get as cheap a CSI policy as possible, (e.g. with a large excess and just enough cover to satisfy) just to placate the HO and then continue to use free care so as not to incur excess or treatment costs?
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 9:39 pm
by Jambo
Yes and yes.