Post
by obormot » Tue Nov 13, 2018 2:17 pm
1. Eurostar is NOT easier to use then air travel, if you have a shaky visa situation. In fact, they give you more problems if you use Eurostar.
2. If you apply for Residence Card now and get your passport back and your biometrics done before leaving the country, then you should be OK. It seems biometrics letter comes within couple of weeks after application.
If you are lucky (should be given current timeline) your Residence card while you are away (and then your family members just ship it to you and you use it to enter UK).
If it does not arrive, then at least you get Certificate of Application. With that you can enter UK (especially if you also carry marriage certificate and proof that your wife exercises treaty rights), though it might be difficult to make airline to agree to it. Low cost ones would not do it, or example.
3. There is no provision in guidelines that applying for and using EEA family permit stops the clock for PR.
In fact, I think this is what they expect you to do if you, say, loose your EEA2 while traveling abroad.
4. If you do not get EA FP and did not apply for Residence (so no COA either) you still can try to enter holding all documents about your wife (and better wife herself too).
You have high chances to succeed once you se immigration board officers.
But, in my opinion, you have low chances to be allowed on ay vessel traveling to UK, be it plane, train, or boat.