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EUN2.10 What if I suspect a marriage / civil partnership of convenience?
The definition of 'spouse' and 'civil partner' in the EEA Regulations does not include someone who has entered into a marriage / civil partnership of convenience.
When a marriage / civil partnership of convenience is suspected, the burden of proof is high and rests with the ECO. However, in these cases the ECO is entitled to interview the applicant. Factors to consider include:
· an adverse immigration history;
· doubts about the validity of documentation;
· application follows soon after the marriage / civil partnership;
· no previous evidence of the relationship.
The ECO should not consider the following cases as marriages / civil partnerships of convenience where:
· there is a child of the relationship;
· there is evidence to suggest cohabitation.
Thank you for your advice, I know my written is so bad thanks for understanding. I delete few things and keeping simple and i will follow your stepsSzmek wrote:One of things that was written on the refusal that my wife got was "Every application is looked at seperately, irrespective of the previous applications". So although her previous EEA Family Permit was granted, she was refused the next one. It means that everytime you apply, you must supply evidence that is relevant to your application at the time it is lodged.
What evidence did you submit with this application? (there might have been something that you missed that led them to refuse you) - evidence from back in 2009 isnt as relevant if you have nothing from 2010, 2011 or 2012. You should start with the present and work backwards.
Yes. A marriage cannot be one of convenience if there is evidence of a) co-habitation/living together or b) children.
If they suspect a marriage of convenience, then they should never outright refuse you, as 'every facility must be given to applicant in order to satisfy the ECO' - so they should have invited you for an interview (at least)
As far as your letter is concerned, I can see the general idea of what you are saying but generally it is very hard to read. You should format it differently and in a way that is easier to follow:
1) Start with an overview: you got refused, it was incorrect
2) details of the refusal and explain why it shouldnt be refused
3) describe the evidence you supplied
4) describe the general circumstances
5) quote regulations and entry guidance
[and look at your grammar, what you have written is not really 'English' - the Embassy will 'respect' your letter more if it doesn't contain mistakes]
thank you for your advice, i will keep it short and simple. I will send it also the birth certificate of my son.Directive/2004/38/EC wrote:The best thing to do is keep it short and simple. Provide evidence of the child (birth certificate!), and explicitly refer to that in your cover letter. Explain that you are living together.
Keep it short and simple.
Explicitly ask that if the ECO has any questions about the law or is tempted to refuse application, they they consult with the ECM or with the UK. But that this should be done, if needed, on a priority basis.
Keep it short and simple.
State also that you expect to be contacted if they require any additional information.
Keep it short and simple.
Refer to their guidelines:EUN2.10 What if I suspect a marriage / civil partnership of convenience?
The definition of 'spouse' and 'civil partner' in the EEA Regulations does not include someone who has entered into a marriage / civil partnership of convenience.
When a marriage / civil partnership of convenience is suspected, the burden of proof is high and rests with the ECO. However, in these cases the ECO is entitled to interview the applicant. Factors to consider include:
· an adverse immigration history;
· doubts about the validity of documentation;
· application follows soon after the marriage / civil partnership;
· no previous evidence of the relationship.
The ECO should not consider the following cases as marriages / civil partnerships of convenience where:
· there is a child of the relationship;
· there is evidence to suggest cohabitation.
I hope that this helps. Please dont just copy and paste the above wording, as every application is individual, it would be weird and dangerous for many people to hand in letters that are exactly the same. But I hope that it helps you (and others) to structure a good letter to the British Embassy.
- Our Address (top right)
- British Embassy Address (top left)
- Date
URGENT:
FOR THE ATTENTION OF THE HEAD OF THE VISA DEPARTMENT AT THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN WARSAW, POLAND
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to you with a complaint regarding the decision, which has been made by your Visa Department at the British Embassy in Warsaw.
On the [date] an ECO from your visa department decided to refuse my application for the EEA Family Permit, a decision which is against EEA Regulations 2006 and against the UKBA’s own entry clearance guidance. (I have attached a copy of the decision for your attention).
I am a citizen of [country], married since [date] to an EEA national (a citizen of [country]). According to EEA Regulation 2006 by virtue of our marriage we benefit from rights, which protect the family unit and allow me and my husband the freedom to travel within the territory of the EU. He has decided to move to the UK, to which he has every right as an EEA national, and the EEA Regulations provide for him that in order to maintain the integrity of his family, freedom of travel of his family members cannot be restricted. The decision of the ECO at your department has infringed this fundamental right. It has disregarded my right to the freedom of travel with my husband therefore restricted my husband’s freedom of movement and his right to move to the UK.
The basis of the rejection is not justified and the explanation of the ECO is not in accordance with EEA Regulation 2006 nor with UKBA’s own entry clearance guidance. The ECO stated: “I am entitled to be satisfied that the EEA national and his family members will not be a burden on the social assistance system in the UK”. This is definitely not the case as then every EEA national would be means tested before entry in to the UK in order to verify that he will not have recourse to public funds. It is not mentioned in the EEA Regulations 2006 nor in the UKBA entry clearance guidance that such a requirement exists. I quote:
EUN2.4 What are the requirements for issuing an EEA family permit?
