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Norway: Expat Meetup at Sir Winston in Oslo - 31.08.2011:
Dear All
We're planning an expat "help-meet" at Sir Winston Pub on Karl Johans Gate in Oslo for the 31st of August (Wednesday)! On the agenda is:
"Who Needs What, When?"
"Jobs Nobody Knows About"
"Let's do Business Together"
"Rooms for Rent"
Proposed starting time:
18.30 (6:30 p.m.).
Please help us make this a helpful event to solve as many problems as possible for as many expats as possible! Hopefully everyone will come away with something they needed or at least be one step closer to that!
Norwegian "guardian angels" (those willing to help expats with jobs, housing, a friend, other problems) are most welcome!
PM me for details and anyone wishing to help us arrange and contact people, please feel welcome to "realize your talents" in this context!
Vi snakkes i Oslo på onsdag!
Norway: Experiences with Skatteetaten:
I can sympathize with your situation and have addressed it in various contexts. My advice to you would be to ensure that your attorney handling the matter does not owe allegiance to Norway! If you can find an alert English or other expat attorney (not easy since it is difficult for them to be approved in the Norwegian bar), that would be the way to go.
That said, it is common global practice for countries to want to "eat their cake and have it too" when it comes to these two types of legislation (immigration vs taxation). This is actually the norm, to be fair to Norway. If citizens and immigrants have not protested such opportunistic legislation at the reading and voting stage, then litigation will be of limited value, since the various agencies are often only implementing what the "voters" and their representatives thought was "ok" without protesting. Even Canada has such rules and a person can be deemed resident for taxes for enough years to become a citizen many times over, while not being eligible for citizenship because the residence doesn't count for that.
As far as EU legislation and its implementation are concerned, in general, there have been numerous problems with the way Norway interprets and applies the legislation in everything from offering services to EU citizens to public procurement procedures and taxation. If you are an EU citizen, you can contact the EU Parliament-based Petitions Office if existing legislation is being applied in a discriminatory manner toward you as an EU citizen, you can approach the relevant department of the EU Commission or you can go through your country's embassy and perhaps use the services of a lawyer they feel might be suitable.
Norway: OAS Expats in Norway to be Considered Preferred Suppliers:
Compiling a list of potential expat SMEs willing to supply products and services to The SPACEPOL Corporation (Europe)
The SPACEPOL Corporation is the sole producer of internationally-oriented research/consulting services and academic literature within the fields of Space Law and National Innovation Policy in much of Europe. Based in Quebec, Canada with a branch representation office to the Nordic countries located in Espoo, Finland we are one of the most noted Canadian firms present in the region.
As a measure to counter local market protectionism which adversely affects firms and service providers who originate from the OAS (Organization of American States) member states, we are now among the first companies to actively pursue a programme designed to source and procure products with a preference to expat-owned (citizens of OAS member states) SMEs located within the European Union.
If you are a citizen of a member state of the OAS and run a SME in the EU, you are welcome to contact us as a potential supplier for one of the following categories of products or services:
- yerba mate and similar dry products, including accessories
- software products
- media and marketing services (for books and speaking events)
- ticket sales and payment processing services (for speaking events)
- low-cost quality apparel (male apparel)
- washing powders and cleaning products
- stationary and paper services (envelopes and paper with our logo)
- courier services (must be available in Finland)
- speaker's bureau (willing to broker our courses and lectures in the Nordic countries)
- ADSL (satellite-based) infrastructure services
- international banking services (subject to our banking service policies)
If you are a citizen of a member state of the OAS and run a SME in the EU, we also ask to you consider informing us whether you will actively hire or contract OAS citizens or nationals at your company in the EU.
We are also looking for expat book wholesalers throughout the EU who would be willing to stock our academic titles.
If you believe you meet the above criteria, please do not hesitate to contact me to see if you qualify to be put on our list of preferred suppliers! And don't forget to pass this info along to friends and colleagues!
No dude en contactarse conmigo en castellano!
