Immigrationboards.com

Hello!

I'm a US citizen who is a permanent resident in Sweden. My swedish fiancé and I are moving to London. We've been together for 10 years and have both lived and worked in the US, Netherlands and Sweden.

Last month he moved to London and started his new job. I'm moving there in a couple of weeks where I will also start my new job. I already have a EEA FP and will apply for my NI number once I'm in the UK.

I understand that to be able to freely travel in and out of the UK I'll need obtain a residence card through the EEA2 application form.

Browsing around this forum, I'm wondering how long the processing time would be for a simple case like mine? My application for a EEA FP was approved in 2 days (rare I know), and I'm hoping a residence card wouldn't take several months to get..?

We have our civil wedding in New York city hall in June, and our wedding reception in Sweden in August. I'd just like to be able to plan how to go about the EEA2 to ensure that I'm able to travel during those months.

Any advice, tips much appreciated. Thanks!

EEA2's take ages, 18 months is not unusual but search here and ye shall find others experiences...

The EEA family permit allows you multiple entry to the UK while it's valid so you can travel during that time, though you have to submit your passport with your EEA2 application so bear that in mind (though you can request it back once your application has been acknowledged).

My EEA2 (unmarried partner) took 5 weeks (applied in November 2009) but from what I've read this is very rare!

WellingtonKiwi wrote:The EEA family permit allows you multiple entry to the UK while it's valid so you can travel during that time, though you have to submit your passport with your EEA2 application so bear that in mind (though you can request it back once your application has been acknowledged).

My EEA2 (unmarried partner) took 5 weeks (applied in November 2009) but from what I've read this is very rare!

Thanks for the info! I wasn't aware that the EEA FP grants multiple entry during its validity. Since my EEA FP is valid till mid-Oct 2010, it shouldn't then be a problem to travel to US and Sweden in Jun and Aug. Yes?

So another question..

When I come back to the UK from my wedding reception in Sweden in Aug, I plan to renew my US passport which will take about a month. Which means I'm unable to apply for a EEA2 until I receive my new passport sometime in Oct or so. Is it going to be a problem if I apply for a EEA2 after my EEA FP expires?

itscandice wrote: Is it going to be a problem if I apply for a EEA2 after my EEA FP expires?

No problem!