Moving from Syria to Spain

[pscotton]

I wonder if anyone can help me. I am British but have lived in Spain for the last 4 years. I am marrying my Armenian fiance next May. She was born in and lives in Syria and has a Syrian passport.

After we marry in Syria she will move to Spain to be with me. All our paperwork is all done to enable us to marry.

My question is who do we approach to arrange for her to move to Spain. As i am British and will be her husband, do we ask the British embassy in Syria or as she will be moving to Spain to live with me, do we ask the Spanish embassy in Syria to help?

I am not a Spanish resident as the residency cards have been phased out since March this year and are no longer needed. I work for myself as a graphic designer, i have an NIE number and have payed Spanish tax and social security for the last 4 years.

In Syria my fiance works as a translator for a large well known contracting company in the foreign relations and translation department. She also teaches students English and does translations for the Syrian
European business center.

Once she is here in Spain will she be able to work... as you she above she has good qualifications and an excellent career history.

And one more question... when she is living is Spain we will make regular trips to the UK to visit my family. Will she need a visa to do this or (after the move) will she be a European Citizen and not need a visa each time?

I hope i have explained my difficult situation and not confused you all... you may have to read my post a few times to understand the full story.

I hope someone out there can answer my important questions because I want to arrange all this as soon as we are married and want it all to run as smoothly as possible.

Why-oh-why didnt I just fall in love with an English girl... he, he!

Kind regards
Paul

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

If she is moving to Spain, then she will need to apply for a visa to join you there. This should be easy to arrange.

Once in Spain, she is legally able to immediately work. You should also immediately apply for a Residence Card.

In theory you should be able to travel through the EU with her Spanish issued Residence Card. The UK sometimes has other ideas and they want you to apply for an EEA family permit for UK visits.

Read all about Directive 2004/38/EC, which is the basic statement of your rights and responsibilities.

[Richard66]

Be warned the UK will do their best to impede your wife to go there and will go as far as giving false information to Stupid when requested. They might also try to pull you this one: that for VISITS to the UK she'll need to apply for a visitor's visa (and I'm not sure it's free either), while for SETTLEMENT we may apply for am EEA Family permit.

The above is all nonsense and if you read my other posts elsewhere in this forum, you'll see I'm throwing my weight about because of the British Embassy in Rome for this very problem.

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

I agree with Richard. If you are working or living in Spain and are married to a EU national (including UK!), you should never pay for a visa to enter the UK. They should only be issuing you a free EEA family permit. It must always be issued at no cost. If this is ever a problem you should contact Solvit.

[pscotton]

Many thanks to you both for taking your time to reply. Your comments have been very helpful and have taken away a bit of the worry and stress of working this one out.

In the meantime i have emailed the Spanish embassy in Syria for their help in the matter regarding a visa.

Thanks and regards
Paul

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

Be sure to read through the material at http://eumovement.wordpress.com/directive-200438ec/ so that you understand some of your rights.

[Richard66]

I wouldn't count too much on Solvit: they actually told me my wife would need a visa (and NOT an EEA family permit) to visit the UK. That the EEA FP was only applicable if I were intending to settle in the UK.

Don't mention the help! For my part, I try to do my best!