Spouse visa or EEA FAMILY PERMIT please help confused

[quintero33]

hi i was wondering if any-one can help me a little im confused.
my husband is american i live in northern ireland was born in northern ireland so im a u.k /irish citzen.

i know we can apply for spouse visa that i under stand do we also qualify for EEA Family Permit", if so were do we apply.
thanks
jo-anne

[John]

Your husband can apply for either a 2-year spouse visa, using UK legislation, or an EEA Family Permit using EU legislation.

Where is your husband now? If in the UK, what is his UK immigration status? If in the Republic of Ireland, again, what is his immigration status there? Or is he in the States currently?

[quintero33]

he is currently in america , we havent yet applied for him to come here

[John]

OK, advantages and disadvantages :-

2-year Spouse visa ..... application cost currently US$1050 ..... once granted he moves to the UK. Near the end of the 2-year spouse visa by applies in the UK for ILR .... indefinite leave to remain .... current cost of application is £750 by post or £950 in person .... 3 years after arrival he can apply for Naturalisation as a British Citizen.

EEA Family Permit .... application cost US$0 ! .... once granted he moves to the UK. That permit for just 6-months, but in the 6 month period he would apply in the UK for 5-year Residence Card ...... application cost £0 ! .... after 5 years from arrival on the EEA Family Permit he gets Permanent Residence status ..... and then can apply for Naturalisation as British.

The cost of the Naturalisation application is the same on either route ... currently £665 .... but in 5 years .. who knows?

Either route permits him to work in the UK.

This is an oversimplification ... but weigh up the cost or lack of cost ..... with the delay from 3 years to 5 years in being able to apply for Naturalisation.

[quintero33]

thanks for all your help
jo-anne