Settlement Visa Or Eea Family Permit

[JusticeFT96]

Hi there,

Is it easier to get an EEA family permit? I have been reading their webpage http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/eea-family-permit/# but I really didnt understand it much.

A bit of background on my status

Age:30 in June

Married since October 2011

6 month old baby to thai wife

Unemployed I am actually a poker player so I cannot prove income or say I am working.

My bank accounts are in my dads name from bad credit when I was younger which I will be correcting when I get back to the UK.

Currently living in thailand

My wife:

Age: 21 in July

Bank statements only show money going in as cash deposit and then paying bills for our car, house, phone etc.

Living with me in thailand

Never been abroad

Not employed

Speaks good english

I was hoping to have a 3rd party support me, my parents, both retired with pensions, mortgage on the house paid for, my father has numerous good pensions and is also wanting to go back to work later this year (he is bored with home life lol).

I was going to apply for a settlement visa, I am worried it will get rejected though, I really need to get back to england very soon as the internet here just isnt good enough for my work and I want my son to grow up and learn in england.

Is an EEA family permit quicker to obtain and easier or am I best applying for a settlement visa first?

Is there a checklist anywhere for a visa application as I really dont know where to start, I got some excellent advice from one of the forums sponsors but at this current time I cant afford to be spending that sort of money to use them as I have many big bills on their way including getting the dogs to the UK also which is going to cost me a fortune!

Can anyone point me in the right direction please and offer me a bit of advice, I really want to get the ball rolling.

Cheers

Al

[7by7]

From what you have said, your wife does not qualify for an EEA family permit.

All EEA nationals can live in all other EEA states as well as their own if they are exercising certain economic rights. They also have the right to have their non EEA national family members live there with them. Different EEA states have different procedures for dealing with this and the UK's way is the EEA Family Permit.

The non EEA family members do not, though, have the same right in the state of which the EEA national is a citizen. Unless the EEA national has dual nationality, e.g. British and Irish, and so can use there other nationality or the family have all been living together in another EEA state and are now returning to the EEA national's home state.

Therefore non EEA national family members of British citizens cannot obtain an EEA family permit to live in the UK with their British family member. The non EEA family members have to apply for settlement under the UK immigration rules; with the exceptions mentioned above.

As said, this is not just a UK thing; it's in the EEA regulations. The same would apply for a French, German, Italian, whatever taking his/her non EEA family members to their homeland to live.

You may find UK Settlement Visa Basics helpful.

[JusticeFT96]

Cheers, had a few useful pms and a few of your threads I have read. Caught in 2 minds to go thorugh thai visa express I think it is or try myself.

[tribalfusion001]

Cheers, had a few useful pms and a few of your threads I have read. Caught in 2 minds to go thorugh thai visa express I think it is or try myself.

Your wife will need to pass the English test to A1 CEFR standard (speaking/listening is all that is required) and also have a TB test (valid for 6 months), before you apply for a settlement visa, I forgot those two bits of info.