Switch from Family visa (spouse) to Lounes EUSS

[Sweetorange]

Hi there,

I’m looking for some advice about Lounes application.

I’m a spouse of a dual UK/EEA citizen, I entered UK in November 2020 on a fiancé visa, got married and subsequently got a family visa for 2.5 years. I recently learned about Lounes application and tried my luck applying for it 3 months before expiration of my current visa. I received a CoA, but I suspect I might have made a mistake in my application - I applied online using my biometric residence permit instead of the paper application. On this platform I found that the application was supposed to be paper based and other people who applied online found their applications rejected and had to start paper application from scratch.

My question is can I request the paper application form while waiting for the decision on my online application and submit by post complementary to my online application?

I read that this route will be closing in 2 weeks and if my current application is rejected, I’m afraid I won’t have a chance to submit a paper application later on.

Separately, could you please help to understand if I even qualify for the Lounes application?

My husband was Swiss when he moved to attend a school in the UK, got his UK passport in 1993(!) while he was in school (school applied for this passport in order to get him on the UK team in a sports competition), but he has no documents from the past to find out what was his status back then. He kept his Swiss citizenship up to this date.

Additionally, if I were to get Lounes EUSS approved, would my previous time in the UK count towards 5 years settlement requirement? I entered on a fiance visa in November 2020 and stayed here on family visa since April 2021. Would this switch create any complications for my future naturalization in the UK?

I would very much appreciate your help!

[secret.simon]

Which month did you get married/become the family member of a Swiss citizen?

[Sweetorange]

February 2021

[Sweetorange]

Would appreciate any help or thoughts

[aslam300]

You are not eligible as you got married after the specific date of 31/12/2020. Apply extension of spouse visa under Appendix FM.

[secret.simon]

Agree that as you married after 31st December 2020, you are not eligible for the Lounes route.

You will need to remain on the usual (non-EEA ) family immigration route that you already are on.