Sheffield Visa Section - EEA FAMILY PERMIT

[yanaveron]

Hi guys,

I applied on the 1st of August and still waiting. I got the "not straightforward email" on 17th of August.

Today I got news from a friend on a fb group that she went to VFS to collect her passport and it's a yes. Good for her but I'm wondering how Sheffield works now. She applied on 6th of September, received "not straightforward email" on 22nd and got her EEA FP today - 29th of September.
I have another friend who applied on 19th of June and hasn't got anything yet.

What's going on here? Anybody knows why it works like that? Please tell me. I'm so confused and frustrated.

Hi,
Could you tell us, please, where did your friend apply from?
Thanks

[baig5035]

Waiting more than 120 working days tried everything nothings help only left hope. Pray for all pray for me. Don't loss hope. Thanks.

[dan1988uk]

They are short staff (they open 25 positions at the Sheffield Visa Section) so I think that after 15 days they are automatically sending the "non straightforward" email to get more time for the applications.

[Richard W]

Could anybody please explain to me, if it is so "easy" to enter to UK by getting that stamp ( doesn't matter how it is called), why do so many people spend 100 days of waiting for Family Permit?

There are several good reasons in normal times when there is a prompt turn-around. Indeed, the US seems to be delivering a very prompt return of under a week. So reasons I can think of, when service is as one might reasonably hope for:

1) Moving the risk of refusal to before the purchase of a ticket. I suspect, though, that applying for a FP may increase the risk of a refusal.

2) Probably more chance of being allowed to take employment immediately on a family permit than on a wet ink stamp.

3) For visa nationals, flying to the UK is better than getting a Schengen visa and then flying to France and completing the journey on or under the surface.

[yanaveron]

Could anybody please explain to me, if it is so "easy" to enter to UK by getting that stamp ( doesn't matter how it is called), why do so many people spend 100 days of waiting for Family Permit?

There are several good reasons in normal times when there is a prompt turn-around. Indeed, the US seems to be delivering a very prompt return of under a week. So reasons I can think of, when service is as one might reasonably hope for:

1) Moving the risk of refusal to before the purchase of a ticket. I suspect, though, that applying for a FP may increase the risk of a refusal.

2) Probably more chance of being allowed to take employment immediately on a family permit than on a wet ink stamp.

3) For visa nationals, flying to the UK is better than getting a Schengen visa and then flying to France and completing the journey on or under the surface.

Hi,
Well, I think many people who have been waiting for their FP for such a long time would prefer to apply first for a schengen Visa ( although not every nation needs to get a visa before going to Europe) and fly to France, have maybe difficulties to be employed for some time.... but to be with their families.
Me personally, if i had known about the possibility to enter to UK without applying for FP before, I would have gone for it without even thinking... But according to UK law, is it really possible to do? Because for me seems strange that at one airport or any UK border point you can enter at enother they don't permit you.... how is it possible?! Law is for whole borders, isn't?

[baig5035]

Yes they have shortage of staff but taking 6 months even more in some cases is insane. It's open violation.

[dan1988uk]

Could anybody please explain to me, if it is so "easy" to enter to UK by getting that stamp ( doesn't matter how it is called), why do so many people spend 100 days of waiting for Family Permit?

There are several good reasons in normal times when there is a prompt turn-around. Indeed, the US seems to be delivering a very prompt return of under a week. So reasons I can think of, when service is as one might reasonably hope for:

1) Moving the risk of refusal to before the purchase of a ticket. I suspect, though, that applying for a FP may increase the risk of a refusal.

2) Probably more chance of being allowed to take employment immediately on a family permit than on a wet ink stamp.

3) For visa nationals, flying to the UK is better than getting a Schengen visa and then flying to France and completing the journey on or under the surface.

Hi,
Well, I think many people who have been waiting for their FP for such a long time would prefer to apply first for a schengen Visa ( although not every nation needs to get a visa before going to Europe) and fly to France, have maybe difficulties to be employed for some time.... but to be with their families.
Me personally, if i had known about the possibility to enter to UK without applying for FP before, I would have gone for it without even thinking... But according to UK law, is it really possible to do? Because for me seems strange that at one airport or any UK border point you can enter at enother they don't permit you.... how is it possible?! Law is for whole borders, isn't?

As I said in another post: law is one thing, the kind of the border officer is another.

[Enka2018]

They will let you enter only if you have residence card from any EU country. They will give you entry visa for 3 months. Then you can apply for EEA2.

[njoseph]

I do not understand the border thing. I could have move my family(all Irish except non-EEA father) to Northern Ireland (no border checks) and then to England without going though any checks. However, it would have been illegal and caused issues when applying for residence card.

