Post
by cib24 » Mon Oct 15, 2012 2:16 pm
Hello,
I'm in urgent need of advice on whether or not I can travel for work reasons if I currently have an EEA2 application outstanding. I am a US citizen and applied while in the UK for an EEA2 under my spouse at the end of August and asked for my passport back to show to my new employer at the end of September. My new employer is eager to send me on a business trip to South Africa at the end of October that will last for about 10 days but I am unsure as to whether or not I can actually travel due to the letter I received from the UKBA when they returned my passport. The letter states the following:
"Your passport and your EEA sponsor's ID card are being returned to enable you to travel.
Family members of an EEA national, who are not themselves EEA nationals, wishing to return to the United Kingdom should apply for an EEA family permit at a British diplomatic post abroad before returning to this country. An EEA family permit is issued free of charge on a priority basis.
It should be noted that any such application would need to be supported by evidence to show that the EEA national is in the United Kingdom, is exercising Treaty rights, and that the relationship is as claimed.
Please do not return your Passport to the Home Office until it has been requested by a caseworker."
I have spoken to an immigration adviser and he stated that as long as I have the official letter from the UKBA that my application is being processed, a letter from my employer that I was traveling on business, proof of marriage and that my wife is living and working in the UK, then I should be able to re-enter the country as a family member residing and not a tourist.
Could someone confirm and please advise on whether or not this is actually true and that I would not potentially be refused re-entry into the UK?