Using Statements from Friends & Family

[kovacsma]

Hi again. I promise, I'm almost done putting my application together, and this will be one of the last posts -- unless it all gets rejected...

Applying for EEA EFM residence card for my partner. We are relying on showing 3.5 years of durable relationship using a lot of letters from friends, family, and colleagues, photos, a timeline of wedding attendances (with photos and statements, photos, and cards from the couples who got married). This is in addition to a lot of official documents like bank statements, insurance policy docs, etc. which cover only 16-22 months.

Our solicitor advised that when we collect statements from people, we should include a copy of their passport page and contact details so their statements can be verified. I haven't found too many discussions/comments from others who've relied on statements like this so I'm presenting the question here: any thoughts/experiences with this? Has it worked for you?

Personally, I would refer to the EEA EFM guidance notes (V2.0 December 2015 - p 4 of 16) where the Home Office suggests the applicant can rely on statements from friends and family that they have lived with, in case they don't have any other proof of that cohabitation. Since TECHNICALLY, the entry clearance officer should be evaluating durability and not cohabitation, I am inclined to believe that you can rely on these statements to prove a durable relationship...