Hi Guys,

I finally got my wife a UK Visa thanks to my Irish passport. The problem is that it says it is only valid for 6 months, even though when applying we basically stated that she planned to stay indefinitely. My question is, how do I go about extending her visa, we really just want it for the 5 years until she can get residency.

Also, how do I go about applying for a national insurance number for her? Is it easy enough to do or does it take a long time?

One final thing! I have my Irish passport and was wondering if there is a quicker way for her to get citizenship for Ireland than waiting for the 5 years for the UK one on the family permit?

Hopefully that is all the information that you need!

All help much appreciated.

Thanks

Phil

See also Applying under European law and Applying for a National Insurance number and Can I be naturalised as a British citizen?

soon after an arrival to the UK apply for the residency card valid for 5 years, the waiting time is 6-7 months - she will get it before her permit expires.

depending where you will live - waiting time for the interview for the NI number is around 5 weeks. And than waiting several weeks for the card. Your wife can start legally working from the day of arrival - no need for the NI number.

Hi Guys,

Thanks very much for all the help so far, really is much appreciated. Will get the forms for the residency card and get booked in for an appointment with the jobcentre to get the NI number.

One other thing, as an Irish/UK cititzen I know that I can travel freely throughout europe, do I need to apply for a visa each time my wife wants to travel with me, even to Ireland where I am a citizen and she is my spouse? Seems to be a lot of conflicting information out there!

Thanks

Phil

One other thing, as an Irish/UK cititzen I know that I can travel freely throughout europe, do I need to apply for a visa each time my wife wants to travel with me, even to Ireland where I am a citizen and she is my spouse? Seems to be a lot of conflicting information out there!

She is a Thai citizen and as such must satisfy the immigration requirements for every country she wishes to enter pertaining to a Thai citizen. The citizenship of her spouse has no bearing on her permission to enter, it may just make the application easier and cheaper. She will also need some type of immigration permission to enter Ireland whether it be a visitors visa or a residency permit.

with a shengen visa (the best for you is to organise it from ireland) or with the irish residency card she can travel anywhere within the EU. The UK is not in the shengen agreement.

with a shengen visa (the best for you is to organise it from ireland) or with the irish residency card she can travel anywhere within the EU. The UK is not in the shengen agreement.

Neither is Ireland part of the Schengen agreement

One other thing, as an Irish/UK cititzen I know that I can travel freely throughout europe, do I need to apply for a visa each time my wife wants to travel with me, even to Ireland where I am a citizen and she is my spouse? Seems to be a lot of conflicting information out there!

See also Right of Union citizens and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States

Hi Guys,

I finally got my wife a UK Visa thanks to my Irish passport. The problem is that it says it is only valid for 6 months, even though when applying we basically stated that she planned to stay indefinitely. My question is, how do I go about extending her visa, we really just want it for the 5 years until she can get residency.

Also, how do I go about applying for a national insurance number for her? Is it easy enough to do or does it take a long time?

One final thing! I have my Irish passport and was wondering if there is a quicker way for her to get citizenship for Ireland than waiting for the 5 years for the UK one on the family permit?

Hopefully that is all the information that you need!

All help much appreciated.

Thanks

Phil

Hi

I also have British/ Irish passports and intend travelling to England to see my son. I want to take my Thai wife and new daughter so can you enlighten me on the documents etc that I will need to apply for a family permit and are there any pitfalls arround this procedure?

Thanks

Kevin

Hi Guys,

I finally got my wife a UK Visa thanks to my Irish passport. The problem is that it says it is only valid for 6 months, even though when applying we basically stated that she planned to stay indefinitely. My question is, how do I go about extending her visa, we really just want it for the 5 years until she can get residency.

Also, how do I go about applying for a national insurance number for her? Is it easy enough to do or does it take a long time?

One final thing! I have my Irish passport and was wondering if there is a quicker way for her to get citizenship for Ireland than waiting for the 5 years for the UK one on the family permit?

Hopefully that is all the information that you need!

All help much appreciated.

Thanks

Phil

Hi

I also have British/ Irish passports and intend travelling to England to see my son. I want to take my Thai wife and new daughter so can you enlighten me on the documents etc that I will need to apply for a family permit and are there any pitfalls arround this procedure?

Thanks

Kevin

They'll both need visa's for the UK Kev.

If you present yourself as being Irish, then your wife and child (if travelling on a Thai passport) can apply for family permits which are free of charge. You need to demonstrate that you are Irish, that you are married and that you won't be a financial burden on the British state. Your wife and daughter will need to complete forms VAF5.

Scouse.

