Immigrationboards.com

Hi All

Firstly thanks for this amazing forum. I am married to an EEA National and we have been in the UK for 2 months. I am on a Family Permit which expires Apr 16. We are applying for my Residence Card (EEA FM) and my wife's Residence Certificate at the same time. As we both arrived here without jobs and are now job seekers (both well qualified), she is applying as a qualifying person with jobseeker status. I would really like some clarity on the following :
- Should we wait until we have been here 3 months to apply, so my wife can confirm that she exercises treaty rights.
- Should she register with Job Centre as a jobseeker or is registration with recruitment agencies ok
- Should she claim benefits as job seeker, or will that harm our chances
- If we apply now, I understand that we may ask our passports back during the process. We are however meeting friends in June in France. This will be in the period between when my EEA FP has expired and I still have not received EEA FM Residence Card. So will there be an issue at border control coming back into the UK?

I truly appreciate any feedback

Gerry22 wrote:Hi All

Firstly thanks for this amazing forum. I am married to an EEA National and we have been in the UK for 2 months. I am on a Family Permit which expires Apr 16. We are applying for my Residence Card (EEA FM) and my wife's Residence Certificate at the same time. As we both arrived here without jobs and are now job seekers (both well qualified), she is applying as a qualifying person with jobseeker status. I would really like some clarity on the following :
- Should we wait until we have been here 3 months to apply, so my wife can confirm that she exercises treaty rights.
- Should she register with Job Centre as a jobseeker or is registration with recruitment agencies ok
- Should she claim benefits as job seeker, or will that harm our chances
- If we apply now, I understand that we may ask our passports back during the process. We are however meeting friends in June in France. This will be in the period between when my EEA FP has expired and I still have not received EEA FM Residence Card. So will there be an issue at border control coming back into the UK?

I truly appreciate any feedback

You can apply as soon as sponsor is a qualified person in UK (eg a worker, jobseeker, self-employed) & you have adequate documentary supporting evidence for the application.

YES! make sure spouse/sponsor registers as a jobseeker.
Be careful to keep all documentary evidence of status.

If spouse is only jobseeking by internet & email try to get a papertrail of some sort (letters).

Note there are now time limits on EEA nationals who are jobseekers.

There's a 6 month limit & a 'gpow' test to be aware of.
More here: https://www.kcsc.org.uk/sites/kcsc.org. ... 0Sheet.pdf

You can apply for your passports to be returned after submitting the application.
Not sure how you might travel without a passport.

Anyhow, for reentry to UK, see the BF Operations manual, section 5.5+
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ ... ndents.pdf

PS Did I mention register sponsor/spouse as a jobseeker asap!