MEU2 visa

[carl01]

Hello,

My wife holds an MEU2 visa, which is valid for 5 years. She has had to go back to Philippines for a while, and I gather there is a time limit on how long she can stay there if she wants to get back into Cyprus. Does anyone know for sure what the limit is? As far as the immigration office is concerned, I have so far asked 3 different people and got 3 different answers.

Thanks very much.

[Uncle D]

Validity of the Residence Card
The Residence Card shall be valid for five years from the date of the issue or for the envisaged period of residence of the Union citizen, if this period is less than five years.
In case where the validity of the Residence Card is less than five years and the holder has not departed from the Republic of Cyprus by the time of expiration of the Residence Card, the holder must submit an application for renewal of the Residence Card, at least one month prior to the expiration of the previous residence Card.
The validity of the residence card shall not be affected by temporary absences not exceeding six months a year, or by absences of a longer duration for compulsory military service or by one absence of a maximum of twelve consecutive months for important reasons such as pregnancy and childbirth, serious illness, study or vocational training, or a posting in another Member State or a third country. The Residence Card will be revoked when the holder’s absence exceeds these time periods.
Taken from
http://www.moi.gov.cy/MOI/CRMD/crmd.nsf ... enDocument

[carl01]

Brilliant, thanks so much.

[jeba]

If I understand it correctly, this applies to Union citizens (which is puzzling as these don'tget residence cards, for all I know). Is your wife a EU- citizen?

[Uncle D]

No, it applies to 3rd nationals who have married an EU citizen. The OP clearly states that his wife who has an meu2 needs to go back to the Phillipines

[mark4007]

No, it applies to 3rd nationals who have married an EU citizen. The OP clearly states that his wife who has an meu2 needs to go back to the Phillipines

True.. but there are a lot of individuals who are no longer EU citizens but were when these documents were issued (ie UK cirizens).

If carl01 is a UK citizen then the extracts you quote about the validity of the MEU2 are no longer relevant as the residency of both carl01 and their spouse is now governed by the withdrawal agreement and not by the MEU (whatever)..

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/r ... dex_en.htm is not a bad place to start..

[carl01]

I'm a UK citizen and my wife is from Philippines, so we have different yellow slips. Hers is an MEU2, valid for five years. She has been in Philippines for five and a half months now, so either she has already overstayed and can't return (if the limit is three months) or we have to hurry up and book a flight back next week. Worst case scenario would be booking a flight only to be told at the airport that she can't travel.

[carl01]

Just found this regarding the withdrawal agreement:

Under the Withdrawal Agreement, the UK nationals and their family members who have exercised their right under the EU law to move and reside freely in the Republic, before the withdrawal date and/or until the end of the transitional period , have the right of residence , work and free movement and also have the possibility to continue reside in the Republic as before [...] Third country nationals who are dependent family members of a beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement, are entitled to use their residence document (MEU2) until their expiration and it is required for them to apply for the new residence document under the withdrawal Agreement.

[clive of payia]

What is concerning some people that have dependents with MEU1 visas and fulfil the pre-Brexit rights but live with their parents out here full time is that they don't have the necessary proof of five years of residency, (electricity bills,) to obtain the Laminated card required by July 2026. Does this mean they have the right to residency as the wording of the Agreement states but will have difficulty trying to leave Cyprus? Any ideas or thoughts much appreciated.

[jeba]

What is concerning some people that have dependents with MEU1 visas and fulfil the pre-Brexit rights but live with their parents out here full time is that they don't have the necessary proof of five years of residency, (electricity bills,) to obtain the Laminated card required by July 2026. Does this mean they have the right to residency as the wording of the Agreement states but will have difficulty trying to leave Cyprus? Any ideas or thoughts much appreciated.

Electricity bills aren't the only acceptable proof of having stated in Cyprus. Surely, they will accept e.g. school certificates, doctor's bills etc. as well.

[mark4007]

What is concerning some people that have dependents with MEU1 visas and fulfil the pre-Brexit rights but live with their parents out here full time is that they don't have the necessary proof of five years of residency, (electricity bills,) to obtain the Laminated card required by July 2026. Does this mean they have the right to residency as the wording of the Agreement states but will have difficulty trying to leave Cyprus? Any ideas or thoughts much appreciated.

conversion of MEU1 to MUKW1 is pretty much a formality.. so go ahead and do it.. then do the dependents latter..

[Kili01]

But Mark, the MEU 1 was only valid for 5yrs. So it depends how long such people have been living in Cyprus? If they have already been here more than or about 5yrs already, they will probably need to apply for the MUKW3.

Dee

[mark4007]

But Mark, the MEU 1 was only valid for 5yrs. So it depends how long such people have been living in Cyprus? If they have already been here more than or about 5yrs already, they will probably need to apply for the MUKW3.

Dee

the MEU1 had (and has) no expiry date.

there is no compulsion to apply for MUKW3 after living here for more than 5 years.. although if the criteria is met in many cases it may be beneficial.