Student/Worker Combination EEA PR

[EmmaNef]

Hello!

I spent the whole day reading the guidance materials on EEA PR applications and could not find an answer to my question, therefore I really hope someone can help...

I have been living in the UK since September 2010 when I started out as a full-time university student, completed my undergraduate in 4 years, then completed a full-time postgraduate degree, and have been in full time employment since January last year. During the first 2 years in the UK I had the European Health Insurance Card (which counts as CIS at the moment), yet after that point I have decided there was no reason for me to have it as it made no impact to my access to healthcare with the NHS. As a result, I have not renewed my card.

Looking from a student perspective, I therefore do not qualify for EEA PR. However, while being a student I was continuously employed on a part-time or zero contract basis, working anywhere between 30 and 70 hours a week. As a result, during all years of my study I ended up paying my income tax and NI. Now, does that mean I can apply for PR as a worker rather than a student, or the fact that I was enrolled in an academic institution automatically bars me from qualifying?

Further, over 6 years I have had 3 deliberate periods of unemployment, 2 lasting a month and one lasting 3 months. During that time I was not registered as a jobseeker as I was taking a break between employments. How long does a break have to be to prevent a year to be registered as qualifying?


Thank you very much for your help!

Emma