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EEA Family permit confusion

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 9:01 am
by ry0046
Dear all,

Currently I am researching the possibilities of bringing my soon-to-be wife to the UK.

I am an EEA citizen, and my wife is a non-EEA citizen, both currently residing in a EEA country. However, whilst investigating the EEA family permit, I have stumbled upon a confusing segment. At the documents you must provide part, it states: ''You must show that your EEA family member has a permanent right of residence or is one of the following if they’ve been in the UK for more than 3 months, working, self-sufficient, etc." Now I am confused, since we will apply from outside the EU and therefore I have neither documents. Does this mean that she will not be able to be with me when I go to the UK? This would be quite strange, since that would mean she cannot join her EEA family member.

I have read other cases on this website where the EEA family member had neither, and did get a family permit approved.

I do not know if it helps, but I will be self-sufficient, and therefore will be applying for my wife's residency card on the basis of me being self-sufficient.

Could someone please clarify this?

Much appreciated

Re: EEA Family permit confusion

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 9:14 am
by vinny
If you haven't been living in the UK for over three months, then it should be easier.

Re: EEA Family permit confusion

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 9:19 am
by ry0046
vinny wrote:If you haven't been living in the UK for over three months, then it should be easier.
Thank you very much for the quick response. However, then page confuses me: https://www.gov.uk/family-permit/docume ... st-provide since I am neither a permanent resident nor have I been living in the UK for 3 months. Do you perhaps know what the HO means by this? I have checked the application form, and it nowhere asks whether I am a permanent resident or not, so that's why we're confused.

EDIT: I think I misread the sentence. If I understood correctly it is: when I have been in the UK for more than 3 months, I should be either a permanent resident or show that I work or am self-sufficient. If I'm not, this does not apply to me.

However, now my following question - when I arrive in the UK I will naturally apply for a RC for my wife. Now I am wondering what the criteria are for being self-sufficient. I know there aren't any amounts available that I should be getting each month, but I was wondering whether you know an estimate? I am currently a student in another EEA country, going for training in the UK, for which I get a study grant of about 700 gbp a month. Furthermore, I have about 4000 gbp in savings, and so does my wife. Do you know if this would generally suffice?

Thank you very much