Mexico: Cedula Profesional for Expat Experts:
Partially connected to my earlier query about expert immigration to Mexico is the question of credential evaluations and in particular the one document any serious academic or professional expat in Mexico will need- the Cedula Profesional.
I have read the info available from SEP and am no wiser about how the expat expert coming to Mexico would most directly and intelligently go about getting their credential evaluated and then the cedula. From the info I see on the SEP pages, one would think that only Mexican citizens could get one. However, I suspect that this is not entirely correct.
I know that there is a credential evaluation process separate from obtaining the cedula profesional.
My questions are:
1) Must all of these processes be started from Mexico or can the embassies or accreditation agencies help get it started BEFORE one comes to Mexico?
2) What is the least expensive and time-consuming method to get the Cedula Profesional, particularly with multiple degrees?
Thanks again all for any info you could provide, as the SEP pages are rather unclear on this.
Mexico: Does Mexico Need Specialists/Academics?:
I received a query, recently regarding specialist relocation to Mexico, which is not one of our countries of specialization.
If anyone here could let me now the current situation (in particular Mexican citizens or long-time expats), I would be really appreciative.
The question is as follows:
Would a person with a doctorate (double doctorate) in Public Admin and Law who speaks Spanish well and writes in fluently in addition to several EU languages
a) have difficulties getting a self-employed expert or academic employee inmigrado visa to Mexico
b) be of interest in general to the Mexican labour market in Baja California Sur or Baja California Norte?
If I understand correctly, the idea is to immigrate as an academic or specialist to Mexico (a specialist in two rather uncommon areas of the two disciplines noted above).
Thanks in advance for any helpful comments!
Denmark: NOTICE TO XPATS HAVING LIVED IN DENMARK FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR!:
If you are a "veteran" expat in Denmark (or were a veteran expat in Denmark) and have run into the type of treatment described in earlier posts in this forum.... PLEASE CONSIDER WRITING A SUMMARY OF YOUR STORY and submitting it the e-mail address of the The North American - South American Expat Guild in Europe!
If we have anything to say about it, 2010 is going to be a turning point in this situation in Finland, Sweden and Norway (who share the same problems as regards treatment of international guests and their businesses).
We will be submitting a report on the situation to the US, Canadian, British, French, Australian, South African, German and Italian embassies during the first half of 2010. Without your voices, we will carry less clout! After submitting the report and personal stories to the embassies we will be handing over an official complaint to the Danish Foreign Minister. While the complaint focuses on the treatment of international experts, academics and other highly qualified immigrants to the country, the stories and voices of others will be included as well!
Also, if you meet the conditions for memberhip (business person, academic, citizen of one of the OAS countries), PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE consider becoming an online member of the networking group entitled The North American - South American Expat Guild in Europe if you have a LinkedIn profile. We don't just sit around and complain; we help each other and do business together.
If you are not a citizen of an OAS country, please consider joining or starting a similar group for the citizens of your own regional pact group in Denmark/Norway/Sweden and we will work together with you!
You may contact us at:
cbotulin05@yahoo.ca
or via LinkedIn (best)
and we are planning a meeting soon!
Take care!
(International experts making complaints in this project should have been proven to be fluent in the local language, unless obviously irrelevant for the job or business sector. A certified language test is considered acceptable proof of fluency)
Finland: NOTICE TO XPATS HAVING LIVED IN FINLAND FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR!:
If you are a "veteran" expat in Finland (or were a veteran expat in Finland) and have run into the type of treatment described in earlier posts in this forum.... PLEASE CONSIDER WRITING A SUMMARY OF YOUR STORY and submitting it the e-mail address of the The North American - South American Expat Guild in Europe!
If we have anything to say about it, 2010 is going to be a turning point in this situation in Finland, Sweden and Norway (who share the same problems as regards treatment of international guests and their businesses).
We will be submitting a report on the situation to the US, Canadian, British, French, Australian, South African, German and Italian embassies during the first half of 2010. Without your voices, we will carry less clout! After submitting the report and personal stories to the embassies we will be handing over an official complaint to Mr. Alexander Stubb. While the complaint focuses on the treatment of international experts, academics and other highly qualified immigrants to the country, the stories and voices of others will be included as well!