In assessing an application from an EEA national's direct family member, the entry clearance officer(ECO) should be satisfied that:
1. the applicant is the family member of the EEA national (marriage certificate, birth certificate or other evidence of family link)
2. the EEA national is residing in the UK in accordance with the EEA Regulations (as qualified person (exercising treaty rights) if more than 3 months) and the non-EEA national is joining them; or the EEA national intends to travel to the UK within 6 months and will have a right to reside under the Regulations on arrival, and the non-EEA national will be accompanying or joining the EEA national; and
3. if applying as a spouse or civil partner, there are no grounds to consider that the marriage or civil partnership is one of convenience (see Annex ….); and
4. if applying as dependent family members (dependent children 21 and over and dependent relatives) they are dependent on the EEA national or the EEA national's spouse or civil partner; and
5. neither the applicant nor the EEA national should be excluded from the UK on the grounds of public policy, public security or public health.
(continued…)
It is important not to test overall intentions in assessing applications for an EEA family permit. Also, there is an initial right of residence for 3 months, which means that an EEA national does not have to be exercising a treaty right immediately on arrival in the UK.
[found on : http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/polic ... /#header23]
The refusal of the ECO is not allowed under EEA Regulations The ECO does not need to see any evidence that my husband, the EEA national, is a qualified person because, and I refer again to the UKBA’s entry clearance guidance for refusal on these grounds:
vi. The EEA national is not a qualified person because there is no evidence of Treaty rights being exercised:
'You have failed to provide evidence that your EEA national family member is a qualified person in accordance with Regulation 6 of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006. I am, therefore, not satisfied that your EEA national family member is residing in the UK in accordance with the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006.'
Please note: because of the initial right of residence, the ECO cannot refuse someone on the basis that their EEA national family member will not be a qualified person in the UK on arrival. However, if the ECO is satisfied that the EEA national has been in the UK for longer than three months, the ECO must be satisfied that the EEA national is a qualified person.
(continued…)
EUN2.22 Refusal on grounds of public policy, public security or public health
Please note: An applicant who applies for an EEA family permit, but who may be considered as a threat to Public Policy, Public Security or Public Health cannot be refused under the General Grounds for Refusal of the Immigration Rules. This is because the application is made against the EEA Regulations and therefore the refusal would need to be against these Regulations
[found on : http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/polic ... /#header23]
In the case that after arrival and after 3 months of residence in the UK, my husband will not be ‘a qualified person’ exercising Treaty Rights, the provisions in the EEA Regulation 13 state:
Initial right of residence
13.(1) An EEA national is entitled to reside in the United Kingdom for a period not exceeding three months beginning on the date on which he is admitted to the United Kingdom provided that he holds a valid national identity card or passport issued by an EEA State.
(2)A family member of an EEA national residing in the United Kingdom under paragraph (1) who is not himself an EEA national is entitled to reside in the United Kingdom provided that he holds a valid passport.
(3)But—
(a) this regulation is subject to regulation 19(3)(b); and
(b) an EEA national or his family member who becomes an unreasonable burden on the social assistance system of the United Kingdom shall cease to have the right to reside under this regulation.
(Found on: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... annexa.pdf)
This rule cannot be applied outside of the UK, based on a balance of probabilities, decided by the ECO. It’s wording clearly states a future tense and its condition is for the EEA national and his family members to be in the UK already.
Further to the above points I hope I have demonstrated that the ECO had made a decision against EEA Regulations 2006 and against UKBA’s own entry clearance guidance.
Furthermore I would like to add that the ECO’s concerns could have been satisfied by the means of an interview. Again, this was against UKBA’s entry clearance guidance, which states:
EUN2.18 Can I invite an applicant in for interview?
The ECO can invite an applicant in for interview as long as any delay or deferral can be justified. The ECO should consider inviting an applicant for interview in the following circumstances:
• Strong grounds to doubt applicant is related as claimed to EEA national
• Strong grounds to doubt that applicant is genuinely dependent on the EEA national (except spouses and descendants under 21)
• Strong grounds to doubt that EEA national is in, or will be going to, the UK
• Strong grounds to doubt that the EEA national is, or will be, a qualified person
• Strong grounds to suspect the EEA national intends to 'drop off' the applicant and return to the country of origin
• ***Strong grounds to suspect a marriage of convenience***
• Strong doubts about identity of applicant
• Strong grounds to consider refusing on the basis of Public Policy, Public Health or Public Security.
