Many are in the same situation and there are already several threads in this forum about this topic.

 

Some of us are working on a petition that will highlight this and many other unlawful practices at the Home Office. Follow this link http://www.ukresident.com/forums/index. ... opic=70485 to see others' experiences and to know when the petition is ready for signing

 

Unfortunately, both COA and actual issue of the residence card/certificate is considerably slower than it used to be. The slowdown in COA seems to be a rather recent development (for the last few months) but I have seen several reports already.

 

Our COA's took about 2 months.

 

I got a job without a COA even. When applying, I stated that I had the right to work in the UK. When I got the job, I explained that I didn't need a work permit since I was an EU citizen's spouse and how the EEA Family Permit and residence cards work. They were fine with it. It seems some people have trouble, but if you can provide an employer with information on your rights, that should help.

As I was made to understand, my right to work started when we married and had little to do with the residence cards, etc.

 

Yes, it will definitely be difficult without a passport! I didn't turn mine in until long after I'd gotten the job, opened a bank account, etc. It's my only valid form of identification, so I was very hesitant to turn it over.

Rightly so, as now the HO is refusing to return it!

 

COA

Hi there,

I just thought i should chip in something eventhough all has been said concerning the recent situation on the COAs.My COA took 8 good weeks after i had made several calls and even sent them a fax to the Customer Unit complaining seriously for keeping me waiting for so long without a word.So,i dont actually know whether the COA was issued because of the pressure i gave them or that they wanted to take their time to drink coffee before looking at our situations. To those who have waiting for more that 8 weeks you have to start doing something about it because it is not longer normal anymore but have faith it will come.

I actually had applied for my NI Number,opened an account before sending my passport to HO.Then i attended an interview without the passport but i told the employer that i am a dependent of an EU citizen and had sent my documents to HO office for extention and gave them a copy of my passport, that of the expired EEA permit and my NI number.
A week later the COA arrived and i made a copy and took it to the employer. A couple of days later i was given the job.I am now working.

About a week ago i got another letter from HO in Liverpool asking for additional documents within 21 days, i just submitted the documents yesterday. Now, i have an urgent journey to make and would need my passport,i dont know what to do.I thought of giving them a few days to open the documents i submitted before requesting for my passport and if i go out of the country what is the possibilty that they would ask me to get another visa and what is the situation if i have to apply for another visa before coming how is the situation with my documents at HO going to look like?
I need your pieces of advice.

cheers

 

Re: COA

It would be a gamble requesting your passport when it appears a case worker has begun considering your application. Obviously if the trip is unavoidable then you must go; otherwise I would advise holding off any trips until your residence card is safely affixed in your passport! Also you need to check (with the HO/required consulate) how the status of your EEA2 application in-country may be affected if you apply for a EEA family permit out-of-country for your return.

 

EEA2

Hi there,

What do you really called case worker and documents under consideration?

Cheers

 

Re: COA

I just had a rather good experience with an immigration officer. He seemed to be genuinely aware of European law, and especially of the option to travel without a visa.

If you (the OP) are handled by an officer like this, the CoA, together with a copy of the marriage certificate and proof of address of your partner would be sufficient.

You could also apply for an non-EEA Family Permit. This should have no influence on the application for a residence card, as there is no restriction in European law on parallel applications. The problem is that the case is most likely referred to the Home Office (because you are residence in the UK), and that could take a while.

The last option is to ask for your passport to be sent back. Include evidence of your travel plans, and why it is necessary. You can ask for the application to be processed in time, and with some luck (and if your case is not too difficult) the casework will do this.

Tom

 

Re: COA

Tom, this is an exception not the rule. It is too risky for a non EEA Family member (esp. a visa national) to travel w/out a valid visa hoping that they encounter a knowledgable IO along the way.

Precisely, it would still need to be referred to the HO which may affect any pending EEA applications. (Njangah mzke sure you double check this.)

By far the most logical and secure option. Like I said previously Njangah, if your trip isn't urgent then try to wait out the EEA processing time and get all your docs back once and for all. If you must travel, then call 0207 035 4848 to request your passport. They will state a 10 working day return policy. I got mine in 9 days, others were not so lucky so contact the HO in time.

 

Hello, my case is similar to others. My wife is from Poland, I am Canadian and we have both been in the UK for 1.5 years now. I came with the Holiday Maker Visa from Canada and I applied for the FMRS on June 1st 2008. Until now I have and no letter at all from HO and its been almost 2 months now. I called them 3 weeks ago to request my passport for a trip to Ireland for the week end but was told it would take 10 working days and there is a chance I could not get back to the UK so that scared my off and we canceled our holday. One holiday is fine but we've got 4 planned in the next 3 months and we coud not have imagined that the HO could have such horribly slow process, how could this be? Because they have the right under European law to answer to the FMRS request whithin 6 months or so I understand.

Now Im seaching the web everywhere I can to try to understand my risks here if we go away on holiday to Poland to 4 days at the end of August. If I bring with me our marriage certificate (that might be hard because HO has the the original), Canadian passport if they give it back, pay slips, original work contract, proof of address in the uk, bank statements, etc. Would they let me in? I cant imagine the effects of them refusing me to enter the UK, how would you pay rent, how would you explain that to your employer (reason for dismissal?), etc.

Does anyone know of someone in my situation who got in and out of the country whithout problems? Should I risk it?

thanks!

 

certificate of application-COA

Hi my name is Jorge I send my EEA2 form 03/04/2009 and still waiting for the certificate of application-COA after almost 2 months.

 

I applied for mine June 1st 2008 and believe or not I just received my EEA2 less than two weeks ago. Thats about 11 months and thats after two complaints. This stamp permit is NOT a visa, its a permit and it is NOT required to travel in and out of the country. European law states that you are allowed free travel if you carry with you your marriage certificate and you are acompanied of the EEA national. I have travel ouf of the UK and out of the EU about 15 times while waiting for the EEA2 to come back. They cannot expect you to be confined to the country just because they are illegaly late (6 months) in processing your EEA2 permit. After 6 months you are allowed an official compaint with the EU.