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Hi all,

I am a non-EEA national (Iranian citizenship) and my husband is an EEA national. I was studying in London for 3 years under student visa (Tier 4) and recently I have applied for EEA2 application.

My husband is a full time employee and we are both living in London at the moment.

So here is my questions:

1. Am I allowed to work in London while my EEA2 application is being processed? (I have not received any certificate of approval from UKBA yet )

2. If so, how can I prove it to the company that I aim to work I am eligible to work in UK?

Cheers,
Adrina

Adrina wrote:Hi all,

I am a non-EEA national (Iranian citizenship) and my husband is an EEA national. I was studying in London for 3 years under student visa (Tier 4) and recently I have applied for EEA2 application.

My husband is a full time employee and we are both living in London at the moment.

So here is my questions:

1. Am I allowed to work in London while my EEA2 application is being processed? (I have not received any certificate of approval from UKBA yet )

2. If so, how can I prove it to the company that I aim to work I am eligible to work in UK?

Cheers,
Adrina

My husband is a full time employee

This is the important part and leads to the following answers.

1. Am I allowed to work: Yes, even without COA.
2. How can I prove it to the company. Expedite your COA.

1. Yes.
2. That's the tricky part. If married, the CoA (Certificate of Application) would state your eligibility to work. It normally takes a few weeks to receive. If you urgetly need it, call the HO and demand they send it immediately. Also, if your student visa is still valid, then the visa conditions are still valid.

Thank you both for your reply.

So I called Home Office today to make sure I am eligible to work in UK while I am waiting for EEA2 even if I have not received CoA yet and as you guys said the answer was YES while my husband is a full-time employee.

Regarding providing an evidence for my employer, I should ask my employer to use Employment Checking Service . As far as I am aware this service can confirm my eligibility to work while I am waiting for EEA2.

Calling the Employment Checking Service is also the procedure employers need to follow when you produce the CoA.

However, if a CoA has not been generated yet, you might not be in the HO system and the HO might advice that they can't confirm your eligibility (they have been cases reported of that). So better to expedite the CoA in parallel.

Which nunber we should call for demanding COA?

dorian1986 wrote:Which nunber we should call for demanding COA?

As far as I am aware there is no direct number for CoA, however you can call the below number and choose the appropriated option to talk to an operator about CoA.

0845 010 5200

Jambo wrote: So better to expedite the CoA in parallel.

I think we cannot expedite CoA since UKBA will release CoA when they feel your application satisfied them.

So I guess I simply cannot work since I have no evidence to proof my right to work!

Adrina wrote:I think we cannot expedite CoA since UKBA will release CoA when they feel your application satisfied them.

I'm not sure if I can follow that. The purpose of a CoA is simply to confirm application. Some pre-checks will be necessary though.

Adrina wrote:So I guess I simply cannot work since I have no evidence to proof my right to work!

You have but the problem is the employer willing to accept your status.

Adrina wrote: I think we cannot expedite CoA since UKBA will release CoA when they feel your application satisfied them.

You need to complain and make a fuss to get satisfaction.

EUsmileWEallsmile wrote: "You need to complain and make a fuss to get satisfaction.

where should I complain about it? Is there any specific address or email address for that?

Well you can send a letter to :

european team UKBA
PO BOX 306
LIVERPOOL
L2 0QN

Or you can send them an e-mail, ( LiverpoolEuro.PassportReturns@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk)

But they don't seem to reply back.

We just did this and @ the moment we are just waiting to hear a positive answer or perhaps to receive the COA a little sooner.

Good Luck