Sister granted permanent residency in Sweden, leaving brother in limbo
In Sweden, the journey towards permanent residency and citizenship can vary greatly depending on one's circumstances. This is exemplified by the experiences of a sister and her sibling, whose stories, while similar in many ways, have taken different paths due to the need for work permit changes.
The sister, who arrived in Sweden at the age of 15, found her path to be smoother. After five years of residence, she successfully applied for the EU Long-Term Residence and was granted a permanent residence. Currently, she is in the process of obtaining Swedish citizenship.
However, her brother's journey was more complex. The "clock reset" in Sweden's residency requirements, which affects not just family reunification but also any combination of two visas, such as an academic researcher swapping to a sambo visa, has had a significant impact on his experience. This "reset" effectively devalues any contributions made during time on another visa.
The sister believes that if more people were aware of this "reset", a consensus could be reached about potential changes to residency permit requirements. She proposes a decent compromise could be made by requiring more "commitment" from prospective citizens while maintaining fairness and addressing gaps in the law.
Sweden is aiming to align its visa policies with the Nordics, like Norway, which includes all legally stayed time in the country, regardless of visa type. This shift could potentially simplify the process for many residents, including the brother, who would not need to face the "clock reset" if such a policy were implemented.
Interestingly, a search for any sister in Sweden whose process for obtaining permanent residence was simplified by not changing visa types yielded no results. The sister's experience highlights the discrepancy between the residency requirements for family reunification and other visa types in Sweden.
As the debate surrounding residency permit requirements continues, the sister's journey serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities and inconsistencies that exist within the system. Her proposals for a more fair and streamlined process are a call to action for policymakers and advocates alike.
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