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I am new to this blog, so please bear with me if my question/ questions have already been asked.

I would like to know firstly how many times can you apply for an EEA Family Permit?

I have compiled two extensive files on my EEA partner and myself(non-EEA) and hoping i have everything which is required, how can i go about checking what i have in my file is adequate for the Residence Card application? Who is a good experienced solicitor i can contact to advise me further?

I also would like some help on a covering letter for application, general examples would be really helpful.

I am a non-EEA national and have had two Family Permits due to the fact that my partner and i travel between two countries living in one country (UK) 6 to 8 months and the other on average 3, i worry about having to submit my application and be without my passport for 6 months, hence the question at the beginning of my thread.

any help would be really appreciated,

Thanks

I would like to know firstly how many times can you apply for an EEA Family Permit?

... the Residence Card application

Are you in the UK or abroad? EEA Family Permit is applied outside the UK. EEA Residence card is applied within the UK. There is no limit on number of times you can apply.

Who is a good experienced solicitor i can contact to advise me further?

The application is quite straight forward. I suggest you read the application form and guidelines, read posts in the forum and ask here if you got any remaining questions.

As for the passport, if you are referring to Residence Card application within the UK, then the average time now is 3-4 months. You can also ask for your passport back at any time so effectively you will be without a passport for just a few weeks.

I am currently in the UK, have been awarded an EEA family permit twice and want to now apply for the residence card.

I have read all the requirements as per the UKBA website and have called on the few occasions when i have had a question.

I would like to have someone look over my application before i submit it to make sure i have not left out anything.... could you possibly be so kind as to suggest a solicitor.

I am South African engaged to a Belgian national who is currently exercising his treaty rights and we have been together for just under 5 years.

You do not need a cover letter for a residence card application. The instructions on the UKBA web page are very clear. If you are not married then your main concern would be how to show that you are in a durable relationship. But as you already had two EEA FPs you went through the EEA process already. So what is your concern?

The UKBA can not reject an application because the application form is not completed correctly (legally the application form is not needed).
Worse case, if something is missing they will ask for it but the application is very simple.
Some solicitor can charge up to £800. I don't think it is worth it.

Which documents do you plan to send with the application?

Thank you very much for getting back to me. the reason I wanted to contact a solicitor is just have someone who has done the application before glance over it to double check it.

I have two comprehensive files of documentation validating my relationship with my partner, illustrating our 5 years together, proof of him exercising his treaty rights, proof of address in UK and in SA. I have letters of reference from our solicitor in SA, family, friends and trustees. I have compiled an album of our years together.

so I am pretty sure I have covered all basis and requirements as set out on the website.

So as i understand from your comments, if something is missing they will request it? or will they reject the application which means i will then need to re-apply, by which time my Family Permit will have expired?

So as i understand from your comments, if something is missing they will request it? or will they reject the application which means i will then need to re-apply, by which time my Family Permit will have expired?

Don't worry. From the sounds of it, you have more than enough (even too much in my opinion) to prove your relationship and the fact that you were granted Family Permit twice is a good evidence for it.
Just apply. Provide the evidence listed in the form and you will be OK.

How is your partner exercising treaty rights in the UK? Is he working? If he is a student or self-sufficient, you will need to have private health insurance to cover both of you.

well that is good to hear.

My partner is self sufficient in addition to having started 2 businesses here. We both have health insurance, they are separate insurances though, which i don't think is a problem.

I just need some clarity on the following items:

What exactly do they need when they ask for:
consultant's letter/ Medical report - do I need to go for a medical and add this to my application? As I am going through the application check-list to see if I have everything, some of the items don't pertain to me but I am concerned about this one, as I will then need to go and make the necessary appointments.

I have currently been granted employment which started last month, my Family Permit expires on the 22nd of August, I will be submitting my application to the UKBA before that, but concerned about the risk the company or I might be at if my permit expires before I get a letter back from the agency granting that I may continue working.

I receive all my mobile statements via email so as not to impact upon the environment, I know they say they need originals but how sticky are they with this rule?

I have two full files of documents on myself and my partner, a little concerned I may have included too much information, is there any logical manner in which to organise all your documents to aide the professional who receives my documents. i have tried to put it as logically as possible.

I have read various posts that the application time is around 4 months now, is this true or should I not get my hopes up too soon?

