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Hello,
I would like to ask few questions:

I have UK residence permit (family member of EU citizen) visa valid for 5 years issued in FEB 2012.
I have been away from the UK since September 2012(nearly 5 months) with my wife, living in Sweden.
I am now planning a short trip back to UK for a week with my wife.

Is my UK RC still valid and would it allow me to enter UK?
How long is the RC valid once you leave the UK?

Thank you.

Your residence Card is just getting to the invalidity stage. If you are away for six months, it will cease to be valid.

obie any proof to jusfity your answer ie if you are abroad for more than six months your rc will be invalid.

Thank you. so if i enter UK just before the end of Six months, i dont need to worry?
what i mean is Can i keep on doing this every six month and keep RC validated or it counts overall and gets invalidated.

would my swedish RC family member of EU card let me enter UK with wife?
if in case my UK RC gets invalidated?

mobismome wrote:obie any proof to jusfity your answer ie if you are abroad for more than six months your rc will be invalid.

I read this on UKBA website: Continuity of residence is not affected by temporary absences (generally not
exceeding 6 months per year).
Once an EEA national (or their family member) has acquired permanent residence in
the UK it can only be lost if they leave the UK for more than 2 consecutive years.

mobismome wrote:obie any proof to jusfity your answer ie if you are abroad for more than six months your rc will be invalid.

Please read directive 2004/38/EC and educate yourself.

chokedup wrote:

mobismome wrote:obie any proof to jusfity your answer ie if you are abroad for more than six months your rc will be invalid.

I read this on UKBA website: Continuity of residence is not affected by temporary absences (generally not
exceeding 6 months per year).
Once an EEA national (or their family member) has acquired permanent residence in
the UK it can only be lost if they leave the UK for more than 2 consecutive years.

It would appear that you are a long way from attaining permanent residence (this generally requires five years' residence). If achieved, one could be absent for up to two years before it were lost.

To achieve PR, generally one needs to live in the UK.

The specifics are here (2004/38/EC).

In practice you won't face issues. If you are non-visa national, you have no problem travelling to the UK. If you are a visa national, then the airline can't tell if the RC is valid or not anymore and will let you board. Once you reach the border, you will be admitted regardless if your RC is valid or not as long as you travel with your wife (carry your marriage certificate with you to prove the relationship).

Thanks!
I wonder how do they find out If a person has been away for how long!

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Oh. In oct 2013, I would have been 10 years in UK and could have applied PR on 10 year basis! well that is just a dream now.
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chokedup wrote:Thanks!
I wonder how do they find out If a person has been away for how long!

They ask them on the form. It may be considered an offence to deceive.