how long does it take to proceess the eea permit.

[maggieczuk]

Hello people
I am an african but living in poland at the moment, waiting to get married to my fiance , who is an EU citizen, but lives and work in the Uk.

I want to apply for the Eea permit, immediately after the wedding. So I can go and join my husband then in the uk. I have read abt processing time on the UK boarder control page, and it says something about 6 months.

Does it really take this long to get that permit? From the time one submits an application? I would like some big help here please..

Thank you

[Jambo]

The 6 months is for application for a 5 years Residence Card which you apply once you are in the UK.

The EEA Family Permit which allows you to travel to the UK normally takes 2-3 weeks to be issued.

[maggieczuk]

Thanks JAmbo.
You have lifted some weight off my shoulders.

So because I am a visa national, this will not affect me at all? As in the 3 weeks processing time.
And then another question, can I apply immediately, like 1 week after we get married? Or will the officials think this is too soon, and make them think it was a marriage of convenience?

Que.3
In case I get the family permit to be able to travel to uk, can I be able to travel to africa and get back to uk with just the family permit?

Thank you

[Jambo]

The 3 weeks figure is for all nationalities (although if you are a non visa national you don't really need a EEA Family Permit).

An African marrying a EU citizen who lives in the UK and applying after marriage - I think this would hit all the right warning buttons. I suggest you submit evidence of relationship. If your husband would be in Poland when you apply, I suggest he add a cover letter explaining the relationship and offering to be contacted/interviewed if needed.

The EEA Family Permit is valid for 6 months and you can use it to enter the UK as long as it is valid. It doesn't matter where you travel from.

[maggieczuk]

Thank you so much Again Jambo.
Now at least I know what to do.
Am the wife.. and I will be in poland at the time of application.
So I guess you mean, that my eu national husband is the one to write the letter?
And what kind of evidence do we need to provide? I heard heresy that, that involves pictures of us together.. and emai chats.. is this sufficient?

We met in uk, got engaged there, and then came to poland to get married. Do u think if we mention this, it will help us.?

Thank you.

[Jambo]

Thank you so much Again Jambo.
Now at least I know what to do.
Am the wife.. and I will be in poland at the time of application.
So I guess you mean, that my eu national husband is the one to write the letter?
And what kind of evidence do we need to provide? I heard heresy that, that involves pictures of us together.. and emai chats.. is this sufficient?

We met in uk, got engaged there, and then came to poland to get married. Do u think if we mention this, it will help us.?

Thank you.

I realised I got it wrong and updated my post. Sorry about that.

Well, any evidence showing this is a real relationship would help. Pictures from different periods showing you together, evidence of contact between you, if you travelled together then evidence of that. Legally, you are not required to provide any thing apart from the marriage certificate and the guidelines for the visa officers is to call you for an interview before refusing the application. In practice, they just refuse the applications. That's why I suggested your husband writes a letter letting them know that he is available if they have any concerns with the application or the relationship. Even if this will not help initially (in case you would get refused without an interview) it would help when complaining after a refusal. I'm not saying you will get refused but it is very likely the ECO would have doubts regarding your relationship (wife used to live in the UK, now gets married to return to the UK etc.).

Why didn't you just get married in the UK or are you working in Poland?

[maggieczuk]

Noo, I dont live in the Uk. I used to go there every after 2 years, for 6 months, to do scouting jamboree.but I live in Africa. So we met summer last year, on one of those jamboree trips. And started dating. Went back home, came back again in jan, got engaged, then went back home. So we decided to go poland where his family is, so I can get to know them. Then we decided to get married from here poland. So I dont work here, since am just on a visitors visa, but I have applied for a temporaly stAy permit, which I havent got yet, because not married yet, but will use it, once I get it, to apply for the EEA permit.

[Jambo]

You don't need to be legal in the country when applying for EEa Family Permit.
I strongly suggest you both make it clear that you are available to answer any concern the visa officer might have with the application as I'm almost certain they will have. I also suggest your husband will be in Poland when you apply to attend in person if needed.

[maggieczuk]

Thank you so much. You have been so much help.
I will update you on how we go.

[maggieczuk]

Hello Jambo,
thank you so much for your help.

I did apply for the eea family a week after we got married. with all the necessary docs, plus evidence of our relationship, and within 4 working days they gave me my passport back with the permit. am so happy. They didnt even call me or my hubby for an interview. I guess i was lucky and God loves me.

thanks