BC application for EEA3 holders

[kiki2011]

Hello,

I am an EEA national and have had an EEA3 card since November 2009. I want to apply for BC now - do I need to fill in sections 2.4 and 2.5 of the application form?

Or can I just send my permanent residence card + P60s covering the period since November 2009 (to prove that I've been in the UK since then)?

Also, on the supporting documents page of the application form it says that I need to supply:

"Evidence of lawful residence during the 5 (or, if the applicant is married or in civil partnership to a British citizen, 3 years before the date of the application): required for applications made on the basis of residence in the United Kingdom:
required for all applicants
• Your passports OR
• Letters from employers, educational establishments or other Government Departments indicating presence in UK"

Obviously my passport doesn't show a visa or stamp. Is the EEA3 card enough to satisfy this requirement or do I need to supply anything else?

Thanks!

[Gyfrinachgar]

I am an EEA national and have had an EEA3 card since November 2009. I want to apply for BC now - do I need to fill in sections 2.4 and 2.5 of the application form?

Simplest way would be to write: "please refer to enclosed PR document". With that neat little blue document you saved yourself a lot of hassle!
Theoretically, your passport + PR document + LITUK test certificate should be enough and you don't even need to supply any P60s (although it does makes a good impression, it should not affect your citizenship application).

[Plum70]

If it is any help my husband applied for BC in last November and in addition to his passport, PR card and LIUK test cert. the NCS agent advised that he provide his P60s covering 5 years as well as his most recent payslips.

I do not know if the above influenced the decision but he received his BC approval within 6 weeks of applying.

Guess what i'm saying is that it won't hurt to provide your P60s.

[vinitmanu]

If it is any help my husband applied for BC in last November and in addition to his passport, PR card and LIUK test cert. the NCS agent advised that he provide his P60s covering 5 years as well as his most recent payslips.

I do not know if the above influenced the decision but he received his BC approval within 6 weeks of applying.

Guess what i'm saying is that it won't hurt to provide your P60s.

Thank you, I'm sure the information would surely help someone on this forum.

[kiki2011]

Thank you very much for your help.

So I will leave 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6 blank, but I am super confused about 1.3 now. It says:

1.3 Please say when you were given indefinite leave to enter/remain in the UK (not necessary if you are a Commonwealth citizen with right of abode in the United Kingdom). If you are an EEA national, a Swiss national or a family member of an EEA or Swiss national you should read pages 8-10 of the Booklet AN.

On the Booklet they make a few references to indefinite leave to remain when they talk about EEA citizens and family members and I am confused because I thought EEA citizens are given 'permanent residence' as opposed to indefinite leave to remain.

With this in mind, should I fill in 1.3 (with the date when my EEA3 card was issues) or should I leave it blank?

Thanks!

[Gyfrinachgar]

On the Booklet they make a few references to indefinite leave to remain when they talk about EEA citizens and family members and I am confused because I thought EEA citizens are given 'permanent residence' as opposed to indefinite leave to remain.

That is correct. Under EU routes you get PR, under British routes ILR. Same thing - different name basically. Don't worry about it.

With this in mind, should I fill in 1.3 (with the date when my EEA3 card was issues) or should I leave it blank? Thanks!

Enter the date you qualified for PR (the date you have exercised EU treaty rights for 5 years) - which is the date you atomatically receive PR status. The EEA3 process just gives you a document stating that, it does not itself change your status.

[kiki2011]

Thanks!

But since I have the PR document and will not be filling in sections 2.4-2.6, shouldn't I enter the PR (EEA3 card) issue date? It was issued in 3.5 years ago so more than enough to satisfy the 1 year 'free of immigration time restrictions' requirement.

And (out of curiosity) if I have to fill in 1.3, does it mean that 'permanent residence' for EEA citizens can also be referred to as 'indefinite leave to remain' by the Home Office?

[Gyfrinachgar]

But since I have the PR document and will not be filling in sections 2.4-2.6, shouldn't I enter the PR (EEA3 card) issue date? It was issued in 3.5 years ago so more than enough to satisfy the 1 year 'free of immigration time restrictions' requirement.

You can - I guess it doesn't really matter. Technically the correct date is the one when you received PR status, not the date it was documented via EEA3.

And (out of curiosity) if I have to fill in 1.3, does it mean that 'permanent residence' for EEA citizens can also be referred to as 'indefinite leave to remain' by the Home Office?

Technically not, but it is treated in the same way for immigration purposes. It is used interchangably by everyone anyway, so again: it probably doesn't really matter.