EEA Family Permit VAF1 question

[lamper]

My partner in Brazil recently had a VAF2 unmarried-partner application refused. Since then it is now possible for use to apply for a EEA Family Permit, as I am Irish and since 30 April unmarried partners can apply.

My question is this, one of the reasons our VAF2 application was refused was they felt we had not been living as a married couple; we had and this was most likley due to us not giving enough evidance but we are confident we can provide the evidance for the VAF1 application...

BUT she has been in Brazil for the last four months as she was waiting for the application to go through, I was over there a couple of weeks ago for 2 weeks, but due to this break do we still qualify for the living together in the last 2 years category?

[JAJ]

My partner in Brazil recently had a VAF2 unmarried-partner application refused. Since then it is now possible for use to apply for a EEA Family Permit, as I am Irish and since 30 April unmarried partners can apply.

Are you aware that on an EEA permit it will take five years for your partner to get UK permanent resident status, compared to only two years if you hold a normal spouse visa.

Have you thought about re-applying for the visa with stronger evidence? Or is there any plan to get married, maybe a fiancee visa could work.

If you do plan to get married, do you also plan to take out British citizenship? This would reduce the residence period your partner would need to meet, as the spouse of a British citizen.

[lamper]

Are you aware that on an EEA permit it will take five years for your partner to get UK permanent resident status, compared to only two years if you hold a normal spouse visa.

Thanks for the advice but at the same time my partner is in the process of applying for an italian passport through ancestory, so we are not concerned about UK residence as having an EU passport will be better. This process is going to take about 18 months.

Does anyone know if you need to provide documentation of relationship of applying for an unmarried VAF1 Family Permit, or is this just needed when applying EEA2 in the UK?

[JAJ]

Thanks for the advice but at the same time my partner is in the process of applying for an italian passport through ancestory, so we are not concerned about UK residence as having an EU passport will be better. This process is going to take about 18 months.

By all means obtain the Italian passport, however the status of an EEA citizen in the UK is not as favourable as that of a permanent resident (not clear why you think otherwise).

There is always a risk that the Italian passport may take longer than that to come through, or be refused.