Question. UK and Shengen visa

[casualbiker]

My wife and I are traveling to the UK and Spain in October. Because she has to get both visa's when is the earliest she can apply for either one. The Shengen is going to be based on marriage (free). Thanks

[theoldgit]

You can apply for both of them up to 90 days before the intended date of travel.

[casualbiker]

You can apply for both of them up to 90 days before the intended date of travel.

only 90 days.. Blimey that's tight considering it took the UK visa place nearly 8 weeks last time.. Obviously each one needs the passport for processing.. Can anyone give me an update on waiting times for the UK and Spanish visa's. Thanks

[theoldgit]

My girlfriend waited less than a week for her UK visa to be issued last year, and about the same for her Schengen, that was from the Dutch Consulate and had to be sent to KL for processing.

UK visas seem to being turned round relatively quickly at the moment, though obviously there will be busy periods.

[casualbiker]

Thanks

[GordonP]

Similar circumstances but I want to get UK visa issued and Schegen visa application submitted before I return to UK 06 April.

Date of gf travel to UK 25 June, therefore earliest application date is 27 March (90 days), which is a Sunday.

Anyone know if I can try 25th March or is 90 day rule hard and fast?

Pay fast track and get UK Visa available for collection by 4th April and make appointment at Schegen Embassy for the 5th (late appointment just to be as sure as possible).

Folks, is this feasible???

[theoldgit]

Given that it's your girlfriends application, and for some visa application centres you wont be allowed inside, what is the rush in submitting the app before you return to the UK? Can she not submit her own application at her leisure?

When you mention Schengen Embassy, which embassy did you have in mind?

[GordonP]

Given that it's your girlfriends application, and for some visa application centres you wont be allowed inside, what is the rush in submitting the app before you return to the UK? Can she not submit her own application at her leisure?

When you mention Schengen Embassy, which embassy did you have in mind?

She dislikes crowds and gets in a terrible state when we go to Bangkok, if I leave her to her own devices she will bottle it and just come back to Patts (if she even gets to Bangkok). She is not very good with paperwork and will not get it all together for a good submission.

French Embassy

[theoldgit]

She would have to go inside the UK Visa Application Centre on her own, but not the French.

Have to say that your going to be cutting things very tight, especially with the French.

[GordonP]

She would have to go inside the UK Visa Application Centre on her own, but not the French.

Have to say that your going to be cutting things very tight, especially with the French.

It's only the submission/application that I need to have done before I leave. The paperwork and hopefully visa can be collected by someone else on her behalf with an authority from her.

[williewolf]

She would have to go inside the UK Visa Application Centre on her own, but not the French.

Have to say that your going to be cutting things very tight, especially with the French.

Not true, you can accompany her into the visa application centre but you are not allowed in the biometrics room as things are a little tight in there

[theoldgit]

She would have to go inside the UK Visa Application Centre on her own, but not the French.

Not true, you can accompany her into the visa application centre but you are not allowed in the biometrics room as things are a little tight in there

I stand corrected, I'll rephrase.

Up until recently only the applicant was allowed to enter the VFS Office, it seems this has now changed and people can accompany the applicant.

[Richard W]

Casualbiker, keep an eye on the change to freedom of movement rules (currently Directive 2004/38/EC). If the announcements are to be trusted, a lot of Thai wives will be stripped of their EU freedom of movement rights around the end of this year.

[casualbiker]

Casualbiker, keep an eye on the change to freedom of movement rules (currently Directive 2004/38/EC). If the announcements are to be trusted, a lot of Thai wives will be stripped of their EU freedom of movement rights around the end of this year.

is that the Surinder Singh loophole you're talking about?

[Richard W]

Casualbiker, keep an eye on the change to freedom of movement rules (currently Directive 2004/38/EC). If the announcements are to be trusted, a lot of Thai wives will be stripped of their EU freedom of movement rights around the end of this year.

is that the Surinder Singh loophole you're talking about?

The least alarming interpretation, given in this parliametary answer by Lord Bates, is that EU law will simply be changed to overturn the Metock judgement. The Metock judgement restored the state of affairs whereby an EEA citizen could easily enter a member state other than his own with his family members. Your wife's free Spanish visa probably depends on this ruling. Lord Bates' answer implies that the change restores the state of affairs in the 2006 version of the British 2006 EEA Regulations, whereby to get a family permit the non-EEA family member must already have lawful residence in an EEA member state.

The statements released by the European Council alarmingly imply that if the non-EEA spouse had not had such lawful residence when she married the EU citizen, she would never have the free movement rights of non-EEA family members.

Either way, you lose your free Spanish visa.

[Stocky]

Does a Schengen Visa application need to be made from your home country? Wife and I will be in the UK in May, she already has a 5 year UK visa, we want to go across to Europe but will probably organise things late, could she apply for a Schengen Visa from the UK?

[7by7]

As she is the spouse of an EEA national, you, and will be travelling with her spouse then yes, she can apply in the UK.