Entering UK without EEA family permit

[pojola]

Hi,

Me: EEA resident (german)
Wife: Non-european (senegalese). She has a french residence card "carte de sejour" valid for 10 years as she is married to a european resident.
Our son: EEA resident (german)
Current country of residence: France

We are relocating beginning of next year from France to the UK as I have found a job there.

We have been married for two years under french law. For practical and financial reasons we prefer not to travel to Paris to get this permit. It would set us back a minimum of 300 just to get it!

If we go for the 1A Stamp for my wife, are there any risks of us not getting boarded on the plane to the UK? Should we opt for Eurostar or the ferry?

Looking around at this forum it seems like we should be allowed to enter and get the stamp at the border as long as we bring the necessary documents. Are there any examples where this has been refused either at the airport or at the border?

Will it make any difference for my wife once in the UK wether she has the 1A stamp or the EEA family permit? Once we are there she will apply for the residence card.

[Jambo]

Code 1A is given by the UK immigration.

When taking a ferry / Eurostar, you pass UK immigration before boarding. When flying, you pass UK immigration after boarding.

That's why she won't be able to get on a plane without a EEA FP but should not have a problem when taking a ferry/Eurostar.

marriage certificate, passport and carte de sejour (as a bonus) should be enough to get code 1A.

There is no difference in having EEA FP or Code 1A. EEA FP just looks more official (as this is a big colourful visa sticker) in case you need to show it to a potential employer.

[JulietSoul]

From my own experience and reading what other people have written, you would be much safer travelling through Calais than Eurostar. I tried both Calais and Eurostar Brussels without a family permit and Calais was definitely easier, although both did not know the immigration law very well.
But that's just my 2 cents.