Part
01
of one
Part
01
If a United States citizen is offered a job in Sweden and receives a work visa- what are the options for their partner if they are not legally married? How long could their partner stay in Sweden without a visa? What visa options are available to that individual that could be a more permanent solution beyond the 90 day visa program?
U.S. citizens can visit Sweden for up to 90 days without a visa under the Schengen Agreement, regardless of their purpose. Longer temporary stays require a visitor's permit, which is usually granted for between three and 12 months. As for joining an unmarried partner who works in Sweden, it's possible to apply for the residence permit as a cohabiting partner or someone who wants to become one. In most cases, it has to be done before leaving the U.S.
FINDINGS
THE SCHENGEN AGREEMENT
According to the Schengen Agreement, U.S. citizens can visit any Schengen country, including Sweden, without a visa for up to 90 days. The stay can be both for leisure or business reasons. Visitors are recommended to have passports that are valid at least six months after the final day of the trip. They also need to prove that they can afford an airline return ticket.
VISITOR'S PERMIT
U.S. citizens who want to extend a temporary stay beyond a 90-day period can apply for a visitor's permit. It's usually issued for between three and 12 months. Please note that I found this information on the websites of the Embassy of Sweden in multiple cities, but none in the U.S. However, I assumed that it's not country-specific, since it is repeated for various countries. Sites of the Embassy of Sweden in the U.S. cities provide less information than the others, which may be why it wasn't included.
Applicants must present an invitation from a permanent resident, prove that they can afford the stay and a return ticket, and have a passport that is valid for at least three months after the expiration of a permit. An application for a VP needs to be submitted in person in one of the Permit Units. A person who is inviting the visitor must accompany him. The fee for the permit is SEK1,000, or $120.70. I converted the currency using XE Converter. If the application is accepted, the visitor gets a residence permit card. Fingerprints and a photograph have to be taken at the Permit Unit, which is usually done upon applying.
While the temporary stay can also be extended with a D-Visa, it can only be issued to those who required a visa while coming to Sweden.
COHABITING PARTNER — REQUIREMENTS
U.S. citizens who want to move to Sweden to someone can apply for a permanent residence permit as a spouse, registered partner, or cohabiting partner. I will cover the third option, as it's the only one that fits the criteria.
The person who invites their cohabiting partner has to prove that they can support both of them and have a home of sufficient standard and size. The applicant must submit:
— scans of their passport
— scans of a permit to live in another country
— documents that prove having a joint residence and having lived together, such as rental contracts, purchase certificates and bills with names.
COHABITING PARTNER — APPLICATION PROCESS
The Migration Agency makes a decision on issuing the permit. While applying via email from the U.S., a person can grant someone, typically their partner, a power of attorney. The chosen person will have the right to submit application or appeal against a decision.
As soon as the application is submitted, the Migration Agency will reach to a partner who is in Sweden with a questionnaire about their home, income, and relationship with the person they invite. It has to be done within two weeks. After the application is reviewed, the person who wants to move to Sweden must schedule an interview with an embassy or consulate-general.
They may also be photographed and fingerprinted, which will allow issuing a permanent residence card before leaving the U.S. Since U.S. citizens don't need a visa to travel to Sweden, it can also be done after arriving in Sweden.
The application has to be sent from the U.S., but the applying person can come to Sweden while waiting for the decision for 90 days (or longer, if they have a visitor's permit). The waiting time is not disclosed. After the decision is made, the person who wants to move to Sweden has to come to the embassy or consulate-general to receive it. It can also be delivered to their partner in Sweden if they have a power of attorney.
There are also some exceptions, under which the application can be submitted by a person who is in Sweden. They must either be pregnant or have another residence permit.
FUTURE COHABITING PARTNER
Unmarried partners of U.S. citizens who work in Sweden can also receive a permanent residence permit if they want to live with their partners but haven't done so in the past. The requirements, fees and the application process are almost the same as for cohabiting partners. However, instead of proofs that they have a joint residence with the person who works in Sweden and have lived with them, they have to submit a civil registration certificate or another document that proves that they're unmarried.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, a U.S. citizen may permanently join an unmarried partner who works in Sweden by applying for a residence permit as a cohabiting partner or someone who is planning to become one. In both cases, the person who works in Sweden has to be able to support both themselves and the joining partner and have a home of sufficient standard and size. As for shorter stays, U.S. citizens can visit Sweden for up to 90 days without a visa. After this period, they have to apply for a visitor's permit.