Re-entry to UK with family permit

[smalldog]

I am an Irish citizen, my wife is a visa national for the UK and we live and work in Asia. We entered the UK twice early last year using an EEA family permit and had no problems answering the immigration officers' questions as I was exercising treaty rights at the time. We intend to visit the UK later this year but as I no longer work there I'm not sure how best to demonstrate to the immigration officer that we have a right of entry. (A complicating factor is that my wife's family permit is valid for 5 years, probably an error on the part of the ECO but something we didn't question).

I'm looking for advice how I should frame my answers to the immigration officer's questions. I've been considering the following options:
- say we're just visiting (based on the 3 months' initial right of residence -- but does this apply when returning to the country after nearly a year's absence?)
- being self-sufficient (would we have to purchase travel insurance for this?)
- being self-employed (I am still registered self-employed and have a small residual income in the UK but don't actually do any work there)
- or something else?

Thanks.

[John]

I think your wife will need to apply for a Visitor Visa.

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

What is the purpose of your visit to the UK? Are you coming for a short (under 3 month) tourist visit? Are you coming together to work long term?

If she has an existing multiple entry EEA family permit, I am not sure why you would not just enter on that. You are exercising treaty rights even if you are coming for a quick weekend in London.

[smalldog]

We will be coming for a short visit and do hope to use our existing family permit. The problem is I'm not sure if we're still allowed to use that when I'm not obviously exercising treaty rights.