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Hello All,

Sorry if my questions have been raised earlier, but could you please advise me on my case.
I'm a Non- EEA family member (wife) of EEA National (Bulgarian), I'm a holder of a Residence Stamp (5 years), which will expire in May 2017. So, in May 2017 I will have a right to apply for Permanent Residence. My travel passport will expire in 2020.

What happens when the travel passport expires?Do I need to apply for PR card again? I'm just wondering, is it better to get a new travel document, which will be valid for 7 years?

When can I apply for PR if my RC expires in May 2017?

How is Permanent Residence looking like in my case: stamp in the passport or a separate card?

Thank you for your consideration.

Many thanks!

These days the PR document for non-EEA citizens takes the form of for a plastic credit card-sized card, not an endorsement in you passport. This card will be valid independent of the validity of you passport/travel document.

loveforlove wrote:Hello All,

Sorry if my questions have been raised earlier, but could you please advise me on my case.
...

Thank you for your consideration.

Many thanks!

If spouse/sponsor has been exercising treaty rights continuously for 5 years as a qualified person and you have been married to them at least 5 years and you have been in UK at least 5 years then you should have acquired PR automatically;
assuming both your & sponsor's absences from UK were all within prescribed limits you can then apply for confirmation of PR.
Spouse could do so too.

Thank you LilyLalilu and noajthan for your help.

Could you please share your experience, when is the best time to apply for Permanent Residence if my Residence card is going to expire in May 2017?

loveforlove wrote:Thank you LilyLalilu and noajthan for your help.

Could you please share your experience, when is the best time to apply for Permanent Residence if my Residence card is going to expire in May 2017?

Suggest apply whenever this becomes the case:
spouse/sponsor has been exercising treaty rights continuously for 5 years as a qualified person and you have been married to them at least 5 years and you have been in UK at least 5 years.

Many many thanks, noajthan, for providing relevant information.

Sorry to be annoying, but I would like to clarify one more thing regarding the PR card. As LilyLalilu have mentioned earlier that "These days the PR document for non-EEA citizens takes the form of for a plastic credit card-sized card, not an endorsement in you passport. This card will be valid independent of the validity of you passport/travel document." Does it mean that PR Card does not have any expiry date?! And in future, I can get the new passport once it expires without applying for a new PR card? Because I've just checked the HO website and found the information where they say the following:"You can apply for a new residence card or permanent residence card if the passport containing your old residence card has expired - you can’t transfer it to a new passport.".

loveforlove wrote:Many many thanks, noajthan, for providing relevant information.

Sorry to be annoying, but I would like to clarify one more thing regarding the PR card. As LilyLalilu have mentioned earlier that "These days the PR document for non-EEA citizens takes the form of for a plastic credit card-sized card, not an endorsement in you passport. This card will be valid independent of the validity of you passport/travel document." Does it mean that PR Card does not have any expiry date?! And in future, I can get the new passport once it expires without applying for a new PR card? Because I've just checked the HO website and found the information where they say the following:"You can apply for a new residence card or permanent residence card if the passport containing your old residence card has expired - you can’t transfer it to a new passport.".

My understanding is PR cards do have an expiry - of 10 years.

That does not mean the PR expires (PR can only usually be lost by an absence from UK of 2+ years);
it simply means the physical card will need renewing after 10 years.
And there is an option on the EEA (PR) form for such renewals.

A PR card is valid for 10 years and has to be updated like a drivers license as people's appearance change.

Some people still have PR in the passports, this would not be relevant to you.

You can renew your passport freely and do not have to apply for a new PR card.