[Enka2018]

You need to go through check, if family member posess residence card from any EU country you can get stamp straightly on border

[yanaveron]

They will let you enter only if you have residence card from any EU country. They will give you entry visa for 3 months. Then you can apply for EEA2.

Hi,
Is this official information?
Thanks

[Enka2018]

yes, but from European Union country, and on border you need to go along with your sponsoring family member and show the proof that you are their family member like marriage or birth certificate etc..
you need to insist on them that you have this right
Unfortunatelly, we do not have this residency otherwise we would have done this already.

[yanaveron]

yes, but from European Union country, and on border you need to go along with your sponsoring family member and show the proof that you are their family member like marriage or birth certificate etc..
you need to insist on them that you have this right
Unfortunatelly, we do not have this residency otherwise we would have done this already.

Thank you for information. Unfortunately I didn't know this at that time when i was applying for FP, so now im just waiting for it like many others.
Thanks again
Regards

[Richard W]

They will let you enter only if you have residence card from any EU country. They will give you entry visa for 3 months. Then you can apply for EEA2.

That is almost completely incorrect.

Family members with passports and adequate evidence of status have to be allowed in with or to join their sponsor if he has a right to reside, unless there are 'public policy etc.' reasons to exclude them. The 'residence card of a family member of an EEA national' is normally adequate evidence. If a suitable residence card is held, regulations and directive prohibit the stamping of a passport - that includes the granting of a 'visa'. The rules are sufficiently complex that Immigration Officers make mistakes and sometimes stamp passports when they shouldn't.

Those without a residence card get a stamp in their passport. For those without a family permit, it used to be a Code 1A stamp, then it changed to an 'EEA Regulations' stamp, which mentions the 2006 regulation. This stamp is still being used (recent detailed report by a.s.b.o.), despite the 2006 regulations having been replaced by the 2016 regulations. The EEA Regulations stamp granted admission for 6 months, rather than the 3 months which is the time allowed by the EEA regulations. There is now a new stamp, which does not mention any apparent time limit. It is not available everywhere it might be used.

Finally, once in the UK, the non-EEA family member may apply for a residence card using form EEA2, as stated. Here the rules change. The sponsor then has to be a permanent resident or 'qualified person'.

There are further rules for those with other rights to reside.

[Richard W]

Me personally, if i had known about the possibility to enter to UK without applying for FP before, I would have gone for it without even thinking... But according to UK law, is it really possible to do? Because for me seems strange that at one airport or any UK border point you can enter at enother they don't permit you.... how is it possible?! Law is for whole borders, isn't?

EU directives apply to governments, not airlines (or employers). So far as I am aware, it is still the airline that decides to refuse boarding for lack of a family permit, not the UK government. I am surprised that no-one has been able to argue that the threat of fines makes the airline an agent of the UK government.

[hachel]

Seriously ? Can you believe those new" timelines ? eea-route-applications/eea-fp-approved- ... 40306.html

Do you think are now processing it locally to offload the work of Sheffield ?

[Willyboy]

Seriously ? Can you believe those new" timelines ? eea-route-applications/eea-fp-approved- ... 40306.html

Do you think are now processing it locally to offload the work of Sheffield ?

That is quite unbelievable. While I'm happy for them, the whole thing is making me even more angry. Actually I've just asked those two guys (both of whom applied from the US) to let us know whether they heard from Sheffield directly or from some other processing centre, as you hinted.

[yanaveron]

Seriously ? Can you believe those new" timelines ? eea-route-applications/eea-fp-approved- ... 40306.html

Do you think are now processing it locally to offload the work of Sheffield ?

That is quite unbelievable. While I'm happy for them, the whole thing is making me even more angry. Actually I've just asked those two guys (both of whom applied from the US) to let us know whether they heard from Sheffield directly or from some other processing centre, as you hinted.

Let us know their answers...
Thanks

[Merzit]

yes, but from European Union country, and on border you need to go along with your sponsoring family member and show the proof that you are their family member like marriage or birth certificate etc..
you need to insist on them that you have this right
Unfortunatelly, we do not have this residency otherwise we would have done this already.

Hello

My husband has residence for 5 years here in Spain by being married with me. Still not can go to England with me on airplane because they won't leave enter or if you enter, not more than 3 months. That is why you need a Visa also with the residence European.

[Richard W]

My husband has residence for 5 years here in Spain by being married with me. Still not can go to England with me on airplane because they won't leave enter or if you enter, not more than 3 months. That is why you need a Visa also with the residence European.

