I had similar problems. I'm a South African married to my Hungarian wife. I was originally on a Working Holiday visa which expired 30 June 2006. We sent our documents and passports for a FMRS in the beginning of June in 2006. We had also organised a trip to Hungary (Late Honeymoon) in September. Unfortunately that month came too quickly and I still had no passport, so I told my wife to go alone and see her sisters while I sit in England and wait (She can travel on her ID card)

I finally got my FMRS in December. But now it expires on the 16th of June this year, which isn't much help at all. Only problem now is that the month my visa expired, was the same month that the application was sent, and now my FMRS expires the same month this year, so unfortunately I can't tell you if they give it to you for a year from the date that they received your application, or a year from the end of your previous visa or permit.

It's a bit silly to wait 6 months for a visa that expires in 6 months when you get it back but I suppose that's the way it works

 

I agree. It might not take the full 6 months though. I've heard it coming back within 3 months, but I see you've waited since January.

I really started to stress in December, because we had organised a holiday to South Africa in March this year and I was worried that maybe they has lost all our passports. If that had been the case I wouldn't even want to know how long it would take to get another passport, marriage certificates and all our other stuff!

 

Have either of you received an acknowledgement letter from the Home Office regarding your applications? YOu should have received this around 2-3 weeks after they receive your paperwork. This letter should have a reference number.

Since you've waited long enough I suggest giving them a call twice a week with the ref number on hand and follow up.

 

I've already received my FMRS so no worries there. I did originally receive a letter with my reference number on it but on the page it specifically says if I need any information I need to write a letter to them and not to phone. Is it still like this?

 

Hi,
Congratulations on your residence permit! It's such a relief, isn't it? Could you send me the model of letter of complaint you sent after 6 months and 1 day to them? (of course without the personal info, just the general text).
My application is on the 5th month and as soon as it completes 6 months I will raise a complaint too.
My email is at hotmail dot com.
Enjoy the residence permit and hopefully now you can travel for summer holidays, etc! Such a relief!

 

If there is anybody please I need some information about FMRS.

I have sent an application to Home Office called "FMRS" 6 month ago, my girlfriend is from Czech Republic and I am an Iraqi Kurdish, we have been living together for 4 years. I have no passport no permission to stay no right to work, no any assistance from any organisation or the government for living costs such food, cloth, accommodation etc .
I have received an acknowledgement letter saying that they will sort out the application within 6 months, obviously they have not yet :x . My questions are:
1. Since 6 months is passed, what action do I have to take?
2. If I get the FMRS how long will it be valid for?
3. Will I have right to work full time?
4. Can I travel abroad? Bear that in mind I have no any passport
I will be very grateful to be replied, many thanks

 

1 - I would send in the letter that Princess Peach wrote out, substituting your information of course.

2 - a year from when you sent it in. so if it takes 6 months to process you'll have 6 months left (we all go through this, you'll get a longer visa after this eventually with an eea visa)

3 - yes

4 - i dont think so. did you not send in a passport originally? maybe this is why it's taking so long. how did you come into the UK without a passport? FMRS comes in your passport, so I have no idea how you would get it

 

Thank you mellowd for your help, but it is more complicated than you think. I have never had any passport in my entire life for two reasons:

1. I am Kurdish we have not independent state, it means we Kurds are not recognised as a country internationally: cry:
2. The Iraqi regime did not issue passport for Kurds because we were counted as second citizen (means no rights, besides you may have heard about the genocide of the Kurds by Saddam) so we could not travel by any mean and this is been like that since 1921 and you know people could not travel by plane before that. So really Kurds have never ever been able to go abroad.

Here is the summary of my story
I came here illegally as 96% of immigrants , some how I sneaked to this country of course I did not like it to be this way but (see reasons above) that was the only way to escape from Saddam's regime. I start to seek asylum in this country I was granted to stay here (UK) called ELR (exceptional Leave to Remain), but after a year it expired so I filled an application before it expires so that I can have an extension, unlawfully after three years waiting for my application to be processed they refused it. Then I made a fresh claim three years ago I have never received one single letter even confirmation letter from the Home Office, I contacted MP a 7 month ago the Home Office states that I have to wait until the end of 2011: cry: for my application to be processed until then I have no right to work or to reach any government or public benefits system .

I applied for some help so that I can live on it, they did not answer me it has been 2.5 years, even though my former solicitor told me that I have right to ask for accommodation and living costs .

I found out about FMRS exactly 6.5 month ago, one thin I would like to share with you, is that I am the most venerable person in this country imagine after all this problems I still live trust me I am effected psychologically, I have problems with remembering things, I am suffering from mentally health problems and this country treats me like less than a dog, lucky pets and animals in zoo have some think to eat or a place to rest and sleep, I am young person I want to work and pay tax as I did in the past came on Home Office it is Christmas have mercy on me believe me some times I tell my story friends start to cry. I don't know what to do; I am so angry, so depressed, so venerable and so ashamed. I did not choose to come to his country I forced to come here I am a political Asylum seeker for goodness sake I have right to be here (UK). How can they have a good and happy Christmas while I suffer how they can have hot food and warm place or rest and sleep while I have place to go. I was thinking to buy my girlfriend Christmas present but How would I do that for a girlfriend that I love her so very much: cry: I have bank account the credit is 75 pence. There is so much I can say it will never end of my suffering, but who cares? I believed this country is place to be, democracy, human rights etc but where is human rights if there was not my girlfriend I would starve to death: o. I am a man wanted never cry, but in this situation who does not cry? I respected this country's law so much if I would respected Islam that much I am sure I would guarantee heaven. May god show to those who are in power to have mercy and think that there are some people out there, they need help and deserve right to live. Thank you mate for reading my story

 

Is there any body please has the fax number of Home Office? I would like to send complaint letter about the FMRS. Thank you very much

 

Just shocked ;-////

After reading above posts I was speechless for 5 minutes… staring into my square-headed spouse (comp) like an idiot.. even my nasty colleague ask me if I would like a glass of water… Yes, please….*uck sick….Can’t believe… I was more than sure FMRS will list for a year from the moment it was issued(received) not from the moment of application ;-( I have been waiting for mine 7 month 8 days and 2h 32 min… What should I do now? Any suggestions/ comments? HELP! Please! I rang HO recently and asked them as any way I could help with proceeding my application… they sad everything was fine…how long should I wait more than? Guys?!!! I feel no like a fish out of water… I will run for another glass… dehydration even worse then 7 month 8 days 2h and 35 min leaving with idea that I was poisoned in a tiny piece of land called Northern Ireland ;-(

 

My husband has been waiting for his FMRS for 9 months now and we don't know what to do. Only now i found out that FMRS is valid for 1 year since they get application, so in our case by the time we get it it will be expired. Its a joke to proceed an application for 9 months. We sent a complaint letter a while ago, but again you wont believe what they sent us back.
'' Thank you for your letter dated ..... in wich you asked about FMRS which you applied for in December 2008. I would refer you to the UKBA web-site to enable you to apply for a Family Residence Permit.'' I mean they refering us to getting an other visa and they don't even mention about the process of FMRS. I am speechless........

 

we have applied 15 months ago!!! I am going to send letters of complaints every tuesday till we get my husbands passport back!!!
they are being ridiculous!dont have respect to anyone! we feel like we're imprisoned in this country! we pay taxes and are here absolutely legally,so we have right to have this case considered in REASONABLE TIME!!!
the issue date of the fmrs is the date when its granted,so don't worry
good luck!