Travelling while having an application

[siralexius]

Hello everyone!
I did make an application on 2th of March 2021 to settled status with my spouse and I(non-EU) didn't received yet it is gonna be nearly 2 months. Although my spouse did granted. Application was very simple, no criminal conviction, same marriage, same everything but yeah they take their time. I did send 2 emails and same to similar response to both of them and simple just wait.

I hold a pre-settled status and a BRC that will automatically expire on end of June 2021 as everyone else.
My question;
I might and will need to travel not now but following month-s. Urgent travel because of one of my parent get bad health problem. Until I plan to travel I might and might not receive the settled status. Even thought I have to update my BRC to new one but as I see that takes some time to change.

My options are;
1- I can travel until end of June 2021 with my current pre-settled and BRC
2- I still can travel after June 2021 with still pre-settled or settled that will be given but not sure how to come back or how it works?
What I need to do in this situation? I don't wanna leave without changing my BRC or getting settled status but health matters. If I will travel in worst case senario what are the outcomes or possibilities for me?

Thank you!

[kamoe]

You can always apply for a EUSS Family Permit from abroad if you have to come back after June 30th and you still have not received your Settled Status card.

That's what a Family Permit is there for, to facilitate entry into the UK.

[siralexius]

You can always apply for a EUSS Family Permit from abroad if you have to come back after June 30th and you still have not received your Settled Status card.

That's what a Family Permit is there for, to facilitate entry into the UK.

Thank you for the reply Kamoe,
Let me understand this, let's say I travel exacly end of June with my current pre-settled or granted settled if I will grant by than and having a BRP that will expire eventually end of June. Let's say I decided to return end of July or what ever and again having a pre-settled status or settled status but no updated BRC which would let me allow to enter the UK. I know that I can apply abroad to update my BRC but if there is no physical BRC this will cause a trouble to enter to the UK.

What do you mean by Family permit and as you said I will only be an application will that allow me to enter to the UK?
Thanks

[kamoe]

let's say I travel exacly end of June with my current pre-settled or granted settled if I will grant by than and having a BRP that will expire eventually end of June.

Correct, nothing stopping you from doing this.

Let's say I decided to return end of July or what ever and again having a pre-settled status or settled status but no updated BRC which would let me allow to enter the UK.

Your current EEA RC will have expired, therefore, if your EUSS BRC is not issued by then, this is where you could have difficulty, since you need a valid physical document to enter the UK.

I know that I can apply abroad to update my BRC but if there is no physical BRC this will cause a trouble to enter to the UK.

You can start your application online while abroad, but you will need to be in the UK to give biometrics, and your application is not complete until you give biometrics; so technically speaking you need to be in the UK to apply. Then you will for sure not have your BRC with you when you try to come back.

What do you mean by Family permit and as you said I will only be an application will that allow me to enter to the UK?
Thanks

This: https://www.gov.uk/family-permit/eu-set ... ily-permit

A Family Permit is a 6-month entry sticker on your passport that allows non-EU family members to enter smoothly into the UK. Is not a permanent permit and holders are supposed to apply for status under the Settlement Scheme, or in your case, the EUSS card, as soon as possible after arrival. So, once back in the UK you continue your BRC conversion application journey where you left it.

As far as I understand this is the official advise of the Home Office when non-EU family members need to travel abroad while their EEA/EU application is in progress.

Now, if the printed expiration date on your EEA RC is after June, let's say, October 2021; you might get away with airlines letting you board the plane when seeing this card. But officially the card is not valid, although chances are not everybody is aware.

But again, the correct thing to do would be to have documentation in order and to have a valid Family Permit on your passport, to be on the safe side.

[siralexius]

let's say I travel exacly end of June with my current pre-settled or granted settled if I will grant by than and having a BRP that will expire eventually end of June.

Correct, nothing stopping you from doing this.

Let's say I decided to return end of July or what ever and again having a pre-settled status or settled status but no updated BRC which would let me allow to enter the UK.

Your current EEA RC will have expired, therefore, if your EUSS BRC is not issued by then, this is where you could have difficulty, since you need a valid physical document to enter the UK.

I know that I can apply abroad to update my BRC but if there is no physical BRC this will cause a trouble to enter to the UK.

You can start your application online while abroad, but you will need to be in the UK to give biometrics, and your application is not complete until you give biometrics; so technically speaking you need to be in the UK to apply. Then you will for sure not have your BRC with you when you try to come back.

