Family Permit - it's been > 90 days!

[Sdreamer]

Hello there,
I have been following this forum for a while. Great and helpful people. Good work.
Better to start right away!
I am Sudanese, married to a wonderful Estonian woman.
Our chronological relation can be summarized as follows:
We met for the first time in the UK in summer vacation in Jun 2003.
We spent 3 months together, after which she went back to Estonia and I went back to Turkey, both to continue with our university.
We met regularly in every holiday, but always in Turkey.
In 2006 we went together in vacation to Egypt for a week.
Between 2007 and 2009 I was working in Turkey and we met regularly there and also went to Egypt for vacation several times.
In Sep 2008 we got married in Turkey.
At the end of 2009 I was reallocated to Egypt and our regular meetings continued.
In Aug 2010 she graduated and moved in with me in Egypt.
In Apr 2011 she moved to the UK looking for a job.
She has been working in the UK since Aug 2011 till now.
Another set of important data;
1. I am Aerospace Engineer and currently hold a managerial position in a big company.
2. My wife is doctor and currently working in the UK with a one year contract.
3. We do not have big saving
We have applied to Family Permit on 12.12.2011 in Cairo through World Bridge. On 04.01.2012 we received a call from British Embassy in Cairo asking for copies of my wife’s passport, pages with visas to Egypt and Turkey in 2009, 2010 and 2011. My wife had her passport changed and only 2010 and 2011 entry visas were available. We scanned and sent them to the embassy as email attachments.
On 24.01.2012 we sent an email to World Bridge asking if our documents were received. They replied (probably pre-typed email) saying we should be patient and that the nature of our case requires some time!!! Irrelevant answer!
Further to that we sent 2 more inquiries about the status of our application and it was same answer every time. Today, 24.04.2012, we received an email, referenced to our first case number, stating that they did not receive any documents and we shall deliver our documents to the British embassy directly!!!
1. Anything you may say about our case, possible result, how probable it is to get the visa, etc…
2. I am planning to register a complaint. Do you recommend that? If yes, to whom?
3. Is it taking more than it should (12.12.2004 till today 24.04.2012 more than 4 months and more than 90 working days)
4. Do you think we show a genuin relationship?! We have provided photos, phone bills for the last year (2010-2011), and a common summer house on time-shared basis.
Apology for my long post.
Thanks

[Sdreamer]

Moreover, if the delay resulted of the documents we emailed were lost for some reason, should not they have notified us?

[mEEA]

did you withdraw the application? or you can claim the passport if you need it?

[Sdreamer]

did you withdraw the application? or you can claim the passport if you need it?

I did not withdraw the application neither did I claim my passport.
I did not really get the point!

[mEEA]

I asked about the passport as 4 months is long enough for you to normally come to need the passport for some reason.

Your case:
when the visa officer asked for further docs on relationship, s/he suspected its originality already. Then all you should have done had been to provide all the documents in original in such a format that their originality can be verified without further checks from the visa officer then you should be fine in fact. This I suspect, otherwise you should have had a response already.

Complaining:
Main office of UKBA only follows up on applications older than 6 month, and complaining though the worldbridge website seems to need one calendar month to lead to a reply. It is also not clear to whom one writes a complaint when you write it.

[Sdreamer]

I asked about the passport as 4 months is long enough for you to normally come to need the passport for some reason.

Your case:
when the visa officer asked for further docs on relationship, s/he suspected its originality already. Then all you should have done had been to provide all the documents in original in such a format that their originality can be verified without further checks from the visa officer then you should be fine in fact. This I suspect, otherwise you should have had a response already.

Complaining:
Main office of UKBA only follows up on applications older than 6 month, and complaining though the worldbridge website seems to need one calendar month to lead to a reply. It is also not clear to whom one writes a complaint when you write it.

Hi mEEA and thank you for your reply.
We have, actually, sent them requested documents on the same day by email. Then sent an email to ask whether they have got our documents and whether they need any further information.
They did not reply so we decided to contact World Bridge who replied we sould be patient!
After 3 months from their first reply, World Bridge sent us an email. with the same inquiry reference (Case Number) saying THEY did not receive any documents! I dont know what World Bridge means by THEY. Another option is, they are just mistaken!
We also contacted UKBA previously and they could not provide any assistance.
Totally lost! Confusing situation and no body to speak to!

[mEEA]

The problem is that the emails are sent to world bridge and they check them first and possibly reply before sending them to the visa officers. If they do not know the answer of if they believe the answer can only be given by the authorities that decide about the visa, then they ask for your patience so that they have time to contact the visa officers and come back to you with a "proper" reply. Their workflow is like this.

I would not loose time in sending the complete documents to embassy directly. Make sure to have a cover letter explaining why you "resend" the supporting documents again. Provide the email history to support all this too. also provide the receipts from the post office when you posted the stuff. But explaining all this in a clear way is a MUST, otherwise you loose those people in charge.

Fingers crossed!

[Sdreamer]

Thanks mAEE.
I have sent two complaint letters and already on the process to visit British Embassy.

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

Were the requests for extra documents done by telephone to you, or done in writing?

[Sdreamer]

Were the requests for extra documents done by telephone to you, or done in writing?

