Best option: spouse visa

[zigzig]

I’m an EEA national who’s been living and working in UK for almost 2 years now, based on my treaty rights, and receive no public funds. I recently got married to a non-EEA citizen, whom I intend to bring over to the UK to live with me in the next couple of months. My salary does fulfil the criteria of >18k£/year.

I was wondering what the best route for visa application would be, to make the process hassle-free, fast and definite, also keeping in mind that we intend to stay in UK long-term because of my job. My wife would also like to have the option to work if she wants to in the future.

Should I just apply for the 5-year route settlement visa or EEA Family Permit + Residence Card? Any other option I might have overlooked?

Thanks in advance.

[Lucapooka]

You are not eligible to sponsor a partner under UK immigration rules. Which is to your benefit as the EU rules (EEA PERMIT/RESIDENCE CARD) have none of the salary and English language requirements.

[chaoclive]

EEA family permit and R card.

That will be fine.

[zigzig]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Don’t get me wrong, I like your replies, but I thought I had the status of a ‘settled’ person, having been in the UK this long.

Just to get the sequence of applications right: so my wife applies for EEA FP from her home country, and applies for residence card once she gets here?

Will she later be eligible to apply for ILR based on her stay in the UK?

[chaoclive]

EEA family permit from her home country --> EEA2 residence card in UK --> EEA 4 PR after being in the UK for 5 years as long as you have exercised 5 years of treaty rights (not called ILR under the EEA rules)