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My wife (who is the non-EEA national) tried to open a UK bank account today with Halifax. She was denied as she did not yet have a residence card. The bank representative said that she would need to have a residence card in the passport.

As we have received our passorts back, I assume my wife will get her RC on a separate piece of paper. Im a bit worried that she will have problems opening a bank account even after receiving the RC.

Has anyone experieced the same problem? Is it possible to open a UK bank account while the EEA2 application is pending?

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EEA2 Application sent: 20/11/2012
Received by UKBA: 21/11/2012
COA received: 27/11/2012 (dated 23/11/2012)
Passports requested: 4/12/12
Passports received: 14/12/12
RC received: TBA

My non EU Wife has been in the UK since the end of November on a Family Permit, we only sent off for the RC on Thursday (needed our Passports to fly to Belfast for Christmas).

Anyway, she has been registered with our local GP, received NHS Card, sent off for and received NI Number and opened an A/C with Nationwide. All no problem at all, we only used her Passport and a utility Bill with both our names on it.

The utility bill was no problem either, just call them up and ask for your wife's name to be put onto the bill. We had to fax over a signed statement saying that she agreed to be put on the bill, but that was all.

Maybe try Nationwide, or someone else apart from Halifax? The RC wasn't mentioned by Nationwide.

Good luck

Edit - My Wife also received her first Statement for her A/C today, Nationwide Post them Monthly, which is quite helpfull and always handy to have.

Thanks Salem.

We have bills in both our names - got a council tax bill already when she was here on a tourist visa, so that's indeed not a problem.

We'll try Nationwide then!

Off topic, but I had no idea a passport was necessary to go to Belfast. Thought that would be domestic. I wonder if my wife can travel to/from London - Belfast while EEA2 is pending and her tourist visa has expired.

Only needed to fly, N.Ireland is a part of the UK, domestic as you say.

My Wife's Passport, indeed both our Passports were required to fly by Aer Lingus. I actually contacted them to confirm photo ID or Passport, and was told Passport, so that was that.

I'm not sure what other Carriers require, photo ID or Passport, Easyjet ect, or by boat?

hi! i opened halifax while waitin for rc. i have just told to the manager that im married to eu. only had full uk driving lc and water bill with me. opened in hammersmith branch.
Happy New Year everyone!

Same situation, my wife had the AC refused by Lloyds and HSBC. At the end I asked a second count in my name and she's using the second debit card waiting for the RC.
HSBC has a special account (Passport) for tourists and temporary students, but not for EU spouse.

[quote="Erik84"]Has anyone experieced the same problem? Is it possible to open a UK bank account while the EEA2 application is pending?

Yep, if you have a EU driving licence you can do that. I opened an account at Barclays.

Opening a bank account in the UK is difficult in general. It is a common complaint of anyone who has moved to the UK. Building societies used to be more responsive though I am not sure if that is still true.

Nimitta wrote: Yep, if you have a EU driving licence you can do that. I opened an account at Barclays.

Did you tell them all the story about EEA2 pending etc?

First thing they asked my wife was to see the visa on the passport.

My non-EEA wife tried Nationwide today and they opened an account for her without any problems. And that was without any UK driving license, just with a passport and a council tax bill.

For those who wants to open a bank account.this is not a mathematical question.simply banks need 1 proof of identity and 1 proof of address.just check the list of documents from the relevant banks website.list A normally tells the list of documents which banks accept as a proof of identity and list B is,for the list of documents which banks accept as a proof of address.Option A
For each customer applying at a branch please provide one of the following items. If you do not have one of these items, please refer to Option B.
Option B
n Unexpired passport.
n Unexpired UK/EEA (or Switzerland) photocard driving
licence (the date of the licence and photograph must be in date).
n EEA or Switzerland national identity card. n Northern Ireland voters card.
n UK ID card for foreign nationals.
For each customer applying by telephone, post or internet and for any customer applying at a branch who cannot provide an item from Option A:
Existing Santander customer – please provide one item from List 1.
New Santander customer – please provide two items: one from List 1 plus a separate item from List 2. Please note items from the same source cannot be used twice.
List 1
n Unexpired passport.
n Unexpired UK/EEA (or Switzerland) photocard driving licence (the date of the licence and photograph must be in date).
n EEA or Switzerland national identity card.
n Northern Ireland voters card.
n UK ID card for foreign nationals.
n Unexpired UK old style driving licence (not provisional).
n Notification of entitlement to state/local authority benefit*. n Notification of entitlement to tax credit*.
n Notification of entitlement to pension from the DWP*.
n Notification of entitlement to student loan/grant*.
n Notification of entitlements to other government/local authority grant*.
n HMRC (Inland Revenue) coding/assessment/statement/tax credit*(not P45/P60s).
List 2
n Unexpired passport.
n Unexpired UK/EEA (or Switzerland) photocard driving licence (the date of the licence and photograph must be in date).
n EEA or Switzerland national identity card.
n Northern Ireland voters card.
n UK ID card for foreign nationals.
n Unexpired UK old style driving licence (not provisional). n Council tax bill/demand letter*.
n Notification of entitlement to state/local authority benefit*. n Notification of entitlement to tax credit*.
n Notification of entitlement to pension from the DWP*.
n Notification of entitlement to educational loan/grant*.
n Notification of entitlement to other government/local authority grant*.
List 2 (continued)
n HMRC (Inland Revenue) coding/assessment/statement/tax credit* (not P45/P60s).
n Bank statement (not internet printed)**.
n Utility bill (not mobile phone, satellite/cable TV or internet
printed bills)**.
n Credit card statement (not internet printed)**.
n UCAS letter (students only)*.
n Local council rent card or tenancy agreement*.
n HMRC (Inland Revenue) correspondence including name, address and permanent NI number*.
n Pension/benefit correspondence from the DWP*.
n Instrument of a court appointment e.g. Probate or Court
registered Power of Attorney.

Erik84 wrote:My non-EEA wife tried Nationwide today and they opened an account for her without any problems. And that was without any UK driving license, just with a passport and a council tax bill.

Nice one Erik

As far as Nationwide goes, all they need is one proof of ID, and 1 proof of address.

ravii wrote:For those who wants to open a bank account.this is not a mathematical question...

Unexpired passport.

The problem with the particular bank you've quoted from is that when presenting a non-EU passport, they require sight of a valid visa.

uberto wrote:Did you tell them all the story about EEA2 pending etc?

First thing they asked my wife was to see the visa on the passport.

I told them that my passport at the HO right now. Did not tell them about EEA2 and do not think they know what it is.