So what is it? The Surinder Singh route, essentially, is a way of bringing a non-EEA member into the UK. That person needs to live and work as if they were a European: pay social security, go on the census, pay bills in their name, pay rent in their name, have their own bank account etc. This needs to be for a minimum of 3 months, but I assume the longer you do this, the more grounds you have. You then bring back all of the evidence for the things above and present it to the Border Agency when you arrive at the airport. It may seem extreme or even like cheating, but it is a legitimate way of entering the UK without a visa. It might be hard in the current climate to find a job, especially in Spain, Portugal or Italy, but it doesn’t state that it has to be a good job. Anyone could put up with a bar job or cleaning for 3 months if it meant something better at the end of it, surely?
The Surinder Singh route, how it came about:
Mr Singh was an Indian citizen who worked with his British wife in Germany for several years. The couple then returned to the UK where he was allowed to reside with his wife on the basis of the UK immigration rules (limited leave to remain). The couple then divorced. The UK authorities decided to curtail his leave to remain and order his removal from the UK. Mr Singh challenged the decision before the UK courts, which then decided to refer the matter for an opinion from the EU Court of Justice on whether Mr Singh had a right to reside in the UK on the basis of EU law. (Taken from here)
The UKBA also gives good advice here, although they make it sound less likely than it actually is.
Personally, I will still try the visa route, but if the £18,000 salary thing is true, then we will be going to Spain where I’ve worked before, the trouble is, it will be hard to find him a job, especially as he doesn’t speak the lingo. Fingers crossed it won’t come to that and they will accept us without having to “cheat”. Though what a great method it is!!