EEA FAMILY PERMIT FOR FAMILY MEMBER WITHDRAWN?

[Masterixas]

Hi everyone,

I'm a Portuguese national living in the UK married to a Russian national who also lives with me in the UK. Her mother (my mother-in-law) who is also a Russian national, came to see us in the UK already in 2 different occasions (2005 and 2006) by applying for a free EEA family permit visa since I'm an EEA national and my wife has a valid EEA family permit visa until 2011. The embassy and more recently the visa center in Saint Petersburg always ask for documentation (which is normal) and she always got that visa (valid for 6 months) with no problems.

Yesterday she called the visa center in Saint Petersburg once again to make an appoitment to apply for a new EEA family permit visa (her third) since she wishes to come again to see us in the UK, and they told her that they do not issue them anymore but only Guest visas or Tourist which are not free of charge and in which more documentation is needed.

I just have a feeling that this visa center is kinda lying and they might have being involved in something, since I have heard of stories of corruption going on in Ukraine wiht the same issue, but I have only heard cannot confirm it is true.

So what you guys have to say about it? Perhaps someone here can tell me if in fact this EEA family permit visas have been withdrawn and stopped to be issued or is this visa center in St Petersburg playing around with peoples' life?

Thanks for the input and answers.

[mym]

Yesterday she called the visa center in Saint Petersburg once again to make an appoitment to apply for a new EEA family permit visa (her third) since she wishes to come again to see us in the UK, and they told her that they do not issue them anymore but only Guest visas or Tourist which are not free of charge and in which more documentation is needed.

I just have a feeling that this visa center is kinda lying

They are.

Immigration Rules 2006:

Issue of EEA family permit

12.—(1) An entry clearance officer must issue an EEA family permit to a person who applies for one if the person is a family member of an EEA national and—

(a) the EEA national—

(i) is residing in the UK in accordance with these Regulations; or

(ii) will be travelling to the United Kingdom within six months of the date of the application and will be an EEA national residing in the United Kingdom in accordance with these Regulations on arrival in the United Kingdom; and

(b) the family member will be accompanying the EEA national to the United Kingdom or joining him there and—

(i) is lawfully resident in an EEA State; or

(ii) would meet the requirements in the immigration rules (other than those relating to entry clearance) for leave to enter the United Kingdom as the family member of the EEA national or, in the case of direct descendants or dependent direct relatives in the ascending line of his spouse or his civil partner, as the family member of his spouse
or his civil partner, were the EEA national or the spouse or civil partner a person present and settled in the United Kingdom.

(2) An entry clearance officer may issue an EEA family permit to an extended family member of an EEA national who applies for one if—

(a) the relevant EEA national satisfies the condition in paragraph (1)(a);

(b) the extended family member wishes to accompany the relevant EEA national to the United Kingdom or to join him there; and

(c) in all the circumstances, it appears to the entry clearance officer appropriate to issue the EEA family permit.

(3) Where an entry clearance officer receives an application under paragraph (2) he shall undertake an extensive examination of the personal circumstances of the applicant and if he refuses the application shall give reasons justifying the refusal unless this is contrary to the
interests of national security.

(4) An EEA family permit issued under this regulation shall be issued free of charge and as soon as possible.

(5) But an EEA family permit shall not be issued under this regulation if the applicant or the EEA national concerned falls to be excluded from the United Kingdom on grounds of public policy, public security or public health in accordance with regulation 21.

___________

also have a look at http://tinyurl.com/3p6ut

[Masterixas]

Or you did not read my post fully or I do not understand what you're trying to tell me... She did got an EEA family visa permit with the purpose of visitng us in the UK before through the same very proceedings and setps she's taking now... The problem is that they said they do not issue them anymore and not that she does not qualify for one.

What you gave me is the regualtions to get one which I already know. What I want to know is why they stopped issuing them at that visa center.

[mym]

The regulations have not changed and I also gave you a link to the FAQ.

You gave the impression that the visa centre says that EEA Family Permits are no longer issued. That is not correct, they are.

It may be that they meant that at that particular visa centre they don't issue them. I don't believe that - the British Embassy and Consulates are obliged to issue them to people who are entitled to them.

[VictoriaS]

There is no such thing as a 'guest visa'.

These people seem to be trying to rip you off. PLEASE notify the consulate as soon as possible that this is happening.

http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servle ... 9123735249

Victoria