My friend ... he's only gone and done it!

[jonnyivy]

I'm holding my breath at the moment, as I too am thinking it was all too easy. All above posts are correct, and his wife has even been working legit in Germany for the past 6 months. I can give you even more info on how he did it when he arrives in 2 weeks' time. They say God loves a trier, and by God he did! Every way he tried he met resistance until he read about this way. He doesn't like living there in Germany and can't wait to get back here.

On a separate issue, does anyone consider that different Customs entry points (airports etc.) are easier to get through than others? I ask this, because every time we land in Edinburgh, my wife just walks straight through (separate lanes of course). She only once got stopped and was asked where her husband was. She pointed over to me and was just waved on through - without them even checking me out!

London, on the other hand, seems much more strict!

[Terpe]

I'm holding my breath at the moment, as I too am thinking it was all too easy. All above posts are correct, and his wife has even been working legit in Germany for the past 6 months. I can give you even more info on how he did it when he arrives in 2 weeks' time. They say God loves a trier, and by God he did! Every way he tried he met resistance until he read about this way. He doesn't like living there in Germany and can't wait to get back here.

The SS route was always pretty popular route. Over the years the UK has tightened the rules in an attempt to prevent people using EU regulations in such a way that can be construed as circumvententing UK immigration rules.
It got to the stage where UK was actually given written warning that the ECJ would make a ruling. Not sure if that ever happened.

Despite all that though, In January 2014 UKVI implemented the now well known
Regulation 9 (Surinder Singh Cases)

For those considering that route it's essential reading and well worth reviewing that linked document.

It's a huge interest here in the forum to understand how your friend came to satisfy the regulations. Especially since he was self-sufficient and Family Permits are normally not issued on that basis.
Additionally, he was only resident in Germany for 8 months. Again not meeting the Centre of life requirements.

I wonder if UKVI considered him to have "transferred the centre of their life" from Philippines to Germany then on to UK. Seems unlikely, but plausible.

I'm also wondering if the recent rulings from European Courts against UK might have been a major influencer. Take a look here

Where third-country nationals hold a ‘residence card of a family member of a Union citizen’, the United Kingdom cannot make their right of entry subject to the requirement that they must first obtain a visa

Whatever the reasons I hope you can secure some very helpful information and find the time to share knowledge here

Your friend is a very lucky man.

[Abigail]

On a separate issue, does anyone consider that different Customs entry points (airports etc.) are easier to get through than others? I ask this, because every time we land in Edinburgh, my wife just walks straight through (separate lanes of course). She only once got stopped and was asked where her husband was. She pointed over to me and was just waved on through - without them even checking me out!

London, on the other hand, seems much more strict!

I would say it very much depends what side of the bed that particular immigration officer got out of on that morning. Yes the rules are all there and should be followed but how closely things are checked when arriving in different places is all down to the individuals working there. For example I had a seafarer arriving in Manchester to join a vessel in dry dock and they phoned me to say he would be denied as the ship he was joining would not sail within seven days. I asked where to find the rule that said it must be seven days and after a lot of phone calls they came back saying the actual wording is that the vessel must sail within a reasonable time, that one officer had just decided that meant within seven days. There is no telling how each officer will decide to interpret the rules that day.