Documentation for EU partner?

Naf

Wasn't sure where was best to post this, hope someone can help.

In light of the Tories callous rejection of the amendment to protect the rights of EU nationals, we're naturally pretty worried about the future as my wife is Dutch. I'm a British citizen from birth, and she's been living over here for 10 years now.

Can anyone give any advice regarding what it might be best for us to do/get paperwork wise just to try and make the coming years as easy as possible. There are so many different forms for residency and the like, costing anywhere from £65 to £10k, that I have no clue what's what.

Thanks

Guest101

Naf wrote: »

Wasn't sure where was best to post this, hope someone can help.

In light of the Tories callous rejection of the amendment to protect the rights of EU nationals, we're naturally pretty worried about the future as my wife is Dutch. I'm a British citizen from birth, and she's been living over here for 10 years now.

Can anyone give any advice regarding what it might be best for us to do/get paperwork wise just to try and make the coming years as easy as possible. There are so many different forms for residency and the like, costing anywhere from £65 to £10k, that I have no clue what's what.

Thanks

Well done for alienating over half the population...


Since the negotiations haven't started it's impossible to say for sure. Applying for citizenship would seem the best option.


Given that s.50 is a two year process, there's time....

pmlindyloo

The first thing your wife needs to do is apply for permanent residence.

I agree that the forms are extremely complicated so you may be best getting some advice from CAB. If they are unable to help they will signpost you to someone who can. Has your wife any friends that have been through the process who could help?

skattykatty

Apply for citizenship. I know a number of people who have been here even longer than your wife doing that now.

Just had a very quick look, so may be missing something, but government website states that becoming a British citizen by naturalisation, which your wife is eligible to do, costs £1236.

I've heard it's a huge form filling exercise so get started and good luck.

Proxima_Centauri

A lot of what is written in the papers is total scaremongering. Your wife of 10 years is not going to be asked to leave the country!

Nick_C

I really think you are worrying over nothing (my partner is also EU and has been here for nearly 20 years).

There is no way that EU residents who are already living in the UK would be deported. It would be illegal.

Our PM has tried to get an early agreement with other EU leaders that all British Citizens living in other EU countries and all EU Citizens living in the UK will not lose their rights to continue to live where they are currently.

Due to the callous rejection of this offer by Frau Merkel and the Eurocrats, we cannot give this assurance yet, but I'm sure it will be high on TM's agenda once negotiations start.

In the meantime, chill.

Naf

Proxima_Centauri wrote: »

A lot of what is written in the papers is total scaremongering. Your wife of 10 years is not going to be asked to leave the country!

Nick_C wrote: »

I really think you are worrying over nothing (my partner is also EU and has been here for nearly 20 years).

There is no way that EU residents who are already living in the UK would be deported.

I don't think it's nothing, but I do agree that this is probably what will happen, but at the moment it feels too uncertain.

Nick_C wrote: »

It would be illegal.

I'm not sure that's true.

Nick_C wrote: »

In the meantime, chill.

I'm trying. Part of this is also wanting to prove her eligibility to work etc. in the case that the immigration deals change significantly. Would rather get that done early, before any big rush caused by the announcement of such a change.

Naf

skattykatty wrote: »

Apply for citizenship. I know a number of people who have been here even longer than your wife doing that now.

Just had a very quick look, so may be missing something, but government website states that becoming a British citizen by naturalisation, which your wife is eligible to do, costs £1236.

I've heard it's a huge form filling exercise so get started and good luck.

1. We can't afford that. and 2. She'd rather not be forced into giving up her Dutch nationality, which I believe the Dutch government would force her to do in this case.

onomatopoeia99

Naf wrote: »

In light of the Tories callous rejection of the amendment to protect the rights of EU nationals, we're naturally pretty worried about the future as my wife is Dutch.

Have the Dutch government already guaranteed the rights of British citizens then? Or have they (callously?) failed to do so?


It sounds like your wife is eligible through residency to apply to become a British citizen. That would solve the problem.

Person_one

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

Have the Dutch government already guaranteed the rights of British citizens then? Or have they (callously?) failed to do so?


It sounds like your wife is eligible through residency to apply to become a British citizen. That would solve the problem.

We're the ones who moved the goalposts, why should we expect all the other European countries to put themselves out for us?

I expect they will, but we'd have a nerve to be making demands!

FBaby

How much does it costs to apply for citizenship nowadays? I think it was up to £1,000 a few years back. Can understand the reluctance to do so unless it was an absolute necessity to be able to remain in the country.

Is it true the Dutch don't accept dual citizenship? That's surprising.