EEA4 fast processing times or wishful thinking

[kkworla]

Hello all I got my PR yesterday in the morning. After more than six months of wait. My PR was issued on the 17th of march so it takes some considerably amount of time to be delivered looking at the time I got it in the post.

My Time Line

Sent application 14th of September 2012
17th of September 2012 HO recieved application
15th of October COA sent from HO
17th of march 2013 PR issued
04th April 2013 PR recived in the post

GOOD LUCK TO ALL WHO ARE STILL WAITING..........

[Plum70]

A tip to those whose applications are five months into this process and still pending:

When my application reached the 5-month mark I wrote a reminder letter to the UKBA asking if perhaps they required anything additional from me to assist in finalising my application. I also quoted the relevant section in law that requires applications to be decided within 6 months.

I cannot know if this catalysed the conclusion of my case but my PR doc. was dispatched the same day my letter was received by the UKBA, by next day signed for delivery (at the UKBA's expense).

Might've been coincidence but still worth a try I think.

[Shawshank]

Plum70, Spike_UK and others, it is very warming having read through all stories spanning 59 pages of this forum last night to see how you have stayed on to help others even after having received your own PR.

Mine has been in process for exactly 6 months and 3 weeks now, and I have a feeling I am here for the long run.

Through all my phone calls and communications it more than obvious to me that Home Office / UKBA, is going through a very dark time at the moment. Slow processing times, agency strikes and some very negative press, it appears there could not have been a worse time to apply. Having said that it does appear they are still processing some applications, after reading the forum.

Here is my timeline of actions so far:

10/09/2012 RC EEA Family Permit Expired (Unmarried Partner, of 7 years)
14/09/2012 EEA4 Application Sent (Unmarried Partner, of 7 years)
15/10/2012 COA Received (Confirming application start date 14/09/2012)
01/03/2013 5 Months + 2 wks into process called HO (Told to call on exactly 6 mo)
14/03/2013 Exactly 6 Months into process called HO (Told to wait for update, no further information requested, none available)
14/03/2013 Requested passport back
14/03/2013 Sent formal letter of to UKBA L20QN, requesting alternative advice
20/03/2013 Passport received (returned to me)
26/03/2013 Sent email to Member of Parliament soliciting assistance with the case.
27/03/2013 Received email from office of MP that they had chased my case and would revert as soon as possible.
04/04/2013 Contacted office of Rob Whiteman, Chief Executive of UKBA to assist with the application.
05/04/2013 Sent formal complaint letters to the agency

Has anyone else been waiting this long? Any other ideas on what the hold up could be?

Many thanks
Shawshank

[Aladin0987]

Yaw the only option u have left is harassing them, get access to a cheap phone and keep calling them at least more than 3 times a day. this is the only way to fight back bulling, there is not a fixed rule! u r facing the barbarians... so ur best bet is ur stick in ur hand or ur phone in ur hand.

been married with Eu national for more than 5 years lived together 7 years and lived in uk 11 years.
I applied 05 Feb 12
Called for progress first time after six and half months on mid Aug12
called them again around Sep12
MP, Solvit, Complaint, Eu petition, Request passport back, etc...but didn't work
Started to call them every single day few times then I got COA, cant remember when.
Got refused January 13
appealed and still waiting for the result back from court

“The common mistake that bullies make is assuming that because someone is nice that he or she is weak. Those traits have nothing to do with each other. In fact, it takes considerable strength and character to be a good person.”

[Plum70]

Mine has been in process for exactly 6 months and 3 weeks now, and I have a feeling I am here for the long run.

Shawshank, you have followed the appropriate channels and getting your MP involved might help expedite your case. Perhaps follow up with them after a week or so explaining that you still haven't received your PR confirmation. It might help if you cite the relevant section under the EU Directive to give more weight to any follow up correspondence the MP might send to the UKBA. Also give Rob Whiteman ample time to act on your complaint letter.

Dark times indeed...the UKBA directorate is probably understaffed, overrun with myriad applications, crippled by the weight of customer complaints and haemorrhaging from unachieved performance targets. Fun times for the media but not the families still caught in this train wreck.

Pls keep the forum informed as things progress.

[spike_UK]

Congrates mate, what is next?

A couple of trips with Hubby!

Sounds like it have fun.

[spike_UK]

Plum70, Spike_UK and others, it is very warming having read through all stories spanning 59 pages of this forum last night to see how you have stayed on to help others even after having received your own PR.

Mine has been in process for exactly 6 months and 3 weeks now, and I have a feeling I am here for the long run.

Through all my phone calls and communications it more than obvious to me that Home Office / UKBA, is going through a very dark time at the moment. Slow processing times, agency strikes and some very negative press, it appears there could not have been a worse time to apply. Having said that it does appear they are still processing some applications, after reading the forum.

Here is my timeline of actions so far:

10/09/2012 RC EEA Family Permit Expired (Unmarried Partner, of 7 years)
14/09/2012 EEA4 Application Sent (Unmarried Partner, of 7 years)
15/10/2012 COA Received (Confirming application start date 14/09/2012)
01/03/2013 5 Months + 2 wks into process called HO (Told to call on exactly 6 mo)
14/03/2013 Exactly 6 Months into process called HO (Told to wait for update, no further information requested, none available)
14/03/2013 Requested passport back
14/03/2013 Sent formal letter of to UKBA L20QN, requesting alternative advice
20/03/2013 Passport received (returned to me)
26/03/2013 Sent email to Member of Parliament soliciting assistance with the case.
27/03/2013 Received email from office of MP that they had chased my case and would revert as soon as possible.
04/04/2013 Contacted office of Rob Whiteman, Chief Executive of UKBA to assist with the application.
05/04/2013 Sent formal complaint letters to the agency

Has anyone else been waiting this long? Any other ideas on what the hold up could be?

