COA not helping

[asamant18]

hi,

just been to a job interview today and after being selected supplied my COA which confirms my right to work in uk..but after some hours the recruitment centre for the company called up and asked for more paper and said that they cannot offer me a job based on this letter...

don't know tried to expalined them also suggested to gaive HO a call if they doupt the paper..but seems they won't do it..

dnt know what more can i suggest them..the job offered is eally good but just worried if they wont keep me coz of not knowing the rules...

Can someone help me with what more can i tell them to offer me the position..??

[aledeniz]

Can someone help me with what more can i tell them to offer me the position..??

My wife 5 years ago was able to find work with the EEA Family permit entry clearance, up until the day of its expiration. No one ever accepted her CoA in lieu of her passport afterwards, so she had to wait for the EEA2 to complete its course, 8 months. She got a job straight away afterwards getting back her passport with the RC.

I thought things may have changed meanwhile, but a friend who recently moved in the country (2011), from a non visa country, married with an EU citizen as well, had exactly the same issue.

[Plum70]

If it isn't too late then lead them to this link: Business Links - Ensuring Your Workers are Eligible to Work in the UK and Guidance for Employers to Prevent Illegal Working. See Document list B.4 which, amongst other docs, lists the CoA as acceptable proof of right to work for family members of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals in conjunction with UKBA verification.

The above has all the info they'd need to ascertain your right seek and gain employment while your RC is being processed.

[Englandd]

Any denial to accept the coa clearly indicates lack of information but if an employer gets another person already possessing work visa/rc will naturally give him its favour.

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

You can request priority processing of your Residence Card application if it is essential for you to take employment.

Do it in writing, and send the request letter by Special Delivery to UKBA.

[giorgosa]

You can request priority processing of your Residence Card application if it is essential for you to take employment.

Do it in writing, and send the request letter by Special Delivery to UKBA.

My wife is going to receive an offer from the UK. They asked(since they said that they dont know) to explain them about her right to work in the UK. We 'll use the link provided above, it's useful.

I suppose that she 'll start working with EEA family permit, after with CoA and after with residence card. Right?

Can all these procedures make her unable to work? I am asking since they need specific personnel for 2 years and any disruption of her right to work will cause problems...

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

I suppose that she 'll start working with EEA family permit, after with CoA and after with residence card. Right?

Can all these procedures make her unable to work? I am asking since they need specific personnel for 2 years and any disruption of her right to work will cause problems...

Not sure what this highlighted question means. Is your wife the EU or are you?

[aledeniz]

Not sure what this highlighted question means. Is your wife the EU or are you?

If I understood good, giorgosa is the EEA citizen (Greek?), and the wife is a visa national (Turkish). I called the scenario interesting because in their case, it is the wife who is got a job offer.

Also, giorgosa (*), what about the naturalisation of your wife to Greek citizenship, did you explore that alley? Does Greece allow dual citizenship at all?

(*) Is that Γιώργος? I spent once a couple of long sunny hours chatting with a Γιώργος at the Αλεξανδρούπολη/İpsala border, I was trying to walk in Turkey on foot, he was the last obstacle, the poor chap had very strict orders not to let anyone on foot on the bridge over the Maritza/Ἕβρος/Meriç, which we could see from his post, and it was also bored to death, so kept me around to chat in broken English until the end of its stint, then he stopped all vehicles until he could find a poor devil who accepted to bring me on board to the other side of the bridge.

[giorgosa]

I suppose that she 'll start working with EEA family permit, after with CoA and after with residence card. Right?

Can all these procedures make her unable to work? I am asking since they need specific personnel for 2 years and any disruption of her right to work will cause problems...

Not sure what this highlighted question means. Is your wife the EU or are you?

I am the EU national. She s EEA family member. I suppose I ll find job quickly as we ll go there, otherwise I ll apply as self sufficient since she ll have job.

I worry if she can work uninterrupted betweeen EEA family permit, CoA and RC.... It's something very important.

[giorgosa]

Not sure what this highlighted question means. Is your wife the EU or are you?

