EEA3 & EEA4

[Nati]

I ended up on this board, as I was trying to google the processing times for EEA3 and EEA4 applications, but I started reading and suddenly became a bit anxious about the whole process, as I saw that many people had had trouble with the home office with what to me looked quite straight forward applications...

I am an EU citizen and came to the UK from my home country (Denmark) on the 29th of December 2006 together with my Non EEA citizen husband. We have been living here together since then and now have a one-year-old baby. I started working in January 2007 and studying aside my work in September 2007. I finished my degree in 2010 and worked until the 28th of December 2011. I became self employed on the 10th of January this year.

We are now in the process of submitting our applications for permanent residence, as my husband's EEA2 runs out in October.

What I wanted to know is, do you think the home office might refuse our application, as there is a gap in my work history between the 28th of December 2011 and the 10th of January 2012? I have a few emails to show that at that time I was waiting to hear from the company, who now supplies me with work as a self-employed person, but that's about it.. Would that qualify me as a job seeker? I did not register as unemployed.

Many thanks for any thoughts!

[EUsmileWEallsmile]

...as there is a gap in my work history between the 28th of December 2011 and the 10th of January 2012...

With short a short gap in employment, surely it would be disproportionate to refuse an application solely on that basis. I think you are worried about very little.

How many people would have been on holidays during that period (over New Year)?

[Nati]

Many thanks for your response.

Yes that's what I would have thought, I just started to worry after reading people's stories here and watching the news about how they want to make everything very difficult ..

I have all the documents together and the applications are ready apart from our passport pictures. How long might one have to wait with a straight forward application? Are we most likely looking at 6 months?

[EUsmileWEallsmile]

The EU national will generally be relatively quick, a month perhaps. The non-EU may take a little longer 2 - 4 months perhaps. It will depend on how long the queue is amongst other things.

[Nati]

Oh that sounds very quick! I hope it will be like that for us, as we're hoping to travel in September..

A few other things.. Do they normally place the PR as a vignette in the passport or give it on a separate cover like the first registration certificate I had? I know they will probably place it my husband's passport, but I would prefer it separately.. Also, I understand that our baby could register as a British Citizen once we are confirmed as permanen resident's here. However, I was wondering about the cost. I will most likely not apply for British citizenship, but my husband will. If he becomes British citizen, will we still have to pay for our baby at that point to register?

Thank you very much!

[Jambo]

EEA nationals documentation is never placed in the passport and will be in a separate "wallet" (similar to your previous one). The non EEA national would either get a vignette in the passport or if the HO don't have his passport (for example if he asked for it to be sent back to him for travel), then on a A4 size piece of paper.

When exactly was the child born? After 5 years in the UK or before? PR is obtained automatically after 5 years of exercising treaty rights. It doesn't matter if you applied for PR confirmation or not.

If the child was born in the UK after the 5 years, he is already British from birth and you apply directly for a passport. If he was born before you complete 5 years in the UK, he can register as British. The fee (£500) is always required. In this case, the child will not become British unless you apply. Your husband becomig British will not change it (although future children will be British If one of the parents is British).

[Nati]

Many thanks again for your response.

Aah, that makes sense about the PR being placed on a separate certificate. Well that's good then!

Our baby is 13 months and he was born before our 5 years here was up, so I suppose if we decide to get the British citizenship for him we'll have to pay..

[Nati]

Wuups, many thanks EUsmileWEallsmile AND Jambo for your responses !