Some useful information for EEA2 applicants :D

[chriskv1]

These are some of the common doubts that EEA2 applicants have , which I had as well . But I went ahead and I am getting positive results so I thought I might as well let everyone else know.

Can you get a driving license while waiting for EEA2 ?

I applied for my provisional with just my passport with no valid visa on it (and without a BRP card ) and it came back just fine .It took exactly 10 days to get my provisional from the date of application and exactly 5 days to get my passport back as I had attached a pre paid security envelope with my application.( Even though DVLA says they wont issue a license if you do not hold a permit to remain in the UK / You have an application pending decision on your right to live in the UK)


Can you/ your partner open a bank account while waiting for an EEA2 application ?

Yes! Get your name / your partners name onto a utility bill (preferably electric as this is easy ) and once the bill comes through , go to nationwide with the bill and also your / your partners passport (Depending on whos the EEA2 applicant ofcourse) .
Nationwide wouldnt ask for a visa and wont check the passport for a visa.

Same applies with The Co-Operative Bank.

Cheers!
As I progress I will update this thread with more of my own experiences .

[malek555]

EEA2 is not necessory to apply, anybody can still practice his/her rights as a family member by law, if they can prove there relationship.
If your EEA family permit is expired, and you havn't applied for EEA2. And you are in employment, It is legal.
You get RC just to clarify/prove your right of residence. (its not a compulsory requirement by UKBA)

[cafeconleche]

This is true, but many institutions don't KNOW this, which is why it's good to know that DVLA and some banks are cooperative/understand, or just clueless

[chriskv1]

EEA2 is not necessory to apply, anybody can still practice his/her rights as a family member by law, if they can prove there relationship.
If your EEA family permit is expired, and you havn't applied for EEA2. And you are in employment, It is legal.
You get RC just to clarify/prove your right of residence. (its not a compulsory requirement by UKBA)

Yes , true. But DVLA / Banks and other organisations dont approve of this normally . You have to prove your right of residence , which you have not done yet if you are waiting for your EEA2 to come through .

But then again like " cafeconleche " said . They're just clueless at this point.
Both Nationwide , Co-Operative bank knows nothing about it and they do not really care as long as you don't mention it.

Many have been rejected bank accounts and licenses when they send their expired permit with the license application , and many banks do not even consider giving you an account if you dont have a current valid residence permit , Even if you explain to them that you have a legal right to reside in the UK as your partner is an EU national. I have tried that route. trust me.

[rkg88]

Hi, I need some advice regarding my EEA2 application and travelling abroad alone. It feels pretty complicated to me at this point and I would really appreciate some help as I'm very frustrated with the unhelpful answers provided by the respective offices!!

Some background: I'm from Singapore (non-visa national), held a Dutch residency card for 5 years (expired in november 2014), married to an English citizen who worked in the Netherlands for the past 10 years. We lived together in the netherlands for 5 years before recently moving back to the UK for good.

In november 2014, as we were planning for our move, we were advised by the Home office to apply for a family permit in the netherlands prior to entering the UK. We made the appointment but was turned away on the day as we were told that I did not require a family permit with my Singaporean passport. After alot of confusion, we moved to the UK in december 2014, and I entered the UK (with a load of questions from the immigration officer at Gatwick airport) on a 6 months tourist stamp in my passport. Our plan was for me to fly to Singapore after Christmas and new year to do my application from there. However, after calling the Home Office for the umpteen time, we were told that I did not need to go to Singapore to apply but could do it from within the UK. By which point, we were advised to make an EEA2 application for a residence card.

I applied with all the necessary documents on 30th December 2014, received my certificate of application on 13th Jan 2015 and I'm currently waiting for a final answer. However, due to family reasons, I need to make an urgent trip back home for a week and requested for my documents back. I was also advised by the Home Office to call the Border Control office at Heathrow and get a badge number of the officer I would speak to, which I did. I spoke to an officer on duty and was also referred to her supervision on duty. I asked them if it was fine for me to travel back to Singapore and also raised my concerns on being turned away and sent back to Singapore when I return to the UK. Their unhelpful words were: 1) We can't guarantee safe passage back into the UK, it would depend on the immigration officer on the day itself, giving me a 50/50 chance of success (I understand that but I find it very disconcerting that my chances of entry back into the UK is dependent on an immigration officer's moods!!) 2) I have to apply for a family permit when in Singapore as when I return to the UK, I will no longer be classed as a tourist and therefore my passport would not grant me another 6 months tourist visa) 3) If I so choose to travel, my application with the Home Office will lapse and I will have to reapply when, or if I come back to the UK. I've just check with the Home Office and a very unhelpful guy told me pretty rudely that travelling will not affect my application. 4) The immigration officer in charge may assume that I have a marriage of convenience and will have the authority to turn me away.

I have been making calls and worrying myself crazy trying to make a decision. I have not been provided with any meaningful answers, and the people I have spoken to are so rude, unhelpful and accusational. My british husband seem to have more luck with nicer people when he calls but we both still do not have the answers we need.

So my questions are:
1) I'm faced with two impossible choices. On one hand, I need to see my grandmother who is ill and she asked for me. I don't want to NOT go back and risk not seeing her again. I will hate myself for the rest of my life. On the other hand, if I do risk it and go back to Singapore but get turned away by a grumpy immigration officer at Heathrow when I return to the UK, I will be apart from my husband for an indefinite amount of time. That would break both our hearts Should I travel back to Singapore and take the risk?
2) If I do go back, what can I do to maximise my chances of clearing immigration at Heathrow when I return? I'm planning to go for a week, take my dutch residency card, my husband's dutch residency card, marriage cert etc. What can I say to convince the immigration officer?
3) Can I try to fast track my application time to get my UK residence card by Feb before travelling?

Someone please help!!! Many thanks in advance!