UK Residence Permit

[laurade]

So I checked the Home Office homepage today and see they are still  working on October 2006 applications. I turned mine in two months ago, and while I knew it could take a long time.. I had no idea it would take this long. 
So what I'm wondering.. has anyone gotten their passports back earlier than what the HO is advertising on their homepage? 

Comments

[jeffs_odyssey]

Last year I sent it off and get it back something like 5 weeks later. I couldn't believe it.

[anerise]

if I recall correctly...you applied using EEA rules, right (spouse of an EEA citizen)? If that's the case then the Home Office has up to 6 months to process the residence card application and it can easily take the entire six months.

You might get it back after 4-5 months...but if the website says they're processing October 06 applications it's probably taking the entire six months at the moment.

[laurade]

Yes, that was the one. This puts me in a bit of a predicament then as we're moving back to Germany in July! I'm going to have to ask for my passport back :/ I wonder how long that takes?

[juliann]

If your application is at a point where you can ask for it back it takes about three weeks for its return. (Askinf for the passport back does not affect the application, if you just want to withdraw your application I think that's a different procedure.)

[anerise]

You should be able to get your passport back easily- just contact them (writing, calling, faxing..whatever it says on the website) and they should send it back to you within a few weeks. However, note that for EEA applications, getting your passport back does *not* cancel your application...they'll still continue to process it. So if you would like them to cancel the application entirely, you need to specifically ask them to do so.

[laurade]

We're moving back to Germany in July.. I was hoping to have it back by then. Your reply isn't giving me much hope :/