EEA PR card application - confused

[MmeS]

Hi,

I hope someone can help.
I'm currently applying for the EEA PR card and the application drives me nuts (probably not the only one!).

I'm French.
Date of arrival in the UK: Oct 2001
Oct 2001-June 2004: full-time employment
June 2004-Sept 2004: no idea - I was moving house and sorting out paperwork for university study.
Sept 2004-May 2005: Student. I had a loan and a grant + personal savings and was living with my partner (now my husband). During this period I wasn't aware of the comprehensive sickness insurance. Was never told by the University! I probably had a E111 (at the time there was no EHIC card) from previous holiday but can't find any evidence of it.
May 2005-June 2005: unemployed for a few weeks. Claimed JSA.
June 2005-now: self-employed
Nov 2015-now: part-time employment alongside my self-employment.

Married to a British citizen since 2009 (been together since 2001 and lived together since 2002) and have 2 children who have dual nationality.

Now, I am trying to apply on the basis of "I’ve lived in the UK for a continuous period of five years as an EEA national qualified person". I want to use the last 5 years where I've been self-employed.

I thought I would only have to submit evidence for these 5 qualifying years.
However, on my online application I've found some discrepancies. I'm being asked when I entered the UK - that's October 2001.
Also if I have studied since living in the UK: that's a yes but that was over 10 years ago. I can submit documents from the university and the Student Loan Company but no evidence of a medical cover (I thought I was covered by the NHS!) and no bank statements (I don't keep bank statements that are that old!).
The online application form only asks about unemployment in the "qualifying period". So I am very confused as of why, for some parts of my history in the UK I have to go back to when I first arrived and other parts only the 5-qualifying years.
This is driving me nuts. Last time I talked to the UK Visas and Immigration helpline, I was told only to enter the last 5 years. However on the application form if I state that I arrived in the UK in 2001 I have to add all my jobs, study years, self-employment etc...

Anyone else in the same case? What did you do?
I don't want my application to be rejected. I need the card ASAP as I need to be able to get my application for British citizenship rolling by the end of May 2017.

Thank you.

[noajthan]

Current 'monster' form (and/or online form) are not mandatory legal requirements.
Suggest applying using earlier (simpler) version of form.

[MmeS]

Hi,

What's the simple form? Where can I find it? Thanks.

[noajthan]

Hi,

What's the simple form? Where can I find it? Thanks.

In the forum.

For example, here:
http://www.immigrationboards.com/eea-ro ... r#p1402703

[MmeS]

Hi

Thank you.

I think I'm going to try with that form. The EEA PR form is not mandatory as long as you provide evidence.
Wish me luck!