EU national studies abroad and wants to return to the UK

[Blueinch]

Thank you, noajthan. As always your advises are very thoughtful and useful.

In terms of translation, it seems that the only one document that has to be done - my son's birth certificate.

Technically, I can translate it myself - 5 minutes job. Does it have to be done externally? Was wondering if it needs to be notarially certified?

[noajthan]

Thank you, noajthan. As always your advises are very thoughtful and useful.

In terms of translation, it seems that the only one document that has to be done - my son's birth certificate.

Technically, I can translate it myself - 5 minutes job. Does it have to be done externally? Was wondering if it needs to be notarially certified?

Translations have to be done by a qualified professional translator - see PR guidance notes.
(They don't have to be notarised).

[Blueinch]

Back again

My son got a new job, thus we are finally happy to fill and send out our joint DCPR application. We also got his birth certificate translated into English language, so now we can show his link to me, as my son.

When it came to filling application, we got a bit confused... Out of two of us, who has to be the main applicant, and who is an additional family member?

I have been working throughout the whole qualifying period, while son was a student/worker. Therefore, I believe my chances of getting the DCPR seem to be higher than my son's. If we follow this logic, I have to be the main applicant, and I have to fill Sections 1, 3, 5 (printed twice - one copy for son to fill), 9, 16, 17 and 19.

When it comes to my son, and showing his dependency on me, we need to fill Section 13 ("Dependent family member" aged 21 or over). The first paragraph of that Section is asking for "sponsor named in section 2". Here comes the second confusion... As application is filled from my perspective, I don't state any Sponsor in Section 2, thus it looks that without that information we can't fill Section 13 and prove son's dependency...
What shall be do in this case? Shall we state my details in Section 2? In this case I will be a sponsor of myself, which will allow us to fill Section 13 - right? Or shall we fill the application from son's perspective?

Thank you in advance

[noajthan]

It's a confusing and poorly designed form.

The caseworkers must be used to making sense of it all.

Suggest skip Section 2 and point any references to Section 2 back to you as main applicant.

Or humour them and fill yourself as sponsor in Section 2.
Or at least put your name there and then refer to the main applicant section.

Definitely fill in Section 13.

At the end of the day the form is not a legal requirement; you could even go hardcore and apply by letter.
So in that sense there is no right or wrong way to fill in the form because a freestyle letter could suffice.
(Using a form does give some structure though).

[Blueinch]

Thank you for stating some good ideas.

How about a couple of alternatives:
1. Both of us fill separate forms, and I state son as an additional family member in my form, while he puts me as his sponsor in his. And then we send both forms in one envelope. Does it sound like an option?
2. What if we fill the simplified form? In this case, which part of it can show and explain our dependency (Section 13 of the monster form)?

[noajthan]

Thank you for stating some good ideas.

How about a couple of alternatives:
1. Both of us fill separate forms, and I state son as an additional family member in my form, while he puts me as his sponsor in his. And then we send both forms in one envelope. Does it sound like an option?
2. What if we fill the simplified form? In this case, which part of it can show and explain our dependency (Section 13 of the monster form)?

1) Not heard of anyone do that.
On the basis that you can even apply by letter (ie free format) it may work.

2) You could add a cover letter to fill in the gaps in lieu of a 'section 13'.

[Blueinch]

BIG update!

Two days ago we received a package. With all the evidence docs. And two freshly-made DCPRs! One for me, and for my son! Could not believe how fast it was! It was only a month plus a couple of days, since we sent it away. Brilliant!

Some suggestions based on our experience:
- If you seek additional support, outside of this brilliant (!) forum, I suggest to talk to local Borough Council, instead of expensive solicitors/advisors. Borough Councils might have people (in case of our town it was NGO called Law Community Service), who will charge you reasonable amount of money for application check-up service (£72/hour), and will give very practical answers to your questions. In comparison to fancy London solicitors, who charged me £250 per hour, and talked broadly about the topic, Law Community Service are much better value for money.
- Make life of Home Office staff easier! I personally believe this was a crucial point, which affected the positive outcome and fast return of documents:
1. separate all the evidence by topics (e.g. bank-related stuff, work, study, etc)
2. put them in nice clear files, which go into one big folder
3. if needed, put stickers with hints giving additional information inside of your application
4. write down a cover letter giving overview of your situation, and provide it on the top of application

Hope this points will help someone out!

Next step is naturalization!

@Admins, can I carry on writing in the same topic? OR shall I create a separate thread in another part of the forum?

[noajthan]

Admins administer technical aspects of site rather than moderating and assuring smooth running of the Board.

Yes a question on naturalisation would be best placed in BC forum.