HOME | POLITICS | SPORTS | LIFE | SCI/TECH | OPEDS | HELPFUL TIPS
|
Migration May 26, 2003 Over 900,000 people in Sweden were born abroad. That’s more than one in ten of the population. From these, around one third come from the other Nordic countries, mostly Finland, a third come from the rest of Europe and a third from the rest of the world. Incidentally, as a piece of useless knowledge, the word Nordic refers to Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland, whereas Scandinavia comprises Sweden, Norway and Denmark alone. Just in case anyone was wondering. This week I was officially informed, by the immigration department, that I am allowed to stay in Sweden for another year. This was the first I’d heard from the department since I put in my application for residency more than twelve months ago. The department, it seems, moves slowly here in Sweden. When I first considered moving to Sweden, as I was still living in Australia, I initially put in my application to the Swedish Embassy in Canberra. I filled in the four page application form, attached copies of my passport, divorce papers and the required photographs and sent it off to Canberra. Some few weeks later, I was invited down to the Embassy to discuss my application. I arrived at the Embassy to be viewed suspiciously by two police cars waiting in the street outside. I thought this was a bit strange, considering I was only coming to talk about my residency application, but then realised that the police were not there for me, but rather for the Israeli Embassy which was located across the street from the Swedish Embassy. Once inside the Embassy, I finally got to talk with someone about my application. It appeared that I had two options. I could lodge my application their at the Embassy, but was told that it could take anywhere up to six to nine months before I heard anything further and during that time I was advised not to enter Sweden, in case that could jeopardise my application. The alternative was to lodge my application once I arrived in Sweden. As I was already planning to travel to Sweden in a few months time, I decided on the second option. A couple of weeks after my arrival in Sweden, I had my first encounter with Swedish bureaucracy when I went into the local Migration office. First, it was the usual take-a-number routine and wait in the queue. Then obtain the correct form. This proved difficult as I confused the officials by being a British subject, although I had arrived from Australia, and they were unsure which form I should use. Finally we decided that it would be simpler to use the form for citizens of an European Union country, as I had a British passport. We took the form home and duly completed it, attaching all the previous photos and documents as before. Then back to the department, take-a- number and lodge the application. Then a trip around the corner to the local office of the Taxation department, to get that all important Swedish Person Number. Everything in Sweden revolves around your Personal Number. A passport pales into insignificance when compared to this number. It consists of the year, month and day of your birth, followed by a four digit number, of which the third digit is either odd or even and determines if you are considered male or female, and the last digit is a check digit based on all the preceding numbers. There is a formula for calculating this but as my name is not Einstein, I’ll pass on that calculation for now. Having shown my passport, a copy of a letter from the Migration department to certify that I had indeed lodged an application for permanent residency and other proofs of my identity, I was issued with my Personal Number by the Taxation department. Armed with this, I could now go to the Post Office, take-a-number and obtain an application form for my Personal Identification Card. Before this could be submitted, however, I had to have another photo taken. A passport photo was not acceptable – I had to supply a black and white photo, taken from such an angle to show my nose in profile and one ear. Apparently a person’s ear is almost as unique as a fingerprint. Or so I’m told… Three weeks later, I was told that I could collect my Personal Identification Card from the post office. This card can be used to prove your identity all over Sweden and is essential when doing everything from opening a bank account to obtaining a library card. So now, after getting married, buying a house and completing the Government sponsored Swedish for Immigrants course, I have finally been told that I can be a resident in Sweden for another twelve months. I wonder what would have happened if the powers that be had said "No" Maybe take-a-number and join the queue at the airport… Hälsningar till nästa vecka, ------------ About the author: Robin Alan Bell is an Englishman by birth, but migrated to Australia back in '72. Married and divorced there. Spent the last 3 years living by myself on a remote farm in rural New South Wales with no mains electricity, water etc. All power, heating was from natural resources (solar, wind, wood). "Met" a Swedish girl on the internet, came to Sweden for a holiday, loved the place (and the girl), moved to Sweden permanently Christmas 2001 and married the girl in Easter 2002. Living happily ever after... Email Robin Alan Bell: sosoft@ozemail.com.au Comment on this column in the forum. ------------ |
||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