Also, if you meet the conditions for memberhip (business person, academic, citizen of one of the OAS countries), PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE consider becoming an online member of the networking group entitled The North American - South American Expat Guild in Europe if you have a LinkedIn profile. We don't just sit around and complaint; we help each other and do business together.
If you are not a citizen of an OAS country, please consider joining or starting a similar group for the citizens of your own regional pact group in Finland/Norway/Sweden and we will work together with you!
You may contact us at:
cbotulin05@yahoo.ca
or via LinkedIn (best)
and we are planning a meeting based on this forum and those at Expat Exchange in the spring of 2010 at Metropolia University in Leppävaara, Espoo!
Take care!
Norway: NOTICE TO XPATS HAVING LIVED IN NORWAY FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR!:
If you are a "veteran" expat in Norway (or were a veteran expat in Norway) and have run into the type of treatment described in earlier posts in this forum.... PLEASE CONSIDER WRITING A SUMMARY OF YOUR STORY and submitting it the e-mail address of the The North American - South American Expat Guild in Europe!
If we have anything to say about it, 2010 is going to be a turning point in this situation in Finland, Sweden and Norway (who share the same problems as regards treatment of international guests and their businesses).
We will be submitting a report on the situation to the US, Canadian, British, French, Australian, South African, German and Italian embassies during the first half of 2010. Without your voices, we will carry less clout! After submitting the report and personal stories to the embassies we will be handing over an official complaint to the Norwegian Foreign Minister. While the complaint focuses on the treatment of international experts, academics and other highly qualified immigrants to the country, the stories and voices of others will be included as well!
Also, if you meet the conditions for memberhip (business person, academic, citizen of one of the OAS countries), PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE consider becoming an online member of the networking group entitled The North American - South American Expat Guild in Europe if you have a LinkedIn profile. We don't just sit around and complain; we help each other and do business together.
If you are not a citizen of an OAS country, please consider joining or starting a similar group for the citizens of your own regional pact group in Finland/Norway/Sweden and we will work together with you!
You may contact us at:
cbotulin05@yahoo.ca
or via LinkedIn (best)
and we are planning a meeting soon!
Take care!
(International experts making complaints in this project should have been proven to be fluent in the local language, unless obviously irrelevant for the job or business sector. A certified language test is considered acceptable proof of fluency)
Norway: A Form Complaint Letter for Expats:
It is impossible to put together a form letter that will take into consideration every possible type of trade and mobility barrier American and Canadian expats could be subjected to (there are many). However, the below should provide an example of how expats could play their part in affecting change to the current transatlantic immigration regime which to date has been rather one-sided.
Both Canada and the US have units in their Departments of Foreign Affairs / Dept of State with a responsibility for keeping track of trade and mobility barriers. These incidents and statistics are used when treaties are renewed, complaints are lodged against a particular country, the ambassador is called to the Department in connection with some issue or immigration policy is being reviewed and quotas (does not apply to Canada) changed.
Also the various immigration reform associations and so-called friendship societies really feel the pressure to push for reform when they receive their copies of letters such as the below.
However, keep in mind that the below should not be sent in for minor issues (such as a decision taking two weeks longer than expected, a decision to return an application that is obviously not filled in correctly or to "get back at someone" if one's case really did not have any real merit! One is only damaging the entire credibility of a legitimate collection of complaints against Norway, Sweden and Finland by doing this.
This letter is a structure and content guide for your own individual version which could be forwarded to the relevant departments in the US and Norway, the Immigration Reform societies, the Embassy of Norway and the US/Canadian Embassy in Norway. If you don't mind the publicity you could also publish your letter online or send it to various media outlets for archival (they will not necessarily be interested in a sole incident unless there are many letters arriving with a certain pattern of interest). Also, if there is a large Norwegian corporation with HQ in a US/Canadian city, you could send CCs to the Chamber of Commerce or Council in that city.
