non EU unmarried partner EUSS success history and a question

[a_kris]

Dear all,

I'm finishing the application and there is a section about my sponsor's residency document. She holds a blue small book with a Residence documentation vignette with Permanent Residence certification - I believe, this is the document referred to in the question "Residence document number". The problem is that I must provide the expiry date but there is no expiry date for the permanent residence, and I can't leave it blank.
Is it a wrong document? Or is there expiry date somewhere that we can find online?

Thank you in advance.

[euspouse07]

I would suggest you write ”any date” and write a cover letter stating the reason and actual validity of the document.

[kamoe]

She holds a blue small book with a Residence documentation vignette with Permanent Residence certification - I believe, this is the document referred to in the question "Residence document number". The problem is that I must provide the expiry date but there is no expiry date for the permanent residence, and I can't leave it blank.

What do you mean you can't leave it blank? Are you filling the online form? That's only available if you are applying for permanent residence, which you are not. See clarification of who can apply using that form here:

Family members
You can include close family members in your application if they also qualify for permanent residence.

Since yo uare not eligible for permanent residence, you should be using this paper application. In this form, the one place where the sponsor residence document is asked, Section 3A, question 3.1, has no expiration date requirement.

[kamoe]

.

[a_kris]

Sorry, my bad, many things are happening at the same time.
I'm doing a EEA Family permit application. I can't leave the Expiry date field bank or type anything there except a valid date.

[kamoe]

I'm doing a EEA Family permit application. I can't leave the Expiry date field bank or type anything there except a valid date.

Oh I see. Wasn't clear what you were applying for.

Yeah well, if it does not let you type anything else, type a date 5 years into the future, then on the first comment text box you can, do clarify that!

[a_kris]

Ok, it was my idea also. Thanks to confirm.

[a_kris]

Hi all forum members,

I want to thank all who gave direct recommendations and all who shared their timelines and stories - it was a great help and support during the process.
I decided to share my story, just in case if it helps someone as well.

As unmarried partner of EU citizen I applied for EUSS from London in March based on 18 months of cohabitation in March 2020. My working visa expired in March and EUSS application was a way to give us a bit more time to get married in March and provide a marriage certificate for EUSS application. Unfortunately, the ceremony was cancelled due COVID, so I've been waiting for decision based on the cohabitation only.
I got a refusal in August, the reason was that I didn't provide a residency card. I didn't have it and I missed this requirement and my lawyer did it too (I don't even want to comment it). I knew that RC takes up to 6 months, that's why I submitted an administrative review, trying to insist on the fact of cohabitation (2 years was in September) and that it's not possible to provide the RC by the end of the year. The review submission also bought me some time to stay in the UK.
In addition I applied for the RC in September, enrolled the biometrics, asked for my travel passport and received it in October. Then based on many recommendations on this forum, I decided to travel back to Russia to apply for a Family Permit visa. The application was made on 22nd Oct 2020, and I've been waiting for the decision since then.
To my huge surprise I got the RC card issued on 6/11/2020 - only 5-6 weeks after the application (the accurate timeline provided in the timeline topic). I sent this information over to the EUSS Review team and a week later got my pre-settled status. The letter form EUSS team confirms that the RC card was the main reason for the rejection on the first attempt and success on the administrative review. Although, the review was successful, I was not refunded back as the initial decision was correct due the lack of RC.

So, I'm waiting for the Family permit visa now in Russia. But it seems an unpredictable timeline. There was a small window in September-October when few people received FP visa within 4-6 weeks, but now the process has stopped again and few my friends also are waiting for the decision since September and no reply received for their requests to MP, complaints to HO. I sent a request to HO via gov.uk also today, let's see.

What I want to ask the audience here is:
1. Am I allowed to send my RC, which my partner's received at home on my behalf, from London to Moscow with DHL or similar and then travel with it to the UK? If so, do I have to do it this year only or till July 2021? The RC says 'Family Member - EU residence', valid till 30-06-2021. Won't it be a problem if I travel to the UK without the Family Permit?
2. As soon as I'm in the UK, do I have to replace EU RC for UK RC? I expected to receive a UK EUSS RC, but it seems not happening automatically.

Thank you again for your support.

Cheers,
Andrei

[kamoe]

Then based on many recommendations on this forum, I decided to travel back to Russia to apply for a Family Permit visa. The application was made on 22nd Oct 2020, and I've been waiting for the decision since then.

Really sorry to hear.

To my huge surprise I got the RC card issued on 6/11/2020 - only 5-6 weeks after the application (the accurate timeline provided in the timeline topic).

I think you were not the only one extremely surprised to see that processing times completely flattened, from 5-6 months at the time you asked your first question, down to 3-5 weeks only a month later!

I sent this information over to the EUSS Review team and a week later got my pre-settled status. The letter form EUSS team confirms that the RC card was the main reason for the rejection on the first attempt and success on the administrative review. Although, the review was successful, I was not refunded back as the initial decision was correct due the lack of RC.

Correct, you misinterpreted the requirements, and the RC was one of them, so the initial decision was correct.

So, I'm waiting for the Family permit visa now in Russia. But it seems an unpredictable timeline. There was a small window in September-October when few people received FP visa within 4-6 weeks, but now the process has stopped again and few my friends also are waiting for the decision since September and no reply received for their requests to MP, complaints to HO. I sent a request to HO via gov.uk also today, let's see.

Again, sorry to hear, but you have alternatives.

1. Am I allowed to send my RC, which my partner's received at home on my behalf, from London to Moscow with DHL or similar and then travel with it to the UK?

I don't see why not? Important documents are sent by secure post -DHL being one of them- every day. I've sent passports with no issue.

If so, do I have to do it this year only or till July 2021? The RC says 'Family Member - EU residence', valid till 30-06-2021.

Best call is to do it this year. That's because the HO has been officially announcing that RCs are valid until 31st December 2020. In theory, having applied for the Settlement Scheme means your card is valid until June 30th 2021, but in practice that is something that can only be checked electronically.

It's difficult to tell what the official policy will be on airport arrivals when people arrive on EEA RCs after Dec 31st. Maybe they will have this electronic capability in place and checking validity of EEA RCs based on Settlement Scheme status will be straightforward (one hopes); maybe not... and then entry of people on EEA RCs might not be as smooth.

Won't it be a problem if I travel to the UK without the Family Permit?

I don't see a problem if instead of a Family Permit you use the RC that your partner would send to you via DHL, before Dec 31st.
I see a problem if you attempt to travel with nothing at all.

As soon as I'm in the UK, do I have to replace EU RC for UK RC? I expected to receive a UK EUSS RC, but it seems not happening automatically.

A UK EUSS RC does not happen automatically if you applied with a EEA RC. You will have to replace it eventually. The answer to wether EEA RCs are accepted or not after Dec 31st is what will determine when you need to replace it.