URGENT: time lapse between eu family permit application submission and biometrics appt

[CoffreDoré]

Hello all,

Long time lurker, first time poster
My husband, who's currently abroad, and I are gathering the paperwork needed before I go to see a solicitor to apply for the eu family permit for him. I understand he'll be called for an interview where he is, and was wondering what kind of questions he'll be asked? He's a skilled worker and will be working once he's here, has no criminal record and he's widely travelled. I'm just wondering, will they ask him about his professional intentions, or ask questions about our relationship?

Thank you all!!

[Casa]

Are you an EU national ?

[Zerubbabel]

Hello all,

Long time lurker, first time poster
My husband, who's currently abroad, and I are gathering the paperwork needed before I go to see a solicitor to apply for the eu family permit for him. I understand he'll be called for an interview where he is, and was wondering what kind of questions he'll be asked? He's a skilled worker and will be working once he's here, has no criminal record and he's widely travelled. I'm just wondering, will they ask him about his professional intentions, or ask questions about our relationship?

Thank you all!!

There is no interview for EEA route.

But you need to tell us more. Your post doesn't give enough details for us to assist.

[CoffreDoré]

Thank you both for your replies, yes I'm an eu national with the settled status and working, I've been living here for over 10 years, was a student then and have been working full time. At the moment this eu family permit application seems like a huge mountain, I'm so worried that they go funny on us!! So far the documents we have include:

Marriage certificate
As its my 2nd marriage, divorce certificate (happened 9 years ago)
Bank statements for both
Employment contracts
Passport copies

I hear that they also want pictures, chat history etc...? Is that true? We can provide those, it wouldn't be a problem, but I find it hard to believe that they'd actually want to go through these?

[CoffreDoré]

Also, do most people go to a solicitor for this application, or do it themselves? I've actually had a look and started a dummy application, it looks pretty straightforward, would it be unwise to do it myself?

[iwolga]

I hear that they also want pictures, chat history etc...? Is that true? We can provide those, it wouldn't be a problem, but I find it hard to believe that they'd actually want to go through these?

Hi, how long are you married and have you been living together with your husband?
For how long do you know each other?

I can share my experience with you. Main part of this particular visa\entry clearance is to prove that this is a) genuine relationship b) that you are a qualified person

Second part is pretty straight forward:
1) copy of employment contract
2) bank statements (we gave for last 3 months)
3) payslips (3 months)
4) letter from employer confirming you are employed since XYZ with X salary, permanent (preferably)


First part - prove of relationship:
1) Marriage certificate with translation into English
2) 40-60 photos of you and your husband together with description (eg: Anne and Harry at the seaside on 25th of July 2018)
3) Whatsapp prinscreens: my husband and I met 2 years before we moved to UK, dated for a year but never lived together before UK. We therefore provided 2-3 printscreens of our messages for every week we knew each other (yes, this was an exercise!). I assume if you lived together before, this can be shorter or less important
4) we wrote a cover letter from each of us: story of relationship and how much we want to be together in UK (2-3 pages)
5) any other prove is fine: tickets for travelling to each other, I gave a copy of Dutch classes that I was taking to learn my husband's language
6) yes, divorce papers, but was not applicable to us


No financial info from my side was required. We also provided a copy of rental agreement for the house in UK for both our names (or there shall be a letter from landlord that he\she is ok with you moving in). If you are an owner, then a copy of your titles for the house.

I hope this helps

[kamoe]

My husband, who's currently abroad, and I are gathering the paperwork needed before I go to see a solicitor to apply for the eu family permit for him. I understand he'll be called for an interview where he is, and was wondering what kind of questions he'll be asked?

It's not an interview, it is an appointment to take his picture and fingerprints. It's not an exhaustive Q&A session.

Having said this, I suppose this also depends on the country he applies in. In Colombia, where I processed mine, the application and appointment are outsourced via a specialised visa application center, whose staff are local people NOT UK government officals, so no Home Office caseworker ever meets you in person. Therefore this meeting isn't really an interview.

