BC Non EEA spouse applying for RC/FP under Surinder Singh

[qinqiuk]

Hi All
Here is my details for the FP/RC under Surinder Singh route, with BC as a student in France.

Me, the BC, started one year Full Time postgraduate programme in France on 4 Jan 2017. My wife, Chinese, quit her job in China and joined me in France on 12 Jan 2017. She did part-time French course while I was studying. She got a article 10 EEA Spouse RC from France in April 2016, valid till 31 Dec 2017. The French course is supposed to finish on 13 Dec 2017.

From 2 Jul - 27 Aug 2017, we are staying in the UK for her graduation ceremony, she used a visitor visa to enter the UK, because we weren't aware of right to enter with article 10 French EEA Spourse RC. I have been working during this 8 weeks. We are to return to France on 27 Aug 2017.


Problems:
My wife is to start her PhD study on 22 Sep 2017 in the UK, while I still have 3 more months of study to finish in France. The UK school requires a visa, FP or RC. I thought we could apply under Surinder Singh route, but I am concerned that eligibility seems to require either we return to the UK together, or I am already in the UK and she is to join me.

Is it possible to apply either FP or RC in this case? or we have to go through family visa. I am a UK limited company director so I can meet the income threshold while studying full time but the family visa process is tedious and slow.

Thanks in advance!

[qinqiuk]

From reading other posts, it seems I just need to prove and actually travel with her back to the UK, ie a weekend trip. It is not like we have to move back permanently.

There is no mention of how long she could stay there or whether i have to remain in the UK with her for the rest of times.

And they don't seem to be able to reject the application on the ground that she has a visitor visa valid till end of the 2017.