Hi Guys,

I finally got my wife a UK Visa thanks to my Irish passport. The problem is that it says it is only valid for 6 months, even though when applying we basically stated that she planned to stay indefinitely. My question is, how do I go about extending her visa, we really just want it for the 5 years until she can get residency.

Also, how do I go about applying for a national insurance number for her? Is it easy enough to do or does it take a long time?

One final thing! I have my Irish passport and was wondering if there is a quicker way for her to get citizenship for Ireland than waiting for the 5 years for the UK one on the family permit?

Hopefully that is all the information that you need!

All help much appreciated.

Thanks

Phil

Hi

I also have British/ Irish passports and intend travelling to England to see my son. I want to take my Thai wife and new daughter so can you enlighten me on the documents etc that I will need to apply for a family permit and are there any pitfalls arround this procedure?

Thanks

Kevin

They'll both need visa's for the UK Kev.

Kevin, is your "new" daughter yours? If so, she should be entitled to a British passport, therefore no visa for her but you can get a EU family permit (free of charge) for your Mrs using your Irish passport.

Hi Kevin,

Not sure if things are different as I was coming back to settle in the UK and not just to holiday, so for me it was the usual stuff such as letter of employment, bank statements, should have put payslips and phone bills but I forgot them. Seems really easy to get though. Compared to the encyclopedia that I had to put in to get a UK tourist visa for my wife this one was about 1/5 of the size and most of that were photo copies of passport! It was also free, which is always nice compared to the rediculous cost of a UK one.

All I handed in was:

Copy of my passport

Marriage certificate

mrs passport

bank statements

letter of employment

letter from my dad saying we can stay with him

house plans showing there is room for us.

I imagine you can take out the last two by just showing a hotel reservation if you are not going with your soon.

My next piece of work will be to bring my wives daughter over for a holiday, although I am hoping that is not too much of a problem! If anyone can tell me what I need for that it would be greatly appreciated. I am hoping it is just birth certs and maybe another letter from my dad saying she can stay, plus an up to date letter of employment and bank statements, or am I completely wrong and we can just "add" her to my wives current EEA family permit?

Thanks again for answering the questions and hope the above helps for you Kevin. Any more questions let me know.

Phil

My next piece of work will be to bring my wives daughter over for a holiday, although I am hoping that is not too much of a problem! If anyone can tell me what I need for that it would be greatly appreciated. I am hoping it is just birth certs and maybe another letter from my dad saying she can stay, plus an up to date letter of employment and bank statements, or am I completely wrong and we can just "add" her to my wives current EEA family permit?

Family members / Extended family members may also apply for EEA family permits.

Hi Kevin,

Not sure if things are different as I was coming back to settle in the UK and not just to holiday, so for me it was the usual stuff such as letter of employment, bank statements, should have put payslips and phone bills but I forgot them. Seems really easy to get though. Compared to the encyclopedia that I had to put in to get a UK tourist visa for my wife this one was about 1/5 of the size and most of that were photo copies of passport! It was also free, which is always nice compared to the rediculous cost of a UK one.

All I handed in was:

Copy of my passport

Marriage certificate

mrs passport

bank statements

letter of employment

letter from my dad saying we can stay with him

house plans showing there is room for us.

I imagine you can take out the last two by just showing a hotel reservation if you are not going with your soon.

My next piece of work will be to bring my wives daughter over for a holiday, although I am hoping that is not too much of a problem! If anyone can tell me what I need for that it would be greatly appreciated. I am hoping it is just birth certs and maybe another letter from my dad saying she can stay, plus an up to date letter of employment and bank statements, or am I completely wrong and we can just "add" her to my wives current EEA family permit?

Thanks again for answering the questions and hope the above helps for you Kevin. Any more questions let me know.

Phil

Hi Phil,

Thanks a lot for the info, I intend applying for a British passport for my daughter and my son has a 4 bedroom house so we will stay with him. My only query is the house plan as I have never heard of this one. Does it have to be an official plan or can my son just draw one up?

Thanks again,

Kevin.

It isn't a requirement to submit house plans. However, your son should demonstrate that the house is his to let you stay there; e.g. provide a council tax bill or mortgage statement etc.

Scouse.

If you present yourself as being Irish, then your wife and child (if travelling on a Thai passport) can apply for family permits which are free of charge. You need to demonstrate that you are Irish, that you are married and that you won't be a financial burden on the British state. Your wife and daughter will need to complete forms VAF5.

Scouse.

Hi Scouse,

As I intend applying for a British passport for my daughter so I assume that I dont need to include her on the form(VAF5) and I fill it in giving my details, she had 2 other children with her late husband who live with us. They will be staying here. Is there anything more that I should know?

Many thanks for the past info,

Kevin.