Hello,
I am new here and this looks like the right place to ask a question or two about the EEA family permit!
My situation is pretty vanilla compared to some of the other posters, but my question is more around timing of the permit - both for issuance and use. Here is our situation:
1) My boyfriend is Swedish, and we have been together almost 8 years, and we have lived together in the US for 5 years.
2) He won a green card in the lottery (first attempt even!) which enabled him to move to the US in 2007. He completed his university degree here, and will be applying for his US citizenship at the end of the month.
3) We have always wanted to move back to the UK, rather than Sweden, for personal and professional reasons. I say "back" because I lived and worked in the UK under a BUNAC visa back in '99, and then a visitor visa, having had a previous relationship.
4) We wanted to try to move back by this year, but have realized that aiming for some time between spring and late summer 2013 would be the better move.
5) I am the primary breadwinner in the house, and work for a large international media and information company that is well known in London, and has major operations there for various business lines. My department has sent people overseas on postings before, and paid for the work permits, however with many recent reorgs it is not clear if this is still an option. I want to make this as easy as possible and pitch a reassignment to another business unit in that I don't actually have to enter as a US citizen on reassignment, but can go as family member of an EEA national and would get paid at the going local rate.
5) I understand that we need to go together or I go after him.
My questions:
a) How long does it typically take to get the family permit issued? It looks to be fast (and free! which is a nice change from being shafted on immigration fees) - but are we talking 2 weeks compared to 2 months for a work permit?
b) Can I apply with a job offer in hand if he doesn't have work lined up? Or would it be better to not mention work possibilities when applying? Perhaps the question is more about how I don't want it to look like I am applying this way to avoid going the work permit the traditional route - or does it not matter?
c) Once the permit is issued, is there a grace period and how long is it? For example, it is issued in June, would we have 30 days to enter the UK before it expires?
d) We have never mixed bank accounts and most of the bills come in my name, but we have always been put on our rental leases together. Will that be a problem? We can otherwise show length of relationship (tickets home to Sweden together, his green card/citizenship obviously, pay stubs with this address on them, etc).
Thanks for any assistance!
I am new here and this looks like the right place to ask a question or two about the EEA family permit!
My situation is pretty vanilla compared to some of the other posters, but my question is more around timing of the permit - both for issuance and use. Here is our situation:
1) My boyfriend is Swedish, and we have been together almost 8 years, and we have lived together in the US for 5 years.
2) He won a green card in the lottery (first attempt even!) which enabled him to move to the US in 2007. He completed his university degree here, and will be applying for his US citizenship at the end of the month.
3) We have always wanted to move back to the UK, rather than Sweden, for personal and professional reasons. I say "back" because I lived and worked in the UK under a BUNAC visa back in '99, and then a visitor visa, having had a previous relationship.
4) We wanted to try to move back by this year, but have realized that aiming for some time between spring and late summer 2013 would be the better move.
5) I am the primary breadwinner in the house, and work for a large international media and information company that is well known in London, and has major operations there for various business lines. My department has sent people overseas on postings before, and paid for the work permits, however with many recent reorgs it is not clear if this is still an option. I want to make this as easy as possible and pitch a reassignment to another business unit in that I don't actually have to enter as a US citizen on reassignment, but can go as family member of an EEA national and would get paid at the going local rate.
5) I understand that we need to go together or I go after him.
My questions:
a) How long does it typically take to get the family permit issued? It looks to be fast (and free! which is a nice change from being shafted on immigration fees) - but are we talking 2 weeks compared to 2 months for a work permit?
b) Can I apply with a job offer in hand if he doesn't have work lined up? Or would it be better to not mention work possibilities when applying? Perhaps the question is more about how I don't want it to look like I am applying this way to avoid going the work permit the traditional route - or does it not matter?
c) Once the permit is issued, is there a grace period and how long is it? For example, it is issued in June, would we have 30 days to enter the UK before it expires?
d) We have never mixed bank accounts and most of the bills come in my name, but we have always been put on our rental leases together. Will that be a problem? We can otherwise show length of relationship (tickets home to Sweden together, his green card/citizenship obviously, pay stubs with this address on them, etc).
Thanks for any assistance!
