EEA Family permit not straightforward application

[Eszter1978]

Hi,

I hope someone will be able to answer my question.

I am a Hungarian citizen who have lived and worked in the UK for 10 years. I was married from 2000 to 2007 to my ex husband and I kept his name. I have got a fiancé who is Cuban and we are going to get married in Feb 2017. I would like to take on his name. So the plan is once we have got married, he will apply for an EEA Family Permit.

My question is: Due to my name change, does he have to wait until my name is legally changed and the marriage is legalised in Hungary or he can apply for the family permit anyway?
Do I need to get a new passport with my new name on or my current passport with my previous married name will be sufficient for the supporting documentation?

As a note, the Hungarian Law does not allow me to keep my exhusbands name so when I get married it has to be changed either to the new husband’s name or back to the given name at birth. So this means I will have to change my name regardless after the wedding. There is no option for me to keep my current name.

[Eszter1978]

Hi,

My Cuban husband applied for EEA family permit on 17/04/2017 in Havana, Cuba. He received an email on the 2nd May that his application is handled in New York. He received another email yesterday stating Unfortunately, the processing of your application has not been straightforward and we will be unable to decide your application within our customer service targets. We are continuing to work on your application and aim to make a decision as soon as possible.
It should be a straight forward case. I am Hungarian nationality, who lives and exerices treaty rights since 2007. I have got a permanent residence card. I work for Rolls-Royce for nearly 5 years and I have got a very high salary. I own my house. I met my husband in November 2015. We got married in Feb 2017. I visited him 9 times in Cuba (every 6-7 weeks)
He has submitted the following supporting information:
- Original marriage certificate legalised and translated to English
- Applicant’s Passport
- Certified copy of Sponsor’s passport
- Certified copy of Sponsor’s residence card – proving her right to reside in the UK
- Sponsor’s Original mortgage statement from TSB
- Reference letter from the Sponsor’s employer – Rolls-Royce PLC
- Sponsor’s original payslips covering the past 12 months
- Sponsor’s original bank statements covering the past 10 months
- Letter from the Sponsor confirming that the Applicant will be living with her at the address shown above
- Original Mortgage statement
- 9x printed air tickets covering for Sponsor the time spent in Cuba
- Receipts of the Sponsor’s accommodations in Cuba
- Emails
- Phone/Wifi recharges
- Photographs

I am worried because there is nothing more I could have provided in order to prove that:
- I exercise my treaty rights in the UK
- and this is not a marriage of convenience. I just don't know what else I could have provided.

[Kasita]

Hi there, any news on your application? I'm in very similar situation as you. Hope it all worked out for you

[Eszter1978]

Hi,

Yes, my husband's FP was issued on the 24th of May. However, he did not hear about it until the 8th of June. It took over 2 weeks to advise him that he could come to the UK. He is now here in the UK and started working. He arrived just a week ago.

[Kasita]

Hi, I'm glad in the end it's all good for you and your husband. We only applied a week ago in Havana so now waiting. Was it hard for your husband to find job in UK? What kind of job he found? Me and my husband were discussing it the other day. I just would like to know before he comes to England. Thanks a lot. Take care.

[Eszter1978]

He started doing labour work with a builder. I think he was lucky. We looked for jobs in the catering sector, however they all require working reference from an English company. So that made it more difficult.
My husband was interviewed by the British Embassy in Cuba after he applied for his FP. It might be useful for you to know what questions he was asked. Maybe you could help your husband prepare for it.
Questions:
- Please spell your wife's name. Spell the names of your wife's parents.
- Where did your wife complete her studies? Where did she graduate? Name the school she graduated at.
- Do you speak her language?
- When did you meet first?
- How often do you see each other?
- When did you her last?
- Have you met her family? Did they attend on the wedding? Why did they not attend on the wedding? Have you met her children?
- What do her children do? Can you name them? Where do they live?
- Where do you stay in Cuba?
- What is your wife's job? What does she do?
- Where does she live?

I think it could be helpful for you two, just in case if he will also have to have an interview.

I bought one way flight for him from Havana to Gatwick from Virgin Atlantic. It was the cheapest option for us. Usually Virgin has seats available for the same week - affordable price. It costs around £700.
Good luck for you two. I know how stressful and worrying it can be.

[Kasita]

Thank you so much for all the information. I really appreciate it. My husband went to Havana to British embassy for interview but they only asked him 2 questions. Now we are waiting... I just really want everything to go quick. We got married at the end of March. Thanks again!!!