If I understood good, giorgosa is the EEA citizen (Greek?), and the wife is a visa national (Turkish). I called the scenario interesting because in their case, it is the wife who is got a job offer.

Also, giorgosa (*), what about the naturalisation of your wife to Greek citizenship, did you explore that alley? Does Greece allow dual citizenship at all?

(*) Is that Γιώργος? I spent once a couple of long sunny hours chatting with a Γιώργος at the Αλεξανδρούπολη/İpsala border, I was trying to walk in Turkey on foot, he was the last obstacle, the poor chap had very strict orders not to let anyone on foot on the bridge over the Maritza/Ἕβρος/Meriç, which we could see from his post, and it was also bored to death, so kept me around to chat in broken English until the end of its stint, then he stopped all vehicles until he could find a poor devil who accepted to bring me on board to the other side of the bridge.

Yes it's me the Γιώργος.

She ll get the job offer if we ll able to convince them that she is able to work as a EEA family member without any action from their side. She had a meeting with them today in Istanbul and they mentioned that...

Being abroad and searching work in the UK is really hard. She was more lucky and found one before me ) by the way I found it and told her to apply

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

(*) Is that Γιώργος? I spent once a couple of long sunny hours chatting with a Γιώργος at the Αλεξανδρούπολη/İpsala border, I was trying to walk in Turkey on foot, he was the last obstacle, the poor chap had very strict orders not to let anyone on foot on the bridge over the Maritza/Ἕβρος/Meriç, which we could see from his post, and it was also bored to death, so kept me around to chat in broken English until the end of its stint, then he stopped all vehicles until he could find a poor devil who accepted to bring me on board to the other side of the bridge.

You guys make me curious. I do not understand this?
What is Γιώργος?
What is Αλεξανδρούπολη?


Working

How this works is as follows.

If the EU citizen is legally in the host member state, then the non-EU family member can work and remain with no restrictions. It is boring, but http://eumovement.wordpress.com/2011/09 ... eed-to-do/ explains all about the non EU family member.


So it is all about the EU citizen remaining legal. http://eumovement.wordpress.com/2011/09 ... eed-to-do/ is the requirements for them.

EU citizen is normally required to be working, a jobseeker, self sufficient with CSI, self employed, a student, or otherwise exercising EU “treaty rights”. (The UKBA term for this is a “qualified person”).

[Jambo]

I worry if she can work uninterrupted betweeen EEA family permit, CoA and RC.... It's something very important.

Legally - Yes.

If the employer would be satisfied by her statement & the link you provide is another story.

[giorgosa]

(*) Is that Γιώργος? I spent once a couple of long sunny hours chatting with a Γιώργος at the Αλεξανδρούπολη/İpsala border, I was trying to walk in Turkey on foot, he was the last obstacle, the poor chap had very strict orders not to let anyone on foot on the bridge over the Maritza/Ἕβρος/Meriç, which we could see from his post, and it was also bored to death, so kept me around to chat in broken English until the end of its stint, then he stopped all vehicles until he could find a poor devil who accepted to bring me on board to the other side of the bridge.

You guys make me curious. I do not understand this?
What is Γιώργος?
What is Αλεξανδρούπολη?


Working

How this works is as follows.

If the EU citizen is legally in the host member state, then the non-EU family member can work and remain with no restrictions. It is boring, but http://eumovement.wordpress.com/2011/09 ... eed-to-do/ explains all about the non EU family member.


So it is all about the EU citizen remaining legal. http://eumovement.wordpress.com/2011/09 ... eed-to-do/ is the requirements for them.

EU citizen is normally required to be working, a jobseeker, self sufficient with CSI, self employed, a student, or otherwise exercising EU “treaty rights”. (The UKBA term for this is a “qualified person”).

Γιώργος is George in greek.
Αλεξανδρούπολη is a greek city on the greek-turkish border

So, I understand that when we go and we apply for RC, no matter when this card will come she can go on working without any problem. even if we apply on 3rd month and RC will arrive on 9th month. (I realise that I have to exercise treaty rights in this period).

