Europe is not US.VioletMarie wrote:Well, the difference for me in getting to the UK afterwards leaving from Malta versus Ireland is the **price of **four people and a *dog on a plane, etc, versus simply driving, taking the train or bus, over a few miles without to Northern Ireland (& hassle free I imagine as well). BTW not too many planes take huge dogs....and I might not qualify for "renting a car". I have debit cards only and not credit cards.
Have there been many people who have passed SS only doing *3 months? &
Does *4 months make a huge difference with success of SS?
It costs an arm and a leg to fly around US, or it did when I tried it a few years go.
We have budget flights spanning Europe.
Its easier for me, for example, to get to northern Netherlands (flying, for less than $20 ticket) than it is to drive to see relatives in North Wales (in UK: 6+ hours drive, $100 gas). Quicker too.
Europe will not work around you; UK HO certainly will not.
You may have to make some compromises.
For example, there is reported to be a massive backlog in Eire for issue of visas and also for EU-related documentation.
Some members have given up on delays in Eire and gone to France, Malta or other European neighbours.
Under EU law over 3 months is theoretically enough to establish residency in a member state (if qp is exercising treaty rights) but the UK approach is not compliant with EU law.
You have centre of life to contend with along with all the wild talk and shifting sands of Brexit.
You're looking at 6,9 months or more in a memberstate.
A year or two of work (or running your own business), kids in school/college etc etc would probably smash it.
(In that context, with savings from a years worth of work under your belt, a 1, 2 or 3 hour budget flight is small potatoes).