Relocating to UK.
Nov 27th 2016, 7:29 pm
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2012
Location: Viana do Castelo
Posts: 1,385
Relocating to UK.
We are from South Africa and our kids have been working in the UK for over 4 years.
My wife and I have been living in PT for nearly 3 years.
I have an EU PP and my wife has a SA PP but she has a PT Residencia Card.
My wife has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and our kids in the UK want us to relocate there.
Is this possible?
My wife and I have been living in PT for nearly 3 years.
I have an EU PP and my wife has a SA PP but she has a PT Residencia Card.
My wife has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and our kids in the UK want us to relocate there.
Is this possible?
Nov 27th 2016, 7:34 pm
#2
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Relocating to UK.
Yes, very easily. You are a text book case of how Surinder Singh is supposed to work. With a passport issued by a country in the EU, all you need is a family permit for your wife.
Nov 27th 2016, 8:20 pm
#3
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 970
Re: Relocating to UK.
Very sorry to read this ukram.
Wishing you all the very best for the future.
Wishing you all the very best for the future.
Nov 27th 2016, 8:23 pm
#4
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2013
Location: central Portugal
Posts: 4,111
Re: Relocating to UK.
Dreadfully sorry to hear your bad news.
I'm sure you wouldn't have any serious problems entering/staying in the UK under the circumstances...... but under those same circumstances I'd be inclined to do whatever your wife most wanted to do.
Whatever you decide, I wish you all the very best of luck.
I'm sure you wouldn't have any serious problems entering/staying in the UK under the circumstances...... but under those same circumstances I'd be inclined to do whatever your wife most wanted to do.
Whatever you decide, I wish you all the very best of luck.
Nov 27th 2016, 8:25 pm
#5
Banned
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 26,724
Re: Relocating to UK.
Make your move as soon as you can as none of us know what new rules the UK will introduce after brexit for those who do not hold UK passports.
Nov 27th 2016, 9:34 pm
#6
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 6,313
Re: Relocating to UK.
Ukkram I am so very sorry to hear this sad news. What a difficult time lies ahead of you. I am sure with an EU passport, your family working in the UK you shouldn't have a problem relocating. In any even I wish you and your family all the best
Nov 27th 2016, 9:57 pm
#7
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,033
Re: Relocating to UK.
Terrible news, I'm really sorry to hear that.
Whatever you decide to do, I hope you and your wife get all the help and support that you need.
Whatever you decide to do, I hope you and your wife get all the help and support that you need.
Nov 28th 2016, 10:49 am
#8
Resident Cynic
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Suffolk,UK; Alentejo, Portugal
Posts: 14,979
Nov 28th 2016, 11:44 am
#9
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Location: Viana do Castelo
Posts: 1,385
Re: Relocating to UK.
Thanks for the kind words. She has motor neuron disease and can only shuffle about the flat.
We are off to the UK for Xmas and will discuss with our kids on the way forward.
By the way, the Surinder Singh route has been amended as from 3 days ago but I doubt it will affect us as we have been here for two and a half years.
We are off to the UK for Xmas and will discuss with our kids on the way forward.
By the way, the Surinder Singh route has been amended as from 3 days ago but I doubt it will affect us as we have been here for two and a half years.
Nov 28th 2016, 1:38 pm
#10
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 257
Re: Relocating to UK.
Hi Ukkram
Same with everyone else, very sorry to hear this. Really hope everything will work out for you. All the best wishes! Qian
Same with everyone else, very sorry to hear this. Really hope everything will work out for you. All the best wishes! Qian
Dec 2nd 2016, 12:12 pm
#12
Gold-Helmeted Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Setubal-ish
Posts: 689
Re: Relocating to UK.
Sorry to hear this, hope things work out as best as they can for you.
You mentioned you have an EU passport (but didn't say British). If it's another EU nation, then the surinder singh rules don't really affect you, as you'd be exercising treaty rights by moving to the UK so they'd automatically have to accept you.
If you're on a British passport, then SS rules would apply. However, the recent tightening (which is probably in violation of EU rules anyway and likely to get the UK in trouble again in due course) is largely aimed at stopping people doing relatively short periods in other EU countries in order to benefit from SS rules and bring a spouse into the UK. Clearly your residence in Portugal has been longer, and was quite obviously genuine and not designed to circumvent British spousal immigration rules, so the rule tightening should not affect your case regardless.
You mentioned you have an EU passport (but didn't say British). If it's another EU nation, then the surinder singh rules don't really affect you, as you'd be exercising treaty rights by moving to the UK so they'd automatically have to accept you.