I remember being asked some general questions (just to confirm your purpose of travel, and relationship to your EU sponsor, etc.), but I reckon this was more to make some conversation rather than to put anything crucial on my file.

He's a skilled worker and will be working once he's here

Not relevant. He could come as a stay-at home husband and that would be perfectly legal.

has no criminal record

Good

and he's widely travelled.

Also not relevant. EEA regulations does not discriminate against people not having traveled before!

I'm just wondering, will they ask him about his professional intentions, or ask questions about our relationship?

As I said, maybe just general questions regarding the purpose of travel, but nothing grilling. Not a real interview.

[kamoe]

Also, do most people go to a solicitor for this application, or do it themselves?

That is the wrong question to ask. Rather, think about how comfortable you are reading a guideline, following steps to the letter, and collecting evidence. Some people can do it with ease, some people can't read the most simple document to save their lives.

I've actually had a look and started a dummy application, it looks pretty straightforward, would it be unwise to do it myself?

Are you generally good at paperwork? If so, then you can probably do it yourself, and it would be unwise to spend money going to a solicitor.

[kamoe]

2) 40-60 photos of you and your husband together with description (eg: Anne and Harry at the seaside on 25th

Overload. 5-10 well-selected and relevant pictures are more effective than 40 that are redundant. Make life easy for the caseworker. Do not make the examination of your file more difficult than it has to be. I submitted about 7 or 8 pictures for my unmarried partner application, and it was completely fine.

[iwolga]

2) 40-60 photos of you and your husband together with description (eg: Anne and Harry at the seaside on 25th

Overload. 5-10 well-selected and relevant pictures are more effective than 40 that are redundant. Make life easy for the caseworker. Do not make the examination of your file more difficult than it has to be. I submitted about 7 or 8 pictures for my unmarried partner application, and it was completely fine.

This was an advise from the consultant that was helping me with application. I agree 60 is an overkill. I think I provided around 25-30.

Since you have unmarried partner, I assume you were previously living together? I believe this makes a difference as I essentially needed to prove that we were seeing each other regularly, were spending time on holidays, with families. Basically, normal relationship but a long distance one. A photo from a proposal, 2 photos from wedding, per 2 photos from 3 holidays together, 3-4 photos of Christmas together with families - the counter runs pretty fast.

But I totally agree that this shall be a well selected and balanced file rather then a mix of all-time photos. I advise to also give it in chronological order

[iwolga]

Also, do most people go to a solicitor for this application, or do it themselves?

That is the wrong question to ask. Rather, think about how comfortable you are reading a guideline, following steps to the letter, and collecting evidence. Some people can do it with ease, some people can't read the most simple document to save their lives.

I've actually had a look and started a dummy application, it looks pretty straightforward, would it be unwise to do it myself?

Are you generally good at paperwork? If so, then you can probably do it yourself, and it would be unwise to spend money going to a solicitor.

I hired the consultant back to my home country - this was waaay cheaper than hiring someone in UK. Did I need him? Now that I know much more than half a year ago - I think I didn't. But I'm glad I spent some money on that.

kamoe is very right: you need to understand how good and comfortable you are with paperwork. I've been previously working in auditing, this helped me a lot with all application preparation work. In fact, the consultant said it was a very good prepped file even before her work.

[CoffreDoré]

Hi all, thank you all very much for the replies!!!
Since my last post, after visiting a few solicitors we've finally sent the application earlier this week. Now that it's done, I've got a question about what comes next:

-my husband has an appointment to have his biometrics taken later this month. Will they keep his passport until a decision is made? Considering he needs a visa to get there, is it safe for him to return home, should they return his passport?

Many thanks!!

[iwolga]

Hi all, thank you all very much for the replies!!!
Since my last post, after visiting a few solicitors we've finally sent the application earlier this week. Now that it's done, I've got a question about what comes next:

-my husband has an appointment to have his biometrics taken later this month. Will they keep his passport until a decision is made? Considering he needs a visa to get there, is it safe for him to return home, should they return his passport?