[aledeniz]

I worry if she can work uninterrupted betweeen EEA family permit, CoA and RC.... It's something very important.

My understanding of the letter of the law, is that once she enter the country with an EEA FP, as long as you exercise treaty rights, she is legally allowed to work, and she doesn't even need RC, or CoA for that matter.

Problem is, from my own wife's experience, and from the experience of people I know in a similar position, until someone doesn't get the RC, many employers will not even let them in for an interview.

Your wife's scenario seems a bit different, as long as the perspective employer understood she will be in with just a EEA FP and/or a CoA (which is a printed A4 paper!) for the next 6-8 months. If they understood it, and they are happy with it, I don't foresee any issue (you, or your wife, aren't really breaking any law, actually just exercising your treaty rights, as long as you are effectively exercising treaty right).

That said, my wife was able to find job with the EEA FP (and her last day of work was the expiration date of the EEA FP), but she hardly got any interview with the CoA, let alone a job.

While for my wife we should take in account that even tough she does a job which is very in demand in the UK, quite well paid as well, it is often requiring travels overseas (which obviously may have heavily skewed negatively her opportunities without a passport and an entry clearance), I've seen the same thing happening with friends or acquaintances in a similar position.

[aledeniz]

She ll get the job offer if we ll able to convince them that she is able to work as a EEA family member without any action from their side. She had a meeting with them today in Istanbul and they mentioned that...

All my employers in the UK never had an issue providing me with declaration I'm one of their employees, those are quite useful, i.e. to open a bank account, to rent a flat, to ask a tourist visa for in-laws or relatives, and so on ...

Being abroad and searching work in the UK is really hard. She was more lucky and found one before me ) by the way I found it and told her to apply

I did move on my own, found a job, and then my wife joined me. I always thought it would have been much easier for her (she's got 2 degrees and a CV to die for), but I hadn't taken in account the inexplicable slowness of the procedure to get the RC. It should take hours, not days, or weeks, let alone years!

[giorgosa]

She ll get the job offer if we ll able to convince them that she is able to work as a EEA family member without any action from their side. She had a meeting with them today in Istanbul and they mentioned that...

All my employers in the UK never had an issue providing me with declaration I'm one of their employees, those are quite useful, i.e. to open a bank account, to rent a flat, to ask a tourist visa for in-laws or relatives, and so on ...

Being abroad and searching work in the UK is really hard. She was more lucky and found one before me ) by the way I found it and told her to apply

I did move on my own, found a job, and then my wife joined me. I always thought it would have been much easier for her (she's got 2 degrees and a CV to die for), but I hadn't taken in account the inexplicable slowness of the procedure to get the RC. It should take hours, not days, or weeks, let alone years!

This was also my plan but her degrees(almost a PhD) and CV helped her to find easier.... But the relocation will accelerate mine also I believe...

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

My understanding of the letter of the law, is that once she enter the country with an EEA FP, as long as you exercise treaty rights, she is legally allowed to work, and she doesn't even need RC, or CoA for that matter.

True

Problem is, from my own wife's experience, and from the experience of people I know in a similar position, until someone doesn't get the RC, many employers will not even let them in for an interview.

This is the challenge.

Your wife's scenario seems a bit different, as long as the perspective employer understood she will be in with just a EEA FP and/or a CoA (which is a printed A4 paper!) for the next 6-8 months. If they understood it, and they are happy with it, I don't foresee any issue (you, or your wife, aren't really breaking any law, actually just exercising your treaty rights, as long as you are effectively exercising treaty right).

That said, my wife was able to find job with the EEA FP (and her last day of work was the expiration date of the EEA FP), but she hardly got any interview with the CoA, let alone a job.

Anyone in this situation should just say "can work legally in the UK". Leave the details of verification to a later stage. For instance, the employer can always call UKBA as described in this letter about applying for a Residence Card. http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/1 ... 024432.pdf

[giorgosa]

My understanding of the letter of the law, is that once she enter the country with an EEA FP, as long as you exercise treaty rights, she is legally allowed to work, and she doesn't even need RC, or CoA for that matter.

