I would like to travel to Ireland with my wife on the ferry, and this blog post which is often cited here gives me some hope that this may be possible: https://eumovement.wordpress.com/2010/0 ... to-travel/
I am wondering whether the members of this board have more insight into whether the "MRAX" method of entry is possible for us, in the legal sense but also the practical sense - or whether her lack of a passport in her possession will cause problems, either entering Ireland or returning to the UK. The blog post is a little dated, so I'm not sure whether people are still successfully travelling in this way.
We both have valid UK drivers licenses, and would bring our marriage certificate along with evidence of my employment (long enough to satisfy SS requirements) and her CoA plus some proof of address stuff. My reading of the situation is that she does have a legal right to travel with me to Ireland, and that our drivers licenses are accepted as a form of ID in both UK in Ireland. But I am anxious about testing this when she doesn't have her passport - and about what could go wrong if we happen to encounter an immigration officer who doesn't share my perspective on our rights or the validity of her drivers license as a form of ID. It is not knowing this "worst case scenario" that troubles me.
Also, I was reading the "border force operations manual" and there are some parts I don't follow.
This says very little about direct family members.5.5.1 Admission of family members who are unable to produce a valid
passport, family permit or residence card
Border Force officers will need to assess whether or not a person qualifies for
admission under the EEA Regulations in the above situations. Ports should take
particular note of the guidance on those who seek admission under the extended
family member provisions as dependents relatives and as family members of an EEA
national with whom they have a “durable relationship” (unmarried partner); the
relevant criteria in Part 8 of the Rules (excluding entry clearance) should be used to
make a decision on whether or not to admit under EEA Regulations. Unlike
immediate family members the EEA Regulations allow for an “extensive examination
of the personal circumstances” of extended family members
I don't follow how someone who does make reference to already having applied for a residence card should should be treated.5.5.2 Seeking admission at port
Applicants at port should be treated as persons seeking admission unless reference
is made to applying for a residence card.
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ ... ndents.pdf