Help and ideas of VISA

[swede]

Hi,

Would need some help from those experience people here with a VISA question.

Here is my situation:

 - I visited my GF in Sept/October in Volgograd and everything went incredible well
 - She visited me for 4 weeks in Dec/Jan (in Sweden) and everything was even better.
 - Now we are going to Thailand (12 march, she from Moscow and me from Copenhagen) and will stay 2.5 weeks.

After this we are planning to live together in Sweden but according to the immigration agency In Sweden it will take up to 6 months for her to get her residence visa  (2years). In Sweden this spouse application is pretty easy to get BUT of course we want her to come earlier.

And now for my question:

Should we apply for the residence visa first and then right after a tourist visa so she can stay here 3-6 months? Or will the applying for the residence VISA mess up the application for tourist VISA? (since then she pretty obvious show that she wants to move to Sweden)

I know that for the migration office to make decisions she has to be in Russia, but at least  it would be good for us to start the process even if she was in Sweden and she could go back for a few weeks just to get the VISA.

Or should I get the Tourist VISA first to be sure she gets that and then apply for the Residence VISA?


Any thoughts?

Since I know you people like pictures so here come some from Malmo, Copenhagen and Volgograd   

[Shadow]

Hello Swede,

First of all let me tell you that following the official policies would be best for all. You should try to find a Swedish forum on foreign partners, and check carefully on the immigration laws and practices.

What I can reply you is with standard EU laws and practices.
 Once a residence visa has been applied for, she should wait in Russia and chances of being given a tourist visa for Sweden are close to zero. If there is a possibility for her to get a trourist visa for one year before this application, it might work.

European laws on immigration differ from country to country, as each member state has the right to make laws for their own citizens. This means that any universal European laws work only if you are living outside your country of citizenship.

One example here is Aloe, she entered Belgium on a tourist visa and after marriage got a residence visa. Had she tried this in Holland, she would have been requested to leave the country while waiting for visa. If this is possible or not in Sweden, depends on national laws and is something you may wish to find out.

My main advise is not to be in a rush. You have a lifetime together ahead of you, and a few months will not break it, especially if you can travel to meer her a few times during the waiting.

[swede]

Thanks for the answer Shadow,

Yes, I have read the Swedish regulations and to get the final decision she has to be in Russia. But, I figure if they do the "Investigations" meanwhile she is Sweden the decision should go faster when she is back in Russia. In Sweden you don't have to get married to get a resident VISA, it is enough that you can prove that you will live together.

Have any one here experience to get 3-6 months tourist VISA to Europe?  she had 4 weeks before without any problems, but it is harder to get 3 months?

[Gylden]

Hey Swede,
My wife had two 3 month visas to Norway, after that we got married here in Norway and she got her permanent residence before going back to get her kids. Things have changed here now and even if you get married, she must go back and wait for the residence approval, and it states specifically that they cannot enter the country before getting the residence permit. Maybe it is the same there in Sweden?
 

[swede]

Hey Swede,
My wife had two 3 month visas to Norway, after that we got married here in Norway and she got her permanent residence before going back to get her kids. Things have changed here now and even if you get married, she must go back and wait for the residence approval, and it states specifically that they cannot enter the country before getting the residence permit. Maybe it is the same there in Sweden?
 

Thanks for answers!

How long did it take her to get the residence permit?

two 3 months, did she go for 3 months and then extended the (tourist visa?) 3 months more?

Was it difficult to get 3 months VISA? Did you buy tickets before applying?

sorry about all questions, I am trying to figure out what would be the best way to go.

[Gylden]

swede,
It took one month to get her residence permit, which had to be renewed every year for 3 years. On the third renewal it became permanent.
She got two separate visas, each visa was good for a 90 day stay and the visas were godkjent for 6 months. She visited me the first time for one month at påske and then spent two months starting that June on the same visa (it was not more than 90 days total). Then the next visa she came here in December and we married the beginning of Feb. and she had her residence beginning of March.

Hope this helps! I know things have changed here a bit, because cases we know of now the woman must return to her home country until the residence permit is ready.
 

[Shadow]

Thanks for the answer Shadow,

Yes, I have read the Swedish regulations and to get the final decision she has to be in Russia. But, I figure if they do the "Investigations" meanwhile she is Sweden the decision should go faster when she is back in Russia. In Sweden you don't have to get married to get a resident VISA, it is enough that you can prove that you will live together.

Have any one here experience to get 3-6 months tourist VISA to Europe?  she had 4 weeks before without any problems, but it is harder to get 3 months?

Basicly a Schengen visa is valid for 3 months, and can be extended if there are 'heavy' circumstances. The problem however is that if you get 'caught' there is a possibility to geive a ban of up to 5 years for any Schengen entry.

As far as married and unmarried goes, if you follow the normal procedures and waiting times there is no difference. When exploring loopholes, a married status has some advantages.

[Blues Fairy]

according to the immigration agency In Sweden it will take up to 6 months for her to get her residence visa 

Up to 6 months does not necessarily mean 6 months.  My mother got it in less than 4 months, as I remember (back in early 2000-s).  Certainly nothing compared to the average 6-7 month process for the American K-1 visa. 

[swede]

Thanks for pointers! 

we have now been in Thailand for three weeks (Hua Hin) and we got engaged in Bangkok (Golden building at grand palace) and had a wonderful dinner at Thailand highest building sky hotel. Again it was a delight to spend time together in the sun.

We will get married in august/September in Volgograd.

I have talked to the Swedish embassy and we will do like this:

1) apply for residence permit (will take up to 6 months)
2) Apply for short stay visa (3 months), then she has to go back and wait for decision (hopefully not longer than September)

According to them it shouldn't be any problems at all, actually they seem to be very helpfull (at least the embassy, about the immigrations I don't know).

Cheers

[dava]

Yeah check with the government, things change all the time. It's so hard to deal with the government.

Hey Swede,
My wife had two 3 month visas to Norway, after that we got married here in Norway and she got her permanent residence before going back to get her kids. Things have changed here now and even if you get married, she must go back and wait for the residence approval, and it states specifically that they cannot enter the country before getting the residence permit. Maybe it is the same there in Sweden?