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Americans moving to Sweden

3/8/2008 15:24 EST

We've been looking all over for information about how to get permits as an unmarried couple living together in Sweden. We both want to work, and we have no family in Sweden. Does anyone have any helpful links or advice for making the process easier? We will also both be recent graduates from college when we apply, so a student visa is out of the question. Any help on this would be appreciated. All we can find so far is a lot of info on moving there if you have family already or if you are from an EU country. Thank you!

abruno

4/16/2010 12:21 EST

I believe you need a residence permit for any stay longer than 90 days. Check the official website swedenabroad.com

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abruno

4/16/2010 12:17 EST

Hello,

I'm in the process of getting my residence permit right now. I'm an American engaged to a Swede but because we are not married yet, I am applying on the same "personal relationship" grounds as an unmarried couple would, so it should be pretty much the same process for you and your girlfriend.

I did have to return to the US to submit the application and I am not allowed back into Sweden until an official decision is made on the application. You can download the application forms from swedenabroad.com (which is what the Embassy will tell you to do). All applications in the US are sent to the Embassy in Washington DC even if you send it to your local consulate in the US. You will probably be called in to your local consulate for the interview part of the process, and your Swedish partner will have a phone interview, if your relationship has not been a long one. I was told an interview would be necessary in my case because my partner and I have been a couple for about a year (even though we've known each other for much longer than that it's the actual relationship time that counts).

I just submitted all the papers about a week ago. I've heard it can be as quick as a month or two or as much as 6 to 8 months. If any of you want, I can list the documents I submitted.

So far I have found that the Embassy in DC is really the only helpful official source for the process. Emailing my local consulate in Tampa, FL was useless. Calling the larger consulate in Miami was better; the people were nice but I don't think they have quite as much info on the details because they just forward the application on to DC. The visa department in DC was very helpful and friendly, but their hours for calls or office visits are extremely limited. My partner called the Migrationsverket office and they were very unhelpful. I'm not sure which office he called but they weren't able to answer any questions on their own forms and told him to call the Embassy. That's pretty silly since the Embassy only does some of the process and it's ultimately the Migrationsverket that makes the decision.

Expat0tony

4/9/2010 18:41 EST

Hello all, any new information on this topic? I am moving to Europe soon but do not have a Masters Degree nor a ton of money.
How do so many illiterate immigrants from all over the world enter Europe and be able to work & stay? Someone please advise. Thank you!

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