Telephone call from British Embassy in Cairo

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

Thanks mAEE.
I have sent two complaint letters and already on the process to visit British Embassy.

Who exactly did you send the complaint letters to?

[Sdreamer]

Thanks mAEE.
I have sent two complaint letters and already on the process to visit British Embassy.

Who exactly did you send the complaint letters to?

One through the COMPLAINT path in World Bridge Cairo Website
Second, as a reply to the email received previously from administrator of World Bridge. it was just a try (hoplessness) but couple of hours ago I received Delivery Failure Report!

[Sdreamer]

Further to the case, on Sunday I'll go to the British Embassy to provide requested documents (again! but to their doorstep this time), so any advice on what to include in the cover letter besides narrating WHY?!

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

I would do a cover letter which includes the following:
(1) A complete list of all documents being submitted.
(2) A description of when and how the documents were previously submitted
(3) Note that you are aware that the visa must be issued "as soon as possible and on the basis of an accelerated process". Request that they inform you if there will be any further delay
(4) Ask that they contact you if they require any further information.

[Sdreamer]

I would do a cover letter which includes the following:
(1) A complete list of all documents being submitted.
(2) A description of when and how the documents were previously submitted
(3) Note that you are aware that the visa must be issued "as soon as possible and on the basis of an accelerated process". Request that they inform you if there will be any further delay
(4) Ask that they contact you if they require any further information.

Thanks for the hints. I wrote the letter and submitted with the docs.
It's been 2 days and no one confirmed receiving the documents! should not they send a notification or some thing?!

Anyway, hereafter is a copy in case some one may use <<please add your comments so others would benefit>>

To: British Embassy in Cairo Date: 30.04.2012
Ref.: Visa Application No.
Tracking No.
Applicant Name
Passport Number
Date of Birth
Date of Application 12.12.2011







Dear Sir/Madam
I am submitting the enclosed documents in response to the email received from British Embassy on 03.01.2012 and World Bridge Cairo on 27.04.2012.

Case Brief
I have indulged my application, for EEA Family Permit, on 12.12.2011. Further to my application we were contacted by British Embassy in Cairo via telephone on 03.01.2012 to provide copies from my wife’s passport showing her entry visas to visit me in Turkey and Egypt during 2008, 2010 and 2011. My wife has sent scanned copies of corresponding pages via embassy’s email address (visa.cairo@fco.gov.uk) on the same day, however, no confirmation was received. Thus, we sent the documents again on 23.01.2012 in case the first email exceeded the allowed size for attachments.
No answer was received again, so we submitted an inquiry to World Bridge on 24.01.2012, case number 00592137, asking whether the documents that we had sent to the British Embassy were received. World Bridge replied with an email stating that:
In regards to your question, we would like to let you know that due to the nature of your request it is being escalated for detailed research. Please be informed that we understand the importance of your issue, and we strive to respond as quickly and thoroughly as possible.
My wife has visited me in Egypt in the period 07-14.04.2012 and we have submitted 2 inquiries (Case Numbers: ---- and ----), to World Bridge to feed us back on the application and, also, in case the British Embassy may willing to conduct a personal interview with us together but, the answer was again the same.
On 24.04.2012, three months after the inquiry was placed, case number --- (submitted on 24.01.2012), we have received an email from World Bridge stating that the documents have NOT been received. Herein, I am re-submitting the documents as per request.
I am aware that, according to Directive 2004/38EC Article 5, the Family Permit should be issued "as soon as possible and on the basis of an accelerated process, I’d be thankful if you inform me whether there will be any further delay.

Shall you require further information, please contact me via below phone number or email.

Sincerely yours,
Mobile Phone
Email address







Please find enclosed:
1. Copy of my wife’s passport, pages showing entry visas in 2010 and 2011.
2. Copy of submitted (3) inquiries
3. Copy of received (3) replies.
4. Copy of the (2) email my wife has sent to British Embassy as a respond to your inquiry for her passport visa pages to Turkey and Egypt in 2008, 2010 and 2011. (as mentioned in her letter, she cannot provide 2008 records because she has been issued a new passport in 26.05.2010 and the old one was collected by Estonian Authorities then)

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

Please keep us informed as this develops. If you do not hear back in 7 days, I would suggest taking additional steps

[Sdreamer]

Please keep us informed as this develops. If you do not hear back in 7 days, I would suggest taking additional steps

Today, 02.05.2011, 100 WORKING days from my application lodgement, I have received my visa posted on my passport.
So happy that Earth cant withhold me. Graces to The Almighty.

Few points that I would like to share from my experience:
1. Read the Application Guidlines thoroughly and make sure you know your rights and obligations.
2. Get as many information as possible reading this forum.
3. Ineract with the people here, but always know that your case is UNIQUE!.
4. Submit whatever requested document further to your application immmediately and with more than one means! It can just get ignored or lost!
5. World Bridge is definitely NOT the British Embassy, so do not rely on their "automatic" replies. Always make sure you get to the point and register a complaint if they do not engage actively.
6. BELIEVE and Do NOT give up or surrender to disappointing thoughts, at any point of time

Heartful wishes that every family would come together, and succeed in their pursuit of their reunion.

Many thankns to every body in this great forum for every pit of information, who made it a "shared experience', and a very special thanks to Directive.

Will remain ...