thanks for this valuable input
![Exclamation :!:](./images/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif)
Reading this makes my blood boil.
![Evil or Very Mad :evil:](./images/smilies/icon_evil.gif)
As per my first post in this thread, the European Commission describes the current situation, which is binding and unambiguous law, >>here<<:
Thus what the Finnish embassy is writing here:YOU MIGHT BE REQUIRED TO HAVE AN ENTRY VISA
Possession of the valid residence card, (...) issued by any Member State, exempts you from the visa obligation not only in the Member State which issued the residence card, but in all Member States.
is directly contradicting the Commissions' official guideline and -simply- wrong.Finnish Embassy/London, 13/11/2008 wrote:[...] At the moment ´visa freedom´ ( holder of EEA Family Member Sticker) is only valid if one is moving ( in order to work ) to Finland with an EU -spouse or travelling to Finland in other than Tourist/ Holiday Purposes with an EU spouse. It is still recommended to hold a visa that is why it is instructed on our website too. [...]
2004/38/EC is always applicable for all non-EU-family-members of an EU-national if
- The non-EU-family-member in question is living together with the EU-family-member in another memberstate than the state from where the EU-family-member is from OR
- in this case it is valid all over the EU, including the state of origin of the EU-citizen
- The same people are travelling inside the EU, but outside the member-state of origin of the EU-person.
- an EU-citizen lives with a non-EU-family-member in the state where the EU-member is from
- result is that you may have to go through the more scrutinizing way of getting a residence or work permit for the non-EU-part OR
- You live outside the EU and want to visit your country of origin
- result is, you may need a visa, unlike for the rest of the EU
- Surinder-Singh cases, but that's a speciality not worth going into right now
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: xyz@formin.fi
Date: Wed, Aug 20, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Subject: FW: Visa necessary?
To: Christian
Dear Mr.,
Thank you for your message. The EU4Fam card is sufficient, your wife
does not need a visa to enter Finland in this case.
Hope you will have a nice stay in Finland.
Best regards,
Embassy of Finland
Dublin