You need a residence card issued under Article 10 of Directive 2004/38/EC That should be marked as a "residence card of the family member of an EEA National" or equivalent. There are UKVI pages that state that residence cards issued under Article 20 are also acceptable, but I'm not sure whether they work with airlines. As you are Spanish, I doubt that your husband's residence card has even been issued under Article 20, let alone Article 10.

[Willyboy]

Seriously ? Can you believe those new" timelines ? eea-route-applications/eea-fp-approved- ... 40306.html

Do you think are now processing it locally to offload the work of Sheffield ?

That is quite unbelievable. While I'm happy for them, the whole thing is making me even more angry. Actually I've just asked those two guys (both of whom applied from the US) to let us know whether they heard from Sheffield directly or from some other processing centre, as you hinted.

Let us know their answers...
Thanks

Yup, one of the guys just said he thinks everything was processed locally (i.e. not Sheffield but rather in the US). Good news for them, not so much for us

Here's the link if you'd like to take a look...
eea-route-applications/eea-fp-approved- ... l#p1542197

[yanaveron]

Seriously ? Can you believe those new" timelines ? eea-route-applications/eea-fp-approved- ... 40306.html

Do you think are now processing it locally to offload the work of Sheffield ?

That is quite unbelievable. While I'm happy for them, the whole thing is making me even more angry. Actually I've just asked those two guys (both of whom applied from the US) to let us know whether they heard from Sheffield directly or from some other processing centre, as you hinted.

Let us know their answers...
Thanks

Yup, one of the guys just said he thinks everything was processed locally (i.e. not Sheffield but rather in the US). Good news for them, not so much for us

Here's the link if you'd like to take a look...
eea-route-applications/eea-fp-approved- ... l#p1542197

Well, yes, they are lucky...
Thanks for info

[europehelpme]

Dear all, I am trying to escalate and have received the email below to escalate

Thank you for contacting UK Visas and Immigration International Contact Centre.
With regards to your enquiry about the status of your application, unfortunately from the information provided we are unable to ascertain the exact nature of your enquiry/ or your immigration status.
Please respond as per the information below::

Full Name
Date of Birth
GWF number
IHS number
Passport number
Place of submission
Type of Visa applied for
Date of biometrics
Nationality
Applicants e-mail
Reason For Escalation

I did not submit biometrics and was not provided with an IHS number. Is this just a generic email or was I supposed to have received an IHS and submitted my Biometrics as part of the EEA Family Permit submission? I am really confused..... Did you all leave those two items blank when you escalated via email?

[yanaveron]

Dear all, I am trying to escalate and have received the email below to escalate

Thank you for contacting UK Visas and Immigration International Contact Centre.
With regards to your enquiry about the status of your application, unfortunately from the information provided we are unable to ascertain the exact nature of your enquiry/ or your immigration status.
Please respond as per the information below::

Full Name
Date of Birth
GWF number
IHS number
Passport number
Place of submission
Type of Visa applied for
Date of biometrics
Nationality
Applicants e-mail
Reason For Escalation

I did not submit biometrics and was not provided with an IHS number. Is this just a generic email or was I supposed to have received an IHS and submitted my Biometrics as part of the EEA Family Permit submission? I am really confused..... Did you all leave those two items blank when you escalated via email?

Hi,
I received the same email, you just need to provide all necessary information ( IHS number if applicable, mostly not) and about biometric, as far as i know all applicants need to submit biometric for EEAR FP. How come you didn't do it?
Anyway, its a standard email from them. After receiving it i did provide all the necessary info, but the escalation wasn't done, so had to call them to escalate on phone, although still didn't receive any written confirmation of escalation, only oral via phone.
Regards

[hachel]

Seriously ? Can you believe those new" timelines ? eea-route-applications/eea-fp-approved- ... 40306.html

Do you think are now processing it locally to offload the work of Sheffield ?

That is quite unbelievable. While I'm happy for them, the whole thing is making me even more angry. Actually I've just asked those two guys (both of whom applied from the US) to let us know whether they heard from Sheffield directly or from some other processing centre, as you hinted.

Let us know their answers...
Thanks

Yup, one of the guys just said he thinks everything was processed locally (i.e. not Sheffield but rather in the US). Good news for them, not so much for us

Here's the link if you'd like to take a look...
eea-route-applications/eea-fp-approved- ... l#p1542197

Well it can be a good news in a way. If UKVI decides to focus on the current backlog they have in Sheffield, and let new applications be handled locally it's a good news cause it can speed up.
Let's see if people from other countries report similar cases.