Many thanks!!

In general case, yes, they will keep his passport. I believe I had an option "keep my passport" but this is a paid one from TLS.

I'm sorry I didn't understand your second question. Are you asking can he come to UK while the application under consideration with visitor's visa?

If this is the question, than I would suggest to do NOT do it. Application rules are saying that you need to do EEA FP application strictly outside of UK. Though I didn't read that you cannot travel to UK while your FP application is under consideration, I would suggest to be on the safe side and wait till it is processed in the country where your husband applied.

Mind, that some of the visitors visas (especially not a very long ones) are being cancelled as the result of FP application. You don't want to find yourself with a canceled visa somewhere in UK airport.

[CoffreDoré]

Thanks Iwolga for your reply!! I will speak with my solicitor about the keep my passport option today, he'd only mention that they'll keep it.

Sorry my second question is confusing, let's assume that we chose the keep my passport option. Is it safe to travel (within Africa) while waiting for a decision? Or should we stay in the country where the biometrics are taken? Thanks for your help!!

[iwolga]

Hi,

Yes, you can travel no problem as long as you are not crossing UK border. Good luck with the application!

[CoffreDoré]

Thanks a million times!!!! I'll post in here any updates, good ones God willing!!

[CoffreDoré]

Hello all,

Unfortunately not much change in our situation. My husband needs a visa to get entry to the country where biometrics are to be done, and we've been waiting for 4 weeks!!! Would making a new application with a different country have any negative effect on our application?

[CoffreDoré]

Hello all,

Unfortunately not much change in our situation. My husband needs a visa to get entry to the country where biometrics are to be done, and we've been waiting for 4 weeks!!! Would making a new application with a different country have any negative effect on our application?

I read my post again, not very clear... What I'm asking is would the home office question why a new application was made with a different country where biometrics are to be done?

[iwolga]

The application is only considered completed once you have your biometrics done. I don’t believe this will have any effect on your application.

Some other question worth looking into: do you need to apply in your country of residence/county of citizenship? I don’t know the answer to this question

[CoffreDoré]

The application is only considered completed once you have your biometrics done. I don’t believe this will have any effect on your application.

Some other question worth looking into: do you need to apply in your country of residence/county of citizenship? I don’t know the answer to this question

Thank you Iwolga, my husband finally got the visa to go the country where the biometrics will be taken, appointment date is 3rd December. I've got another question now, as the online application was submitted on 17th October, do you think it'd be worthwhile to upload more chat history, i.e between 17th October to 3rd December? Would it not look suspect if no further evidence of contact is shown? Thanks a million for your help

[iwolga]

The application is only considered completed once you have your biometrics done. I don’t believe this will have any effect on your application.

Some other question worth looking into: do you need to apply in your country of residence/county of citizenship? I don’t know the answer to this question

Thank you Iwolga, my husband finally got the visa to go the country where the biometrics will be taken, appointment date is 3rd December. I've got another question now, as the online application was submitted on 17th October, do you think it'd be worthwhile to upload more chat history, i.e between 17th October to 3rd December? Would it not look suspect if no further evidence of contact is shown? Thanks a million for your help

As I was explained when I was applying, your application date matters in the sense of all supporting papers. Though it is pretty long time for your husband between these two events (I didn’t even know this is possible!), and though for me the difference was a week, I assume this still applies

[CoffreDoré]

Hello,

I'm an eu national and submitted an application for a family permit for my husband on 17th October. In the country where he lives, there isn't a biometrics taking centre, so has to travel to a neighbouring country. The only problem is that he needs a visa to get there, and that process has taken over 5 weeks, yesterday we thought they'd grant it, but they're asking for yet more paperwork!!!! We're hoping to resolve this issue this week, and the new biometric appt is 3rd December in the neighbouring country (we had to keep rescheduling)
My question has to do with the time lapse between the date the online application was submitted, 17th October and the date of the biometrics taking, will this affect our application? Will the home office question this fact? Are we better off making a new application?
Thanks for your help