In theory, for a Schengen visa that's how it works, but if they choose not to follow the law, there's little you can do in the short to medium...

Actually, you are supposed to apply to the country you will spend the most time in. If you don't know, then the first one you enter.

I'd say France, but it may vary from embassy to embassy. The French can be quite strict about the proof of marriage - you may have to have your...

Just to say my wife was finally offered a visa a couple of weeks ago. They admit they made a mistake, though they still don't agree the...

By the way, I wouldn't mention that you intend to settle in the UK next year if you apply for a tourist visa.

I'm a UK citizen in China, married to a Chinese citizen. I got her a tourist visa (edit: it was actually a visit visa) last year for the UK with...

The Dutch website is at www.ind.nl

The French are probably the best, as they seem to have the greatest awareness of EU legislation. They will probably look quite closely at your...

France has a reputation of issuing visas to non-EU spouses relatively quickly and painlessly, though they may not in this case due to the fact...

No matter what EU law says, countries can just do whatever they like. You could end up waiting for months and months. I am still trying to get a...

She would gain the same rights as you, though they would be tied to the fact she was married to you. The only way she could be denied the right to...

You can find some discussion about this over here: http://www.easyexpat.com/forums/ftopic_5958.htm

The right to go to the UK to live and work really belongs to your wife, not you. She is allowed to take her husband, and as long as her husband is...

The EEA Family Permit is for *accompanying* spouses. That means you can only get it if you are accompanying your wife to the UK (or she is already...

Just thought I'd report that I've heard nothing from SOLVIT yet apart from an initial couple of emails to clarify one or two points.

I think you are wrong on this point.

:? I'm completely and utterly baffled by your posts, Arnold. What exactly is your advice to the original poster?

You are not excercising any EU free movement rights by living in Britain as a British person. The EU laws apply where a national of one member...

The EEA family permit doesn't apply to the spouses of British citizens, unless the British citizen has established himself in another EEA country...

Shouldn't be a problem living on that in Zhuhai, assuming you're not used to a very high standard of living in the West. Just don't be tempted by...

Your post is very confusing. You say your UK visa was about to expire (January 2005???), yet you also say you have C visa for the UK valid until...

You can go to Spain with your wife as you are an EEA national. The EEA permit is what the UK issues to the family of an EEA national (excluding UK...

No, my wife is in her thirties. She owns properties and a car in China, and earns many times the average salary here. We've been married almost...

Triple H, I don't think you'll have trouble with the Spanish, as they are used to these cases due to the big tourism industry. The smaller...

Yes, the EU website states clearly that the spouse is automatically entitled to a visa when accompanying the EU citizen, but very few countries...

You are right, the permit should be given free, as soon as possible and with (almost) no questions asked. But they *are* allowed to query whether...

The EEA family permit is for visits to the UK. For the Schengen area, you just use the normal form. If you only plan to visit for a period of less...

In principle, there should be no problem getting married in in your home country and returning to the UK. The reason I said there may be doubts is...

If she continues to work in the UK - I mean she doesn't give up her job - then she would only have to show that her income is enough to support...

Actually, I don't think you can go and work in the UK alone. As far as I know, you have the same rights as your EU spouse only when you are...

In case anyone is interested, if you submit a complaint to a SOLVIT centre, it should be your national centre, not the one in the country in which...

I really don't know if they would ask for evidence that it's not a marriage of convenience. Maybe they'll be satisfied with an explanation, maybe...

Thanks Petkanov. I had heard of SOLVIT before, but mistakenly thought it was only for economic related matters. Looking at it more carefully,...

As your spouse, he counts as a dependant of an EEA national. The problem you might have is that you are just married, so there may be some...

I can see the problem of persuading a sceptical employer to hire you without evidence that you have the right to work, but perhaps a letter from a...

Yes, you should get it very quickly and it should be free. If they don't do this, complain.

I know that governments want to do this, but as the spouse of an EU citizen, they shouldn't, unless you are specifically asking for permission to...

If you are British and you are taking your spouse back to the UK, you can't get an EEA Family Permit. That's only if nationals of other EEA states...

But Rabia is a UK national, and she wants to bring her spouse to the UK, so the EU/EEA rules don't apply (I know Britain is in the EU, but the EU...

I'm surprised they can ask for details of employment and funds unless you tell them you are definitely going to settle or at least stay long term....

You'd need to apply for a settlement visa and show you can support yourselves independently, or have a sponsor. If you have a job and your own...

Yes, Petkanov, your experience is my understanding of the rules, too. If an EEA national (except the UK) wants to bring a non-EEA partner to the...

I agree with what you say, although I think Polish people already have the same rights to travel as the old EU-15, just not to work. I definitely...

Yes, you don't have the right to long term residence without a job (or enough money), but as you say, a Polish citizen can travel to the UK and...

I disagree. The original right of free movement was an economic one, but it has been extended (by Maastricht, I think) to include any purpose....

Anna, You definitely shouldn't give up. The situation is a little unclear because the accession countries are in a transition period, but one...