When to apply for EEA(PR)

[oleburdo]

Hi guys, I am wondering if any of you have tried to apply for your permanent residence/card using old form EEA3 or EE4 recently? When contacting HO I have been advised that the forms are not accepted. Please advise. Thank you very much!

[noajthan]

Hi guys, I am wondering if any of you have tried to apply for your permanent residence/card using old form EEA3 or EE4 recently? When contacting HO I have been advised that the forms are not accepted. Please advise. Thank you very much!

Helpline is wrong (again).

Old forms are accepted. See members' reports in forum; (search)
Even HO guidance explains and confirms that.

Current form is not mandatory nor a legal requirement.
You may go commando and/or hardcore and apply by older form or even letter if you wish.

[oleburdo]

Hi there,

Many thanks for your reply, yes, I have also found the instructions saying they may still see the old forms, as per Page 24 on: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... s_v3_0.pdf

but would you maybe happen to know if applying with an old form may take longer than normal or it does not matter?

Thank you.

Kind Regards,

x

[noajthan]

Hi there,

Many thanks for your reply, yes, I have also found the instructions saying they may still see the old forms, as per Page 24 on: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... s_v3_0.pdf

but would you maybe happen to know if applying with an old form may take longer than normal or it does not matter?

Thank you.

Kind Regards,

x

There is no evidence from this Board that it really makes any difference.

Although one could imagine that if 'size of form' is a significant factor in overall processing time (and it probably isn't) that a 16 (or whatever) page form would take less time to process than an 80+ page form.

Whichever form you use you are probably more at the mercy of HO processes, staffing levels, sickness/health/vacation factors, prioritisation policy and HO ability to cope with an avalanche of applications triggered by Brexit.

[ohara]

When contacting HO I have been advised that the forms are not accepted. Please advise. Thank you very much!

Just goes to show that they have no idea what they are talking about. Their own casework guidance states the exact opposite!

[oleburdo]

Yes, indeed...

[oleburdo]

I wonder if somebody has tried EEA3/EEA4 very recently and how it all worked...

[oleburdo]

Hi guys,

Could anyone advice how long in advance can I send my application for EEA(PR)?
I arrived in the UK on 16 December 2011 so its only 2 months for my 5 years residence.
Thank you.

[CR001]

Hi guys,

Could anyone advice how long in advance can I send my application for EEA(PR)?
I arrived in the UK on 16 December 2011 so its only 2 months for my 5 years residence.
Thank you.

You have to wait until you have 5 years residence as a qualified person or FM. There is no 'apply early' option.

[LilyLalilu]

You should not send it in advance, send it once you have acquired PR.
I read that someone apparently had success sending it early, however, this was probably luck (and the caseworker not applying the rules properly), I would not risk it if I were you.