Post
by firmbeliever » Thu Oct 13, 2016 9:54 am
Hello all, I am a newbie but would like to share mine experience. This is for anyone wishing to travel before they receive their PR cards (biometric format). I have found this forum very helpful and informative.
I am EU national and my hubby's non EU. We booked a holiday in the Middle East in Jan this year for Sept departure with expectations that our DCPR and the PR cards would arrive by then bearing in mind that the EEA2 was approved within four months, we were naïve and expected the same timeline.
Anyway, we sent off our joint application on the 24th of March 16, payment taken about 8 days later. We never received any confirmation email. COA for non EU was received early May after he enrolled for the biometrics.
By August, we heard nothing which was when I started following the forum quite closely and found that the HO was taking six months or more to approve applications. My panic level started to go up the roof as we paid a lot for the holiday and there’s no refund. Also partner needed to apply for Visa to the middle East and Visa would definitely be rejected if he doesn’t have a valid residency in the UK. We had the foresight to request for our passports back before EEA2 expired. I read somewhere that HO don’t send passports back after EEA2 have expired.
By the first week of September, still nothing.
We booked a trip to Paris to celebrate anniversary. We were able to leave the UK without any problem. We traveled via Eurostar. At the gate, the officer asked for partner’s Schengen visa but I mentioned that he doesn’t need one as he’s travelling with me. I provided the marriage certificate and the officer simply said, “enjoy your trip”.
We enjoyed few days in Paris and on our way back, we had to go through two check points. The first one was the French immigration desk. The French immigration officer at the station had a bit of a problem. He had to get someone else involved as my partner needed a visa to enter the UK. After about 5mins, he stamped the passport with departure date from Paris. We then proceeded to UK immigration and we were asked why hubby's travelling without visa, I mentioned that I am EU and he's travelling with me and also that his PR application is with the HO. I provided marriage certificate, the officer also asked for proof of address and I gave him the utility bill (rental or mortgage agreement is a lot better though). The immigration made a phonecall and stamped partner’s passport with the EEA stamp and sent us on our way.
About two weeks before the trip, we applied for Visa to the Middle East without the stamp and it was rejected. Four days before the trip, we applied again using the stamp and it was approved on the day of the trip. The packing was very last minute but we were happy. We were able to leave the UK but still waiting for update from HO.
A week into our trip, we found out that our application was approved by the HO and delievered on 23rd Sept (the joy was inexplicable). The biometric PR card hadn’t been issued yet and the letter stated it would be issued within 10 working days. A family member sent us a picture of the letter.
By the last day of holiday, biometric card still hadn’t arrived. Got to the airport, showed the stamp to the airline staff who had to call her supervisor and she gave the thumbs up for the boarding cards. We went through security without any issues. Got to the departure gate and had a bit of problem with the airline staff. We always suspected that the biggest problem would be at the gate. The airline staff said the stamp wasn’t good enough and that my partner needs his residence card to get on the plane. I was panicking and was so nervous at the prospect of not boarding the plane. My partner showed the airline staff a picture of the PR approval letter from HO. The airline staff made a phonecall, took some scans and sent us on our way. We were so relieved to board the plane with little hassle.
We finally arrived in the UK and going through immigration, we had a problem again. I no longer worried as we are in the UK. We told the immigration officer that someone from the airline made a phone call and sent scans of our documents so we wouldn’t have any problem entering the UK. We also told him that the PR for my partner was approved. The officer asked us to wait while he looks for a log of the call. Anyway, after about 45min wait, he stamped partner’s passport with EEA ink and let us through. We were told that the airline should not have let my partner board the plane. I am so grateful to God because we took a huge risk.
My advise to anyone would be to wait for your documents before you travel. The risk is not worth it. You won't be able to relax. We are so grateful to God for his mercy and I had great faith in God and He came through for us.
My partner received his biometric permanent residence card 26 days after his approval letter was issued . Glory be to God. People rarely share their experience with the EEA stamp, so I thought I would share. The EEA stamp is not a guarantee. It’s only for a single entry into the UK, after that it’s pretty much useless. Leaving the UK is easy but entering is difficult without the proper document.
I hope this is the right forum to post this.