EEA route via Ireland... Advice...

[wiggsy]

OK, given my wifes application for Deritive residence card is in process atm, im hoping it all goes well, but the next plan is to work in the republic of ireland for a couple of months (3-6).

Ive spoken to hmrc, and they told me, if i expect my absense from the uk to be less than 52 weeks, i will still qualify for CTC/CB etc,

they said as uk and ireland is part of the common travel area, im still technically in the uk.

will this affect us going to ireland and coming back after excersising treaty rights...
could ukba state "you never excersised your right under eu law, but under law XYZ (the common travel area)"

Has anybody got any guidance on how to approach this...

Visas required for wife, how to obtain them ETC.


I was looking at towing the caravan over to ireland and living in it for a few months... would this affect the eea permit?

I would want to keep home etc all ready to return to - so rent paid etc.
(obviously, we have lots of furniture etc that we dont wanna get rid of, and have to buy again...)

are there any "camp sites" we can rent a pitch on for residence. (tenancy agreement) or would the proof of living together need to be in the form of housing.

We do have the option of working for a friend... BUT ... here are the main questions:

1) how do we sort visa for wife to get to ireland
( we will apply for new passport, as by the time this deritive RC comes / gets refused, old passport will be expired)
2) once in ireland, do i need to do anything (British) before beginning work?
- what if so?
3) can my wife work immediately?
4) housing. how do we prove we live together.
- our housing will be either: Caravan, sharing a room in friends house, or cheap hotel for a couple of months - family room for about 20-30 quid in some etc) - would this housing go against us?
5) if i continue to claim CB, and CTC if we go to ireland - will this go against us?

cheers.