Non- EEA Family Member Visa Free Travel

[MellyAnne]

Hi,

Hoping someone can help. I am a family member of an EU national (non EEA wife) and we've been married for ten years. The first five years the vignette in my passport showed family member of an EEA national of which I was able to travel visa free to Schengen territories with my husband as it explicitly stated I was a family member. After the five year qualifying period I applied for my permanent residence under EU law and was granted this.

We wanted to plan a trip to Spain and were told I would need a visa to travel with my husband who is an EU national to go there. My question is why do I all of a sudden, am not recognised as still being the wife of an EU/ EEA national and need a visa though we are travelling together ? This permanent residence card was issued under EU law and not UK law so shouldn't that count for something ?

Can anyone please share which countries within the EU do not require the non EU spouse who has permanent residence under EU law to have a visa to travel as it is all very frustrating and confusing for me. Thanking you for your help.

MA

[secret.simon]

were told

Who told you that?

[MellyAnne]

To be honest we went to the office in London and were told by one of them when it was our turn. But my reason for querying this is him saying that the permanent residence sticker was issued under UK law and which it wasn't and makes me think he doesn't know what he is saying.