Post
by minttie » Thu Sep 08, 2016 2:28 pm
Hi all,
When I started preparing my application back in Nov 2015, this board helped me a lot, especially those ‘self-employed spouse EEA2’ topics. I would like to share my story to contribute to this topic.
My timeline
23/01/2016 Application sent
26/01/2016 Application delivered
28/01/2016 Fee deducted
20/02/2016 Biometrics letter received (dated 18/02)
26/02/2016 Biometrics enrolled
04/03/2016 CoA (w/) received (dated 01/03)
03/05/2016 Additional documents sent
25/05/2016 Request documents back
13/06/2016 Request documents back
18/06/2016 Passport and EU ID back, marriage certificate on hold for investigation (dated 17/06)
27/06/2016 Changed address using e-form
01/08/2016 RC received (dated 20/07)
08/09/2016 Documents returned (first envelope dated 22/07 with old address, unable to deliver because ‘not called for’ on 10/08, HO received on 15/08, second envelope dated 26/08 with new address)
My husband is working for a company on self-employed basis. His business wasn't trading long enough to pay tax and NIC back in Jan 2016 so I enclosed only the evidence of registration with HMRC, invoices, bank statements, receipts of business expense, and a cover letter from HMRC stating that my husband didn't have NIC to pay back then.
He then paid the tax and NIC in Apr 2016. So I submitted additional documents to HO 4 months after the original application. I explained in the cover letter why I didn't send these new documents before, and pointed out that the evidence I sent last time was sufficient to prove my husband’s self-employment. Furthermore, I provided an accountant letter, a more formal contract from my husband’s company, explained the name change of that company, and enclosed more testimonials, updated contacts and more evidence to prove his self-employment.
I sent one copy to Durham, one copy to Liverpool. Both got returned together with the documents I submitted in the original application. One of the cover letter was labelled with barcode and stamped the date 03 JUN 2016. I can’t tell if it’s the one to Liverpool or Durham because two cover letters were put together on the top.
After I received RC, I booked a trip back home right away. I was travelling without my husband or any original documents except my passport and my RC. When I arrived alone at the UK border check in Heathrow, I wasn't asked to show the marriage certificate, luckily.
Questions that were asked at the UK border:
Where did you come from?
What’s the relationship between you and the EEA person?
What’s his nationality?
Why did you travel to that country?
Why did you travel alone?
How long was the trip?
What does your husband do in UK?
Wish everybody good luck with EEA2 application!