Firstly thanks for this amazing forum. I am married to an EEA National and we have been in the UK for 2 months. I am on a Family Permit which expires Apr 16. We are applying for my Residence Card (EEA FM) and my wife's Residence Certificate at the same time. As we both arrived here without jobs and are now job seekers (both well qualified), she is applying as a qualifying person with jobseeker status. I would really like some clarity on the following :
- Should we wait until we have been here 3 months to apply, so my wife can confirm that she exercises treaty rights.
- Should she register with Job Centre as a jobseeker or is registration with recruitment agencies ok
- Should she claim benefits as job seeker, or will that harm our chances
- If we apply now, I understand that we may ask our passports back during the process. We are however meeting friends in June in France. This will be in the period between when my EEA FP has expired and I still have not received EEA FM Residence Card. So will there be an issue at border control coming back into the UK?
I truly appreciate any feedback
Be careful to keep all documentary evidence of status.
If spouse is only jobseeking by internet & email try to get a papertrail of some sort (letters).