If you're on a British passport, then SS rules would apply. However, the recent tightening (which is probably in violation of EU rules anyway and likely to get the UK in trouble again in due course) is largely aimed at stopping people doing relatively short periods in other EU countries in order to benefit from SS rules and bring a spouse into the UK. Clearly your residence in Portugal has been longer, and was quite obviously genuine and not designed to circumvent British spousal immigration rules, so the rule tightening should not affect your case regardless.
Dec 2nd 2016, 1:55 pm
#13
Banned
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 26,724
Re: Relocating to UK.
Sorry to hear this, hope things work out as best as they can for you.
You mentioned you have an EU passport (but didn't say British). If it's another EU nation, then the surinder singh rules don't really affect you, as you'd be exercising treaty rights by moving to the UK so they'd automatically have to accept you.
If you're on a British passport, then SS rules would apply. However, the recent tightening (which is probably in violation of EU rules anyway and likely to get the UK in trouble again in due course) is largely aimed at stopping people doing relatively short periods in other EU countries in order to benefit from SS rules and bring a spouse into the UK. Clearly your residence in Portugal has been longer, and was quite obviously genuine and not designed to circumvent British spousal immigration rules, so the rule tightening should not affect your case regardless.
You mentioned you have an EU passport (but didn't say British). If it's another EU nation, then the surinder singh rules don't really affect you, as you'd be exercising treaty rights by moving to the UK so they'd automatically have to accept you.
If you're on a British passport, then SS rules would apply. However, the recent tightening (which is probably in violation of EU rules anyway and likely to get the UK in trouble again in due course) is largely aimed at stopping people doing relatively short periods in other EU countries in order to benefit from SS rules and bring a spouse into the UK. Clearly your residence in Portugal has been longer, and was quite obviously genuine and not designed to circumvent British spousal immigration rules, so the rule tightening should not affect your case regardless.
There are even suggestions that the end of free movement from the EU be backdated and that arrivals after a certain date lose their right of UK residence.
Dec 2nd 2016, 6:50 pm
#14
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Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2012
Location: Viana do Castelo
Posts: 1,385
Re: Relocating to UK.
I have a Finnish PP and my wife has a South African one. Her great grandparents were Scottish so it will not count.
She has no family left in SA or any ties to it. A recent news item about a SA mother living with her kids in the UK that had no family or any ties to SA was to be deported back to SA after 2 years.
She was sickly and could not fend for herself. Her only saving grace was a petition to home office.
She has no family left in SA or any ties to it. A recent news item about a SA mother living with her kids in the UK that had no family or any ties to SA was to be deported back to SA after 2 years.
She was sickly and could not fend for herself. Her only saving grace was a petition to home office.
Dec 2nd 2016, 7:37 pm
#15
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2010
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 9,662
Re: Relocating to UK.
Very sorry to hear about your wife.
To move to the UK it is recommended that you obtain an EU Family permit for your wife in order to not have hassles/problems at the border.
In your earlier notes you said that you were retiring to Portugal. Therefore are you intending to enter the UK as self sufficient (ie living on pensions etc)?
If so then you will need to obtain full health insurance for both of you (see below)
EEA family members
You must show that your EEA family member has a permanent right of residence or is one of the following if they’ve been in the UK for more than 3 months:
- working, eg employment contract, wage slips, letter from employer
- self-employed, eg contracts, invoices, or audited accounts with bank statements, and paying tax and National Insurance
- studying, eg letter from the school, college or university
- financially independent, eg bank statements
Your family member must have full health insurance (comprehensive sickness insurance) if they’re studying or financially independent.
With your wife's condition not having access to the NHS might have a considerable impact on you.
(It looks like you are already paying for private medical insurance in Portugal)
To move to the UK it is recommended that you obtain an EU Family permit for your wife in order to not have hassles/problems at the border.
In your earlier notes you said that you were retiring to Portugal. Therefore are you intending to enter the UK as self sufficient (ie living on pensions etc)?
If so then you will need to obtain full health insurance for both of you (see below)
EEA family members
You must show that your EEA family member has a permanent right of residence or is one of the following if they’ve been in the UK for more than 3 months:
- working, eg employment contract, wage slips, letter from employer
- self-employed, eg contracts, invoices, or audited accounts with bank statements, and paying tax and National Insurance
- studying, eg letter from the school, college or university
- financially independent, eg bank statements
Your family member must have full health insurance (comprehensive sickness insurance) if they’re studying or financially independent.
With your wife's condition not having access to the NHS might have a considerable impact on you.
(It looks like you are already paying for private medical insurance in Portugal)
Last edited by SanDiegogirl; Dec 2nd 2016 at 7:39 pm.