EEA citizen with non EEA partner wanting to settle in UK

[flyguy]

I got a a friend who lives in Italy with his wife and he has a european/italian passport. His partner is from outside the EEA and does not hold a European passport yet.

Is it best to wait for his wife to get a EEA passport, and then come to the UK, or come to the UK with her husband and kids as of now. And then apply for residency after 5 years. What will they need to prove and what conditions should they meet if they wish to settle in the UK on a permenant basis. They will not be resorting to any public funds.

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

What have you found so far in doing your research?

[flyguy]

Limited research on this at the momemt. But think best for his wife to get a EEA passport and then come to the UK, he says she should get a EEA passport within 12 - 18 months time.

Would this be a better option? kids are under 21 at the moment.

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

Sure. But it depends on what the question is!

[flyguy]

just wandering what recommendation should they follow, wait for his wife to get a EEA passport or for them to come over with current status in the next few months. And what requirements should they adhere to get permement UK status, i assume after 5 years of living in the UK

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

Sorry, but since you have not even explained why they want to come to the UK, it is hard to recommend whether they should come now or come later.

Why do they even care about getting permanent status in the UK?

Personally I would answer that if she could get a EEA passport in 12 months time, then I would think they should all remain where they are, finish that off, and then move to the UK in 2014 or so.

[flyguy]

For completeness sake, they want to come to the UK because they have immediate family connections and also better job prospects, because they live in a rural setting at the moment and jobs are hard to source. They think they will be better prospects for them in the UK than currently where they are.

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

For completeness sake, they want to come to the UK because they have immediate family connections and also better job prospects, because they live in a rural setting at the moment and jobs are hard to source. They think they will be better prospects for them in the UK than currently where they are.

So which is more important for them? Moving to the UK quickly or waiting to get an EU citizenship for the family member?

[fysicus]

As Directive has pointed out already, both options (coming to the UK or staying in Italy) are possible, and it is simply the choice of your friend and his wife what to do. Nobody here can make this choice for them, or even give a clear advice, as it depends on many individual factors that we don't know.
Having said that, I would like to remark that the UK is currently in recession and jobs may not so easily be found as you seem to think.