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MODEL COMPLAINT LETTER
From:
To:
Norwegian Directorate of Immigration / Embassy of Norway
CC: US Dept of State / Dept of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Norwegian-American Association, Norwegian American Business Club, American-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce, US Embassy, Oslo/Canadian Embassy, Oslo, etc.
Subject: Your Recent Decision which Represents a Trade/Mobility Barrier to American/Canadian Citizens in Norway
- - - - -
I thank you for taking the time to review my case and for your efforts in that regard. I also respect and understand that you are bound by national legislation in the area of immigration, although you may at times also exercise a varying degree of discretion in individual cases.
Your decision in its present form and ultimately the regulations upon which it is based act in my informed opinion as an excessive barrier to skilled western migrants wishing to contribute to the further development of Norway. In light of historical realities including the fact that over 750.000 Norwegians built new lives in North America before the First World War as have tens of thousands thereafter, including entrepreneurs and skilled Norwegians who found their opportunities in my country, it appears that the relationship of exchange of hospitality between our countries is at present rather one-sided.
Despite the myth that the US and Canada are "nations of immigrants", the fact remains that thousands of families had been there since the 1500's and 1600's (not to mention the aboriginal population) and chose to open up national borders to newcomers. They could also have chosen otherwise for whatever reason. Yet, WE chose the option of hospitality and opened up our doors to Norwegians. Even today and despite the strain put on what was meant to be a system of generosity to newcomers, skilled workers are welcome from Norway to my country, as are Norwegian businessmen.
However, when I attempted as a skilled worker/businessperson to seek opportunities in Norway, I was met in a very different manner.
(Describe your experience here in a short, relevant and to the point manner, also describe how authorities treated your case or if you met with labour discrimination and exactly how and what kind.)
In practise, however, Norway has indeed welcomed tens of thousands of immigrants from Africa, Asia and the Middle East. I am hurt/outraged that no acceptable arrangements have been made for Americans and Canadians, despite the current statistical indications that your population is aging and your labour market will require tens of thousands of skilled workers and new businesses in the very near future.
With eye to the above, I am filing an official complaint with my government and yours. While Norway certainly has every right to decide which persons or nationalities it prefers to admit, the exercise of this right cannot but affect how my country reacts to Norway through future policy and actions.
Yours Respectfully,
Your Name
Address:
Telephone/Fax:
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Norway: Trade Skills in Norway?:
NOT ENTIRELY TRUE!
I don't know why it is that westerners, in particular Americans and Canadians, simply allow themselves to bear the brunt of EU and in particular Nordic bureaucracy, trade barriers and discrimination! This may sound far out to many here, but that is probably because most have little or no experience of living outside of the US or Canada.
Firstlly, hundreds of thousands of people from Norway and the other Nordic countries have been welcomed and their businesses have been welcomed to the US and Canada for over 150 years. Granted the US and Canada had to start sharing the hundreds of thousands of slots for new immigrants after the 1920's, but our countries have continued welcoming unprecidented numbers of Europeans and others (and their businesses).
On the other hand, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland have since the 1960's done virtually EVERYTHING in their power to avoid opening their doors to regular Canadians and Americans (save for marrying into the Norwegian fold) and concentrated any recruitment they had on Africa, Turkey and the Middle East.
I've said it tens of times to Americans and Canadians who've gotten the short end of the stick in Norway, Sweden and elsewhere. Your embassy, your non-profit immigration reform associations (like IRLI), the Norwegian-American Associations and the various Chambers of Commerce are supposed to get informed about issues being faced by Americans and Canadians who want their turn as welcomed immigrants and are not getting it!
If Norwegian bureaucrats are giving you the runaround or there are all sorts of regulations blocking you which have little to do with reality- REPORT THE SITUATION TO YOUR EMBASSY, THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND TO THE VARIOUS ASSOCIATIONS!
They cannot do their job without clear information indicating what the barriers are, how they work and against whom they are being applied. If enough Canadians and Americans do this, chances are our government will clamp down on Norwegians and their businesses, until they start finding ways to accomodate skilled American and Canadian immigration.
And NO you do not have to sit and simply accept being treated very differently than those who feel they can simply get up and move to our countries.
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