The Home Office has announced that it is ready to roll out a new online EEA application service. Available for EEA and Swiss nationals applying online using the EEA(QP) or EEA(PR) application forms, the service is set to go live on 1 October 2016.
Passport retention
Those who are eligible to use the new online EEA application service will, crucially, be able to retain their passport meaning that travel plans will no longer need to be disrupted. At the moment, in view of the significant increase in applications by EEA nationals and their family members following the UK’s vote to leave the EU as a result of the referendum held on 23 June 2016, delays can be expected when seeking the return of travel documents submitted with a traditional postal application.
How the process will work
We have recently highlighted that nearly 25% of applications made by EEA nationals and their family members for a permanent residence card or a document certifying permanent residence are refused by the Home Office. It is therefore extremely important that care is taken when preparing an application and, generally, a significant amount of evidence is required covering the 5 year period prior to submission.
Under the new online EEA application service, we will assist applicants to prepare their applications and we will then book an appointment for them at a participating local authority. The applicant must attend the appointment within 5 working days from the date of the submission of the online application form. The local authority will then take a photocopy of the applicant’s passport, checklist and application documents and will forward those documents to the Home Office. The Home Office will then process the application in the normal manner.
Our immigration team has a 100% success rate for EEA applications. If you require legal advice and assistance, please contact us.
