Travel abroad during RC application

[a.s.b.o]

Advise is sought whether the applicant can leave UK during the RC application and if yes, would it/ would not affect the RC application outcome?

Many thanks for your help with this one as I was not able to find an explicit answer in this forum

ASBO

[rosebead]

Travel abroad is not going to have an effect on a RC application as long as there is always an EU sponsor resident in the host State for the family member to derive rights from. Coming back with COA should be ok if the family member is a direct family member, but the family member should certainly carry proofs with him that his EU sponsor is exercsing Treaty rights in the UK and if relevant, proof of dependency. However airlines do not recognise COA for travel.

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

If the RC applicant still has a valid EEA Family Permit it should be no problem, whether travelling with the EU citizen or alone.

if they have a passport which does not require a visa for entering the UK:
If travelling with the EU citizen, they should have no problem
If travelling alone they should carry a copy of their RC application, and make sure the EU citizen is easily contactable on their arrival back in the UK.

if they have a passport which does require a visa for entering the UK, and they do not have an EEA Family Permit:
Difficult to do, unless travelling together with the EU citizen by land to Europe.

Note also that I would not advise travel alone if it is not 100% clear that the RC will be approved. e.g If there was ever any history of immigration department problems.

[a.s.b.o]

Thank you guys. The key variant is whether the applicant is a visa national; and if yes, it would be immensely more difficult to accommodate travel plans.

This is more difficult in our situation as my parents' EEA FP's come to an end in less than 4 weeks. I advise them not to travel.

Many thanks