First of all, a gazillion thanks for this site. I stumbled upon it when googling for information. I have read tonnes of information on other sites, but none could give me clear instructions on exactly what is needed and how long it would take.

I would be extremely grateful for any help, tips or advice.

Background: I am a Singapore citizen working in the Germany, and has been here for since 2003 Aug. I have been married to a German citizen since 2002 September. We now have a daughter aged around 2 yrs old. Not a marriage of convenience I assure you! ;-)

Btw, I am the sole breadwinner of this tiny family.

We are looking to move to the UK because of the language, and the culture. We do not have family in the UK, but plans are afoot to settle there for a few years. I should also not have a problem looking for a job there.

Question:

1. What do we have to do to accomplish that in the shortest time? I understand that my wife would need to apply for a Residents Permit there (form EEA1 or something), and I have to apply for a Dependents. Am I right? Do we do it concurrently, or do we have to wait for her to be approved first?

2. Does anyone know the links, or the actual names of the forms to fill in?

3. How long would it take? Approximately.

Many thanks and greetings from Hamburg!
zeck

 

triple H, thanks for the link. I was there and printed out the EEA1 form to be filled by my wife.

I understand that we would need a family permit for me to work n the UK, but the problem is that I have no idea where to get it.

I have combed the IND site as well as this site. I read polskasweetie's very informative post "Regarding Employment for non-EEA National". I am almost certainly missing something extremely obvious but I cannot find a family permit form to download.

Should I be filling out the EEA2 form? Is this the family permit? Or is it just a stamp.

I apologise for this obviously extremely stupid question but I am pretty much at my wits' end. Everyone refers to the magic family permit, but I have no idea where it is! ;-)


Thanks!! Really appreciate it.
ciao, zeck

 

I found it! I think....

Is it the VAF-1 in http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/servlet/Front ... 8721068382
?

I apologise. Grr... cannot for a moment imagine how i missed it!

Ta! ;-)

 

Thanks Triple H.

I called the Call Centre today again to make an appointment because I could not make an appointment via the Internet.

The reason why I was so confused is that I was reading that to get a Family Permit, my wife, a EU national would need to get a Residence permit first. This is apparently (so I am told by the Call Centre) not so.

I am supposed to just apply for a Family Permit myself. She does not need to do anything, even the Residence Permit, except for providing some supporting documents even though she is still here with me in Germany and that we would be travelling together if/when we head over to the UK.

Just so that anyone in the same situation would not get so hung up on applying for the Residence Permit for the EU spouse like I did.

I will keep this forum informed how it goes. I have opted to hand over the documents personally next week to the embassy.

Thanks!

 

Armand, I wish I could help, but I have no idea so I shall leave it to others to answer your queries. I do understand that it is sometimes very confusing.

Just to keep everyone updated -

I printed out the VAF-1 and filled it in, as well as the Residence Permit forms for my wife (German).

As it turns out, we can ONLY apply online. I am not sure if this applies to other EU countries as well, but as far as the Family Permit goes, you can ONLY apply online, and if you opt to send in your documents personally, you have to make an e-appointment ONLINE. There is no other way.

The application is also online, which means I did not have to print the VAF-1 or the EU Residence Permit forms for my wife to fill in.

It is just a single step online application for EEA-Dependent (or something). My wife did not have to apply for a Residence Permit.

I brought along all supporting documents (originals) including Marriage Certificate, my German residence papers, Passports, Bank statements, employment proof, and a letter from my wife that she would be travelling with me to the UK.

The Officer at the counter only found the passports, marriage certificate and German residence papers interesting and returned the rest to me.

I was an hour early for my 11am appointment at the Dusseldorf British Embassy, but only met up someone at the counter at almost 130pm. Pretty long wait, but as it turns out, my application was approved on the spot, and I got my passport stamped and returned then. It was certainly way easier and faster than I thought.

Just thought to share my experience on this Family Permit topic, at least on the German-side of things.

Thanks all!
cheers, zeck
ps. Quick question - I was advised to travel only with my wife to the UK, BUT I have an interview with a firm in the UK in a couple of weeks. My wife is unable to travel with me because of our 2-yr old daughter. I hold a Singapore passport and usually do not need an extra visa to travel to the UK (for 3 months). Can I still enter the UK as per normal? Or will I be stopped because of that extra "To accompany spouse" stamp? Thanks!

 

Please confirm the required documents from the website again because I forgot to mentioned the printed application, and the photo (not scanned). I hope I did not miss out others, but hey, check and double-check again that you have all your documents before embarking on your way to the Embassy. And before you step out of the apartment, check again. That was what I did. ;-)

 

Just to keep those interested on travelling for interviews WITHOUT the EEA spouse to the UK.

Bear in mind that I do not need a visa to visit the UK in the first place, so this would almost certainly be alot more complicated if you require one even to visit/tour/holiday for a short period of time.

Below is a quote of an email reply from FCO.GOV.UK

If you are intending to enter the UK to attend an interview you can apply for Leave to Enter as a Business Visitor. As a Singaporean Citizen you do not need a Visa, but you will need to satisfy the Immigration Officer at the port of arrival that you:

- do not intend to work;
- will not have recourse to public funds;
- will not stay in the UK for longer than six months; and
- will be able to meet the cost of onward travel (or holds a ticket for
this purpose).

However, you will need to make it clear to the Immigration Officer that you are entering the UK as a Business Visitor and do not wish to activate your Family Permit.

Hope that the above is useful. This should cover anyone married to an EEA national (specifically a German), and the process of getting a Family Permit (actually just a stamp), and then travelling to the UK on interviews.

Goodluck and have a good one!
cheers, zeck