[found on : http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/polic ... /#header23]
Should the ECO have invited me for an interview, I would have supplied him with evidence of my husband’s employment in the form of a letter from his future employer, stating that his interview was successful and that he has been accepted to a 2-year post that begins on the [date]. This would have demonstrated to the ECO that my husband would and will in fact be exercising Treaty Rights during and after his initial right of residence. This was an obvious disregard by the ECO of the UKBA guidance and of my rights as a family member of an EEA national.
Conclusion and Kind Request
I hope that I have demonstrated to you that the decision to refuse my EEA Family Permit application was wrong by the ECO as it was against the Immigration (EEA) Regulations 2006, and against the UKBA’s own entry clearance guidance.
The Visa department informed me of my right to appeal and provided me with an appeal form, however I must state that I will not be following the route. Suggesting that an applicant pay a substantial fee of between £80-140 to appeal the EEA Family Permit that is free-of-charge after an obvious disregard for EEA Regulations and the UKBA’s own entry clearance guidance is unreasonable. I would rather be inclined to refer the situation to SOLVIT and the European Commission.
As of today, I have re-applied for the EEA Family Permit, and plan to provide the evidence, which should have been requested, with my application. I would request that you inform the ECO, or any other workers, of the infringement of the EEA Regulations 2006, which has occurred in this situation so that my future application may be processed according to EEA and UKBA rules.
I would like to finish this letter with a kind request. As I have mentioned above, I have reapplied for the EEA Family Permit and my new appointment could not be made sooner than [date]. The current situation is causing a major disturbance to my and my husbands travel arrangements, as I mentioned before he is starting full-time employment at the end of July. I request that you, within your jurisdiction, enable me to reapply for my EEA Family Permit sooner and with priority in order to achieve a decision in time to join my husband in travel to the UK at the beginning of July (may I suggest [date] for the appointment). If this is not possible, as I understand the Visa department may be very busy, I request that when my application is made on the [date], that you process it immediately, on the basis of an accelerated process. This is written in the EU Directive 2004/38/EC:
Member States shall grant such persons every facility to obtain the necessary visas. Such visas shall be issued free of charge as soon as possible and on the basis of an accelerated procedure.
(continued…)
4. Where a Union citizen, or a family member who is not a national of a Member State, does not have the necessary travel documents or, if required, the necessary visas, the Member State concerned shall, before turning them back, give such persons every reasonable opportunity to obtain the necessary documents or have them brought to them within a reasonable period of time or to corroborate or prove by other means that they are covered by the right of free movement and residence.
This would also be in accordance with UKBA entry clearance guidance:
EUN2.3 How quickly do I need to issue an EEA family permit?
Priority must be given to applications for EEA family permits. Wherever possible a decision should be made at the time it is lodged or after an interview is conducted.
However, the Regulations do not say that EEA family permits must be issued on the day that the application is made. The Directive does allow Member States to take reasonable measures to ensure that freedom of movement is not obtained by deception. Where you suspect a marriage of convenience or even 'sham' employment for the purpose of freedom of movement, further enquiries should be made and credibility may be tested. As long as delays are justifiable, applications can be tested until the ECO is fully satisfied.
[found on : http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/polic ... /#header23]
I would like to add, that the UK Embassy has all the supporting documents that I have supplied with my previous applications. It already has my biometric details, my supporting evidence, and all details of my previous successful application. Considering the circumstances I do not see how an ECO may justify any delays. Should he see fit to do so, I hope that he does so with priority Please ensure that every facility is given to ensure that my previously applied for EEA Family Permit is now correctly issued and that the new application is processed quickly enough for us to use our existing travel arrangements.
My husband and me are honest people, who are not trying to deceive or cause a burden. We are merely trying to start an honest family life in the UK.
Thank you for your time. I hope that you are able to help me with the situation, which has occurred. Please correspond via email.
Yours sincerely,
[name]
Lets not hijack this thread. But...Szmek wrote:Directive/2004/38/EC -> I just read the link at the bottom of your post - I am in this position - I am a dual national - British and Polish... Am I right in saying that they just implemented this new law that the family members of dual national EU/British cannot benefit from the EU-free movement?
My wife exercised her right as the family member for a Polish national to come to the UK. She disclosed that I am also a British citizen, but this had no effect on our EEA Family Permit (it has already been granted)
But does this change our situation as far as applying for a Residence Card?
Surely it should say if the family member has within that period been admitted to the UK.Where met, the criteria in subparagraph (2), (3) and (4) remain satisfied until the occurrence of the earliest of the following events—
(a)the date six months after an EEA family permit has been issued if F(family member) has not within that period been admitted to the United Kingdom;
So basically any dual British/EU nationals have until then to use the EEA freedom of movement EEA regulations to bring their non-EU families back to UK (???)Commencement
2.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) these Regulations will come into force on 16th July 2012.
(2) Paragraph 1(d) of Schedule 1 to these Regulations will come into force on 16th October 2012.
---------------
ref:
(1) (d) in the definition of “EEA national” after “a national of an EEA State” insert “who is not also a United Kingdom national”