We had booked the appointment two weeks in advance for 1pm, and were advised to arrive by 12.30pm. We got there at 12.10pm, and were told to "wait outside until you are called" by a security officer. (Which I must say, didn't sit very well with my hubby
)At about 12.20 we were ushered into the building and passed through the security scanning system. Belts, bags, jackets and all, just like at the airport. We were then directed to the "appointment queue", and called to a counter about 15 minutes later. An arrogant clerk gruffly asked for our appointment reference number, then my husband's passport, application form, and supporting documents. He took quite a while flicking through the well documented evidence file, as if looking for an excuse to find something wrong. Unfortunately for him, we had done our homework, and he had no choice but to give us a ticket to proceed to the second floor.
A much friendlier security officer referred us to counter 15, where we waited our turn. A good thirty minutes later we were called to the counter, where my husband handed over his ticket and documents. The lady went through them, removed some documents for photocopying, entered some information onto her computer, and asked us to return in about two hours. We went back after about 90 minutes, and his Card was ready to be signed and collected!
As for the documents; my husband relocated from Holland early last year, after landing a contract with a UK firm. He quit six months later to start his own Ltd company. So the documents HO was interested in photocopying were as follows (although we compiled much more)...
Dutch Passport
EEA1 Application Form with two photos
Employment Contract, Payslips and Resignation Letter to UK Firm
Last six months bank statements from his currrent account
Certificate of Incorporation of Ltd Co.
Memorandum & Articles of Asociation for Ltd Co.
NI Contributions Account and proof of payment
Certificate of Registration for VAT
Letter from Accountants confirming they deal with HMRC matters for our Ltd Co.
Last three months bank statements for Ltd Co.
He had completed the "self-employed" section of the application form, even though technically he is not self employed, but employed as a Director of his Ltd company. (We were advised this by HO when we called to ask which section was appropriate for him).
All in all, apart from the unpleasant moron in the Hall downstairs, it wasn't as bad an experience as I feared it would be
.