Any advice will be appreciated.

Thank you very much.

nvr7626 wrote:I just need some clarity on the following items:

What exactly do they need when they ask for:
consultant's letter/ Medical report

They would only need a medical report if your EEA national family member is claiming that they are "temporarily incapacitated".

I have currently been granted employment which started last month, my Family Permit expires on the 22nd of August, I will be submitting my application to the UKBA before that, but concerned about the risk the company or I might be at if my permit expires before I get a letter back from the agency granting that I may continue working.

The company is not at risk at all provided your EEA partner continues to exercise treaty rights. However, they may have their own requirements for evidence to hold on file. If they are at all concerned about the period before you get a Certificate of Application confirming your ongoing right to work, they should call the UKBA helpline.

Thank you,

He is exercising his treaty rights, we are both on private medical health care. He is self sufficient, i have all his requirements as listed in the application.

if say and i am pretty sure i am ok, if my application is sent back... am i able to reapply or is this a once off application?

As a unmarried partner of 5 years i have included letters of reference from friends and family, is this a good thing to do?

or do i stick to exactly what they had asked for?

my partner and i are both drafting motivitational letters, do you think is adviseable?

How for how many months in a year do you have to be in the UK to be further eligible for the ILR?

Thanks to everyone who has helped so far.... :)

if say and i am pretty sure i am ok, if my application is sent back... am i able to reapply or is this a once off application?

You can reapply (it's always a free application).

As a unmarried partner of 5 years i have included letters of reference from friends and family, is this a good thing to do?

or do i stick to exactly what they had asked for?

From the sounds of it, you are going over the top here. If you can provide proof you lived together for more than 2 years (utility bill, council tax bills etc), that should be enough. No need to send the family album + letters from friends.

my partner and i are both drafting motivitational letters, do you think is adviseable?

What did you write in the letters? I would have the EEA partner write a short cover letter detailing the facts - how long have you been in a relationship akin marriage, how long have you been living together (dates and locations). Make it simple and short (1-2 paragraphs)

How for how many months in a year do you have to be in the UK to be further eligible for the ILR?

The term for EEA natioanl and family members is PR - Permanent Residence. Not ILR but the outcome is the same. You are allowed to be up to 6 months in a year outside the UK.

Thanks Jambo,

About my EEA cover letter it is a rather concise letter explaining all the facts.

When can you apply for PR? after the 5 years i pressume?

Hi

I am pretty sure I have everything I require for my application for a RC now, just have a few more questions:

1. My family permit expires on the 22nd of August, I will be posting my application this Monday the 15th of August, it will expire whilst at the UKBA. As long as my partner of 5years (EEA member) continues exercising his treaty rights, is it correct for me to assume that I am still legal within the UK as his partner and that I have not overstayed? Will this at all affect my application?

2. What would you suggest as the best way to get an application in? I have googled Royal Mail and wanting to use priority delivery. Any suggestions?

3. Would it be advisable to make a full copy of my application in case they lose it?

4. I have included my qualifications into my application as I had done so for my EEA FP, perhaps too much?

Your continued assistance is always appreciated.

Thanks so much!!!

Q1. My family permit expires on the 22nd of August, I will be posting my application this Monday the 15th of August, it will expire whilst at the UKBA. As long as my partner of 5years (EEA member) continues exercising his treaty rights, is it correct for me to assume that I am still legal within the UK as his partner and that I have not overstayed? Will this at all affect my application?

Q1, Answers: Correct. EEA FP and RC are not visas like British Immigration visas - you are not overstaying just because the expiry date has passed. It will not affect your application.

Q2. Answer: It is personal choice. Lots of people think it is safer to use Special Delivery as it is guaranteed to arrive within a certain time. I would definitely at least use Recorded Delivery First class.

Please be aware that the Special Delivery compensation offered might not pay for lost documents etc. The compensation only covers items of inherent value like a watch which costs £xx. If an item does not have a monetary value but would cost you lots of money to get replacement ones - like lost documents, Royal Mail call that consequential loss. To be covered for that you need to take out extra consequential loss insurance on top of the Special Delivery fee.

Q3 Answer. yes it is always recommended to keep copies.

4. Yes, too much info, but it won't do any harm either.

Hi Nonspecifics,

Thanks very much for all the advice....

wish me luck! :)