EU applications – introduction of the same day processing service

The UK Border Agency has confirmed the introduction of a premium service for EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members (who may not be an EEA national). The service  be available from June 2011.

EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members (who may not be an EEA national) will be able to make applications for:

• Residence Card (EEA2)
• Permanent Residence (EEA 3 and EEA4)

The above applications will have to be presented at the Public Enquiry Office in Liverpool. Due to accommodation and resource constraints, EEA1 applicants will not be offered, unless submitted with associated EEA2 or 4 applications. There will be no charge for the associated EEA 1 application and it will be considered within the charged appointment. EEA 1 will be continued to be accepted at the Public Enquiry Office in Croydon.

Albeit the postal applications are free of charge, the same day processing service will attract a fee of £300 per applicant.

The benefits of same day service include:

• Applicants being able to retain their valuable original documents and receive their decision more quickly than the postal route.
• Applicants who choose the standard postal route to apply free of charge will be issued their documents within the Free Movement Directive deadline of 6 months.
• Straightforward/accurately prepared applications will normally be decided on the same day as the appointment.

The premium service will be offered on a limited basis and by appointment only thus is vital to arrange an appointment as soon as possible to avoid disappointments.