[Supercell]

Originally Posted by seabhcan

I'm Irish and my wife just got Stamp 4 EU Fam. We applied back in Sept 2010 and she got it in Feb 2011. The guy in INIS said it was the first time he'd seen a spouse of an Irish person get EU Fam. We used to live in the UK before moving to Ireland four years ago.

Anyone following today's Zambrano Judgment? It seems to have declared that Irish people are EU citizens even while being in Ireland - so any spouse of an Irish citizen can (in theory) get EU Fam.

Also see: http://www.4eufam.info/4EUFAM

How did you apply?
My wife just got hers a few weeks ago in the GNIB office on Burgh Quay, we went in and she got it on the same day. It was definitely a Stamp 4 (not FAM, I'm Irish and she's Chinese).
Does getting an EU Fam visa mean the holder can freely move around Schengan countries without a separate visa? If that's the case then then Stamp 4 non FAM would be worth changing for us.

[seabhcan]

Originally Posted by Supercell

How did you apply?
My wife just got hers a few weeks ago in the GNIB office on Burgh Quay, we went in and she got it on the same day. It was definitely a Stamp 4 (not FAM, I'm Irish and she's Chinese).
Does getting an EU Fam visa mean the holder can freely move around Schengan countries without a separate visa? If that's the case then then Stamp 4 non FAM would be worth changing for us.

Stamp 4 EU Fam is better because it allows you to travel to many of Schengen countries without a visa.

Unfortunately, the Irish government doesn't give Stamp 4 EU Fam to Irish families - only to EU families living here. So if you were Polish, French or British, your wife could get it. Because you are Irish she can't. I have no idea why this is the rule, but it is.

Ordinary Stamp 4 isn't accepted for travel.

There is a loophole. If you have ever lived in another EU country and were officially resident there with your wife, and then move to Ireland, then Irish law counts you as an EU citizen and then your wife can get Stamp 4 EU Fam.

Crazy, but true.

Originally Posted by Supercell

How did you apply?

We filled out the usual form and put a covering letter making our case for Stamp 4 EU Fam. We also included about 1kg of documents proving our previous residency in the UK.

[Zdenek79]

Hi, i am citizen of Czech republic and my wife is from Mauritius.Living in Dublin - Ireland.We got married in Mauritius 2010, after that i musted proof all documents they required...(a lot!!!) and We applied for this visa in June 2010.Then they refused us, because I didn't updated them my new job.(the immigration officer has called to my old job, asking for me, if i really work there and how i am doing - and they didnt found me there :-( )
After that i appeal in which we explain everything and finally after 5 more months we got the 4EU FAM in June 2011.All together almost 1 year waiting.During the application being through - my wife had temporary stamp4(she could work full time).
Now is all ok - the new visa is valid for 5 years.
This visa is obviously for my wife coz she is non EU, but all the details you update depend on me, as on EU member.So be careful and update them all they need , even they ask you for your underwear size :-)))
Hope this note can be useful to someone....

[ifms]

It is correct that if you are Irish, you and your non-EU wife are living in Ireland currently and haven't been living in another EU country before, then your non-EU wife cannot get EU FAM.

As the officer in GNIB said, "Ireland does not agree nor accept EU Treaty Right".

I have to say, the non-EU spouses of EU citizens are not treated equally in Ireland as in other countries. Definitely double standards! (lots of examples)

You have to leave your home country in order to get your family travel in EU as freely as other EU couples. Absolutely ridiculous and stupid!

[nodolan]

I actually lodged a petition with the EU Parliament over this.

I quoted all the relevant treaties and EU directives, ECJ Rulings etc. and after over a year they finally replied to me a few weeks ago - it's a domestic issue. That was it.

Even travelling to another EU country and living there for six months (as I did) isn't enough - you must comply fully with EU Directive 2004/34/EC - you must be working full-time or be in a specified type of education etc. Ireland is one of (if not the) only EU countries that has such a narrow interpretation of EU Treaties/Directives etc. as many other countries have less stringent criteria.

[ifms]

After all, directive is not law that needs to be enforced. Even the Irish spouse gets EU FAM, it is not the case that "VISA EXEMPT" in every EU country. French embassy still needs a few documents to approve that you could travel to France without a visa. Same as Italy. It will never be the case that you can just wake up in the morning and decide to fly to any EU country with your spouse, even if she is holding EU FAM stamp.

Just be careful that before you travel to another EU country, check their visa policy first.

[Steevy]

Originally Posted by ifms

After all, directive is not law that needs to be enforced. Even the Irish spouse gets EU FAM, it is not the case that "VISA EXEMPT" in every EU country. French embassy still needs a few documents to approve that you could travel to France without a visa. Same as Italy. It will never be the case that you can just wake up in the morning and decide to fly to any EU country with your spouse, even if she is holding EU FAM stamp.

Just be careful that before you travel to another EU country, check their visa policy first.

I have no idea what you re trying to say. Ireland is strict with Irish Spouses Period!.. They cannot travel freely to other member states, they are not qualified for Free Fees in College, they will be deported once their marriage with Irish national have ended, marriage to an Irish citizen doesn't give them an entitlement to Citizenship etc etc... I can go on forever lol.

Whereas other member states recognise the importance of EU family members!

[ifms]

Actually, happen to read an interesting article:
http://irelandsreversediscrimination.../2010/02/20/1/