I am a British citizen who has been living and working in Sweden for the past 20 years. My fiancé is a Thai citizen.

We are currently applying for an EEA family permit so that I can introduce my fiancé to my family in England. My mother is elderly and unable to travel to visit us in Sweden. Our only problem is that we have only been living to together for approx 7 months since we first met 2 years ago. I have lived in Thailand for 2 months (3 separate trips) and she has lived in Sweden with me for 3 months last year using a Schengen area visitor visa and now 2 months and counting with a 2 year renewable Swedish and Schengen residence and work permit.

My fiancé also has her 7 year old daughter living with us and she is applying too. I am sure we fill all the right criteria and I have all the documents proving the above plus a letter from my employer stating that I have a permanent job in Sweden. In my covering letter I have stated that I have no intention to return to the UK to live. My only wish is to spend 10 days in England visiting family and friends before we marry.

My main worry is will the powers that be refuse the permit by stating that we haven’t lived consecutively for 2 years?

We have applied online and will hand in our papers at the Embassy in Stockholm on Monday. If we are refused is the only way out a quick marriage before we intend to travel and then apply again? I am reluctant to pay 2 x £75 for a visitors visa as it is more than we can afford at the moment.

 

Hi Tex and thank you for your reply.

Yes I had read that however further down in the same link it says If the EEA national is a British citizen, you must provide evidence that:

they have been working or are self-employed in another EEA member state; and
you have been living with them in the EEA state, if you are their spouse or civil partner.

Almost as if it's a different premiss for British citizens. It is this paragraph that has urged me to give it a go and apply. I have a letter backing up the fact that I have a permanent job in Sweden.

A long shot I know but I was hoping somebody else in my circumstance might read this and let me know how it went.

I'll report back and let you know how it goes.

 

Thanks polskasweetie for your reply.

You have read the rules and interpreted them more or less as I have. The buzz word here is "compassion" if the case worker has any ounce of it we will be granted the 10 day visa slot to visit my elderly Mother as we have requested however if it goes by the book we will not be granted a visa.

We are both middle aged and with a child of 7 in the picture and my long term aversion to living and working in the UK added to this my comfortable financial status in Sweden then we might be in with a chance.

As for the utility bills etc the Swedish tax office "skatteverket" provide excellent documents with up to date census records of who is living where and with whom, one such paper has already been submitted with the current application.

13 working days and counting now and no decisions has reached us as yet, good sign or bad? Time will tell and whatever the outcome I will report back.

 

This is exactly what I did. In fact a cover letter explaining the reason for the visit is a requirement. I presented the facts as they are and for this reason I am hoping that they will address the case with compassion.

 

Delighted to inform that the EUA Family visas were granted valid for 6 months with multi entries. It stipulates on their visas that I must accompany them.

Good news for all ex pats in my circumstances wishing only to return to Britain to visit with a non EUA partner.

Hope my experience will help others in the future.