What do you mean by Family permit and as you said I will only be an application will that allow me to enter to the UK?
Thanks

This: https://www.gov.uk/family-permit/eu-set ... ily-permit

A Family Permit is a 6-month entry sticker on your passport that allows non-EU family members to enter smoothly into the UK. Is not a permanent permit and holders are supposed to apply for status under the Settlement Scheme, or in your case, the EUSS card, as soon as possible after arrival. So, once back in the UK you continue your BRC conversion application journey where you left it.

As far as I understand this is the official advise of the Home Office when non-EU family members need to travel abroad while their EEA/EU application is in progress.

Now, if the printed expiration date on your EEA RC is after June, let's say, October 2021; you might get away with airlines letting you board the plane when seeing this card. But officially the card is not valid, although chances are not everybody is aware.

But again, the correct thing to do would be to have documentation in order and to have a valid Family Permit on your passport, to be on the safe side.

Thank you for your quick reply! What I understand is that if; I will return without a valid BRC most likely I will not be able to return or have problems and it is better to go with a updated BRC or apply family permit and return with that( who know how long that takes to finish and so on..). To me sounds like no matter what happens just stay and have the round ticket from a head..

[kamoe]

You seem to be in a similar position than I was a month ago:

• Pre-Settled status

• Awaiting the outcome of Settled Status application, but Home Office taking their time

• Awaiting for Settled Status before upgrading BRC so that you can have "Settled Status" printed on the card.

• Not being able to plan travel abroad because of not being able to come back into the UK without a BRC after June 30th.

Should you travel? The answer to that is:

If the travel is not essential or urgent, answer is a no-brainer: postpone until you have your new BRC on your hands (this is what I did, and still waiting my BRC, which should come end of May).

If the travel is urgent, then... you have to prioritise, considering Pros and Cons of travelling now vs awaiting for the card.

Regarding expected waiting times: Your Settled Status should not take too long now, mine took 1.5 months having applied 1st of February. Bad news is, after that, you have to book an appointment for biometrics, which usually can be booked for a slot in a month's time at the earliest (or prepare to pay the most expensive ones), and then it's about 6 weeks after that until you have the BRC with you. So be prepared to wait around 2-3 months before having your updated BRC with you.

Travelling before you have an updated BRC means you might face issues coming back in, but as I said, there is a route for you not to get stranded abroad, and that is the EUSS Family Permit. The FP is free, but you are right, this might take some time (or might be quick, when I did a FP in my home country, precisely to be able to re-enter the UK having a BRC application pending, it took just three days; but this can vary depending on the country, and this was outside of the context of a pandemics).

It is up to you if the added procedure of a Family Permit is worth it, if that means you can travel now to see your family instead of waiting 3 months before you can travel. Remember in any case, you still have to get a new BRC, the question is wether you do it before or after you travel.

[siralexius]

You seem to be in a similar position than I was a month ago:

• Pre-Settled status

• Awaiting the outcome of Settled Status application, but Home Office taking their time

• Awaiting for Settled Status before upgrading BRC so that you can have "Settled Status" printed on the card.

• Not being able to plan travel abroad because of not being able to come back into the UK without a BRC after June 30th.

Should you travel? The answer to that is:

If the travel is not essential or urgent, answer is a no-brainer: postpone until you have your new BRC on your hands (this is what I did, and still waiting my BRC, which should come end of May).

If the travel is urgent, then... you have to prioritise, considering Pros and Cons of travelling now vs awaiting for the card.

Regarding expected waiting times: Your Settled Status should not take too long now, mine took 1.5 months having applied 1st of February. Bad news is, after that, you have to book an appointment for biometrics, which usually can be booked for a slot in a month's time at the earliest (or prepare to pay the most expensive ones), and then it's about 6 weeks after that until you have the BRC with you. So be prepared to wait around 2-3 months before having your updated BRC with you.

Travelling before you have an updated BRC means you might face issues coming back in, but as I said, there is a route for you not to get stranded abroad, and that is the EUSS Family Permit. The FP is free, but you are right, this might take some time (or might be quick, when I did a FP in my home country, precisely to be able to re-enter the UK having a BRC application pending, it took just three days; but this can vary depending on the country, and this was outside of the context of a pandemics).

It is up to you if the added procedure of a Family Permit is worth it, if that means you can travel now to see your family instead of waiting 3 months before you can travel. Remember in any case, you still have to get a new BRC, the question is wether you do it before or after you travel.

I understand, simply wait for 3 months or take the risk and apply the family permit and deal with that.. Even death needs to wait.. What an situation to deal with.. Anyways thank you for the detailed explanation!