True

Problem is, from my own wife's experience, and from the experience of people I know in a similar position, until someone doesn't get the RC, many employers will not even let them in for an interview.

This is the challenge.

Your wife's scenario seems a bit different, as long as the perspective employer understood she will be in with just a EEA FP and/or a CoA (which is a printed A4 paper!) for the next 6-8 months. If they understood it, and they are happy with it, I don't foresee any issue (you, or your wife, aren't really breaking any law, actually just exercising your treaty rights, as long as you are effectively exercising treaty right).

That said, my wife was able to find job with the EEA FP (and her last day of work was the expiration date of the EEA FP), but she hardly got any interview with the CoA, let alone a job.

Anyone in this situation should just say "can work legally in the UK". Leave the details of verification to a later stage. For instance, the employer can always call UKBA as described in this letter about applying for a Residence Card. http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/1 ... 024432.pdf

I am in shock regarding figures in fourth answer.... 43% approval rate!!

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

I don't believe it for a second. I think it is far higher than that. It is the screwy way they are counting, which ends up looking good for their base.

[habibcs]

Just FYI - I'm on permanent job (London) with EEA FP.

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

You might find these interesting: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/27885818/UK/FO ... PNlist.htm

About the COA, the following is particularly relevant:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/27885818/UK/FO ... 20work.pdf

[jumpingzombie]

This topic just reminds me how it was difficult to find a job when I moved back to the UK with EEA FP(for 6 months) in 2009.

I was struggling just to reach an job interview. Eventually, I found a job, but it was just a part-time As somebody said in this topic, if any other job applicants have got a resident card, or aren't required any visas, they're prioritised, I guess....
I finally got a full-time job when I received the resident card(EEA2). I had significantly more numbers of chances to have a job interview with the resident card, comparing with having EEA FP or COA.

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

This topic just reminds me how it was difficult to find a job when I moved back to the UK with EEA FP(for 6 months) in 2009.

I was struggling just to reach an job interview. Eventually, I found a job, but it was just a part-time :( As somebody said in this topic, if any other job applicants have got a resident card, or aren't required any visas, they're prioritised, I guess....
I finally got a full-time job when I received the resident card(EEA2). I had significantly more numbers of chances to have a job interview with the resident card, comparing with having EEA FP or COA.

What exactly did you say in your applications before you had the Residence Card? Did you indicate that you have a full right to work in the UK?

[jumpingzombie]

When I was looking for a job with EEA FP, it was required to indicate what my residential status was on most job applications. Then, I needed to write what type of visa I had, and when It would be expired, as I'm not an EEA citizen.

Certainly EEA FP holders have a right to work, but employers may hesitate to take the EEA FP holders when the employers recognise the expiry date of it, that's what I guess... Besides, if the employers look for somebody working on long time basis....

Talking about COA, I was looking for a full-time job with COA, after applying for the resident card(EEA2). I printed out a webpage that indicated about a right to work for EEA family members and described as I had applied for the resident card and was just waiting for it to the employer.

But, why I got the job at that time is just because the employer was looking for somebody with a specific condition,so I was basically in favor of them. I knew about it, and that's why applied for the job, even though it wasn't a type of job I wanted to do. Otherwise I would have faced the same problem as before that employers preferred applicants with no bothers about a right to work in this country...

After receiving the resident card, I was looking for a full-time job again. I got several replies to have a job interview, but still required to mention when my resident card would be expired.
At least, this resident card lasts much longer than EEA FP, and I don't need to print out any webpages to explain about a right to work for EEA family members.

[thsths]

When I was looking for a job with EEA FP, it was required to indicate what my residential status was on most job applications.

There are many employers who do this incorrectly. The questions that should be asked are:

Do you require permission to work in the UK?
Do you require sponsorship to work in the UK?
Current visa expiry date:
Supporting Information:

And as a family member of an EEA national the answers would be no and no. Any other kind of question, for example for nationality etc, can be seen as (illegal!) discrimination, and could lead to a successful lawsuit. It is just shocking to see how many businesses are happy to take that risk.