Living under EU law

[Nick30]

I'm thinking of living in either Germany or Holland as nearer to UK with my Filipina wife under treaty and EU laws then moving to UK later on. I was wondering how we go about that?
Thanks

[Dedworth]

Head for Harwich £59.00 car plus driver

http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/car-cation

[Nick30]

Thanks mate yes it's easy to get to from there.

[Dedworth]

They're good ships straight into R'dam

[Terpe]

I'm thinking of living in either Germany or Holland as nearer to UK with my Filipina wife under treaty and EU laws then moving to UK later on. I was wondering how we go about that?
Thanks

Getting settlement entry to Germany or Holland for the non-EEA spouse of a British citizen is not too difficult and has some very attractive advantages such as having little overall cost and quite a fast 'application-to-decision' time.

Once you have established yourself in another EU country those rights can be extended to your wife and she will be able to apply for a visa to join you.

There's still some significant rules to comply with though before your wife will be able to secure entry clearance to the UK.

Firstly, you will need to provide sufficient evidence of actually residing there as a married couple.
Secondly you will need evidence of being either employed or self-employed there.

Then your wife can make an application under European law for a family permit, again free of charge, and free from the onerous conditions set by UK Immigration rules
Your wife only needs to demonstrate that you are married under law and her EEA national husband has properly established been in proper employment or self-employment
Of course the ECO still has an option to refuse if for example he was convinced that it was a marriage of convenience solely to to circumvent UK immigration rules.
I have to say though, that would be a very tough call especially if you had complied with all EU regulations prior to making the application.

For just how long you need to remain established before coming to the UK, is a question that's becoming ever more key.
Currently there are no hard and fast rules and personally I can't find any documents in the public domain that make any reference to it.

Most people have been successful after 6 months.
Quite a few claim that even three months might be enough.
At any rate it's not a huge amount of time.

Once your wife had successfully secure entry clearance (via the family permit) and you had returned to the UK your wife could then apply for a 5 year residence permit (also free of charges)
Actually even under the 'normal' spouse visa route it is now a 5 year journey to settlement. So just the same now as the EEA route.

I believe this option will appeal to more and more folks in the same situation as yourself.
I do suspect though that most would be seeking to follow this path in countries where being only English speaking is not seen as being a barrier to employment opportunities.

Perhaps you need to think carefully about which EU country to use as your 'springboard base'

Hope this helps in you thinking.

[Nick30]

Thanks Terpe

That's so very helpful.
What about going to Ireland or France?

[Terpe]

Thanks Terpe

That's so very helpful.
What about going to Ireland or France?

Just the same process and same rules.
That process is applicable to British Citizens in all EU states.

[Nick30]

I could go for Ireland then

[Terpe]

I could go for Ireland then

Yes, as I said you could go for any EU state

[bigmarco]

I could go for Ireland then

The only problem with Ireland is that there is a severe shortage of work at the moment.

[Terpe]

The only problem with Ireland is that there is a severe shortage of work at the moment.

Same situation in most of the EU just now.
Some folks just get creative with self-employment

[WhiteBloodAda]

Ireland sounds tempting to me too, but then if I move to Calais I can at least look at my home town everyday.... But that does mean living with the French!

[lolowalsh]

let me tell you its not that easy for germany or neither holland they have some strict rules too and finiancial income as well in ex in norway you have to earn 235000 krone to settle so its more than 25000 pounds !!!

[Terpe]

let me tell you its not that easy for germany or neither holland they have some strict rules too and finiancial income as well in ex in norway you have to earn 235000 krone to settle so its more than 25000 pounds !!!

No.
Not for those exercising EU treaty rights.