Switch from Tier 4 to EEA -EFM visa

[rolf]

Hi all!

I was wondering whether you may help me with some questions I have for my EEA - EFM application. Any suggestion/help would be much appreciated. I'm a Chilean student holding a Tier 4 visa and living with my German girlfriend for almost 3 years. Regarding the lasting relationship requirement, I would like to ask the following questions:

1.- When we moved to London in August of 2014, I left many documents in my city that now are unfortunately lost. We didn't have a joint bank account there, and our tenancy agreement was written in her name. During the time we lived together in Chile (since July 2013 until August 2014), most of the bills were in her name (basically because I moved to her place), so the only original correspondence with my name that I have got for this application during our first year of relationship has been the offer letter of my University. However, I have my last original employment contract dully stamped and signed by my former employer and I, as well as the original purchase certificate (official document) of my car. Both documents include the address where we used to live. Additionally, I have an electronic 'confirmation receipt' of my IELTS registration and payment (along with the confirming registration e-mail) that also includes the same address, but I assume that this may not be an 'original' document in view of the Home Office criteria (it was not issued as a 'material' or 'physical' copy). Would it be ok to submit all of these documents to prove our first year of relationship? The second year wouldn't be a problem since we have a joint bank account, a tenancy agreement written in our names, and bills.

2.- Regarding translations, I have some documents that proof that we are in a lasting or durable relationship. However, one of them is a health insurance contract signed only by me and where my girlfriend was included as beneficiary, but it has numerous parts and clauses that are not relevant for the application purposes. This 'standard contract' was issued along with a letter from the Hospital that informed me the submission of the contract and the start of the insurance coverage, but not the inclusion of beneficiaries. I'm planning to translate only the Hospital letter since the contracts and annexes would increase so much the cost of the translation. However, I would like to know whether this option is right or not, and what does exactly means 'a certified translation' ?

3.- Finally, it would be great to know your opinion regarding possible Brexit scenarios.

Sorry for the extent, but this may be helpful to clarify my questions. Many thanks in advance!!!!

Cheers

[noajthan]

1) The evidence from year one sounds a little thin. It needs to be rock-solid.

2) That approach makes sense. No value in translating a bunch of legalese.

From related (PR) guidance notes...

...document translated by a qualified professional translator. Ask the translator or translation company to confirm in writing on the translation:

• that it’s a ‘true and accurate translation of the original document’;
  the date of the translation;
  the full name and contact details of the translator or a representative of the translation company;

3) See bunch of other topics on these matters in forum.

[rolf]

Many thanks for the response noajthan!

Regarding the evidence of year one, unfortunately there are no other documents that I could submit with my application. Along with them, I was thinking of writing a well founded letter that could reasonably explain why I'm not able to submit bills or other correspondence, and making the case for the validity of the documents. Do you think that this approach could work well?

Cheers,

[noajthan]

Many thanks for the response noajthan!

Regarding the evidence of year one, unfortunately there are no other documents that I could submit with my application. Along with them, I was thinking of writing a well founded letter that could reasonably explain why I'm not able to submit bills or other correspondence, and making the case for the validity of the documents. Do you think that this approach could work well?

Cheers,

Well if that's all you have you can try.
But be aware HO plays hardball and expects hard evidence.
They are looking for a relationship 'akin to marriage' and don't usually give much benefit of doubt. (Sometimes even 'old married couples' fail to provide enough evidence of relationship and get refused).

[rolf]

Many thanks again!! Well, I think I have a stronger evidence of the nature of our relationship (parental plans doc) that would complement these documents.

Finally, I'm not sure whether the certified translation must be done by a qualified translator based on the UK, or in other countries. This would mean a huge difference in terms of cost, so I'm planning to ask the same translator I used in Chile when I applied for the Tier 4. Do you think that would be ok?

[noajthan]

Many thanks again!! Well, I think I have a stronger evidence of the nature of our relationship (parental plans doc) that would complement these documents.

Finally, I'm not sure whether the certified translation must be done by a qualified translator based on the UK, or in other countries. This would mean a huge difference in terms of cost, so I'm planning to ask the same translator I used in Chile when I applied for the Tier 4. Do you think that would be ok?

My understanding is that an overseas-based translator should be acceptable if the translation is annotated as above.