Many thanks
Shawshank

Hi Shawshank, when you applied for your PR did you and your spouse meet the requirement?
If your spouse have exercised treaty right and you two meet the requirement for at least last 6 years then you even qualify for British, ignoring 2 years of cohabitation, that is how I got my PR.
But anyway now that you applied for PR soon hopefully you will receive it.
After I contact Rob Whiteman, it took less than 3 weeks and I received it.
Good luck.

[AranUk]

Ow Plum that's so good news. I just checked the post office website and it showing that the envelop I sent to HO ) for posting my docs bak) it's being posted :-S.... So nerve racking. Wish me luck folks.

[Plum70]

Ow Plum that's so good news. I just checked the post office website and it showing that the envelop I sent to HO ) for posting my docs bak) it's being posted :-S.... So nerve racking. Wish me luck folks.

Looking like a happy Monday to come.

[mrbaseball]

Just giving an update as I've found it very useful.

I requested my passports back from the office in Liverpool, which states they will get them back to you in 10 workings day. Passports did not show up. Complaint being filed, requesting our passports, and contacting my local MP again.

Now over 5 months since I applied, fingers crossed that they show soon.

Non-EU Family Member of a Swedish National
Applied for EEA4 28 Oct.
Application received 29 Oct.
CoA received dated 6 Nov.
Passport request 19 Mar
MP contacted and enquires to made by his office 19 Mar
MP replied - HO stated they are still within their 6 months time frame to process visa.

[AranUk]

Finally.

It is a happy Monday. Got it today 08/04 issued on the 22/03.

Stress is over...

Thank you so much for all the useful comments.

[Plum70]

Finally.

It is a happy Monday. Got it today 08/04 issued on the 22/03.

Stress is over...

Great stuff! Now, relax and enjoy...

[peach83]

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Hello everyone
I have been following this forum for quite a while and it's my pleasure to say that u guys are amazing and it will be my humble pleasure if anyone can suggest to me on what to do next regarding to my eea4 application made in late august 2012.Here is my timeline,

Application for eea4 sent on 30/08/2012,
UKBA received application on 31/08/2012,
COA received on 18/10/2012,
PR still waiting.

My MP has only contacted UKBA through a letter and still no reply yet and my solicitor through whom i applied have also contact UKBA and still no reply and i ring them everyday and all they are saying is that my case have not been completed yet that i have to wait.
I would also like to know if anyone out there applied around the same period of time,many thanks.

[Vinnie21]

I will be 7 months next week so u not alone I call everyday but its all useless I don't see no point of calling I wrote to them but no reply they don't care as long as they got they jobs that's all it matters .....they are a mess they always been a mess and they will continue to be a mess

[SammyT]

I have also been waiting a long time almost 9months, peach83 and vinnie21 do you know if yours is been process at NWEuro7 because mine is?

[Vinnie21]

I have also been waiting a long time almost 9months, peach83 and vinnie21 do you know if yours is been process at NWEuro7 because mine is?

i really don't know what does it mean NWEuro7 they haven't wrote to me or said nothing to me it could be anything all I got is the certificate and that's it ...

[Vinnie21]

I have also been waiting a long time almost 9months, peach83 and vinnie21 do you know if yours is been process at NWEuro7 because mine is?

i really don't know what does it mean NWEuro7 they haven't wrote to me or said nothing to me it could be anything all I got is the certificate and that's it ...

have u got a solicitor ?

[SammyT]

No my MP has been has wrote to them and they reply to say sorry about the delay and also provided my caseworker name and the address to write to her directly but as you see from my previous couple of post they are dealing with my case in a strange way they did not sent back my husband passport on several request but they said in the letter that are carrying out check and will sent it back after there are completed.

[SammyT]

I never use any solicitor.

[Vinnie21]

I never use any solicitor.

same here no solicitors when does his visa expires and have u completed the requirement like the treaty rights for 5 years and so on the truth and matter is they are very slow and in order to check everything it takes long time and pluss they are short stuff but u got a case worker and direct number is great it very rare to have that I don't have nothing

[SammyT]

I have excercise treaty rights as I have provided 5 years worth of untility bill, P60 etc, also my resident card is valid for few more months but that should not be a valid reason to delay issuing EEA4 card, my resident card is just comfirmintion it is the evidences i provided that determine these rights.

[Vinnie21]

I hate it when they is not completed just wait until they contact you I just feel like getting the ak and march to their office and say say hello to my little friend lol all I know from them that on 28 of march they acknowledge that I have send them a special delivery envelope and my cousin waited for 2 years for a passport it was horrible but every case is different and my partner is British also so I'm hoping this month to come ...

[Vinnie21]

I have excercise treaty rights as I have provided 5 years worth of untility bill, P60 etc, also my resident card is valid for few more months but that should not be a valid reason to delay issuing EEA4 card, my resident card is just comfirmintion it is the evidences i provided that determine these rights.

Does ur partner has permanent residency ??

[SammyT]

I have contacted Solvit so I keep you all updated, The waiting is difficult and stressful and really don't know why is taking all this long.

[peach83]

yes i used a legal aid reason is because i wanted my application to be well presented and to make sure that i submitted all that was required of me,basically my spouse has been living and working here since 2004,i got my rc in 2007 through marriage and i have 2 eea children and i even included my kids birth certificate in my application pack and yet we've been waiting since end of august with only coa.