Visa to Sweden - questions

[bjoer751]

Hi all!

We're planning two trips for my sweet Sasha to Sweden, one in april and one in may. Now, I have a few questions, and since there's no swedish forum, I post here.

• I'm planning on making a private invitation, and then she either needs to prove she has 40€/day on her account - or I can write that I will sponsor her stay.
  Well, her having >400€ on her account will not be an easy task.
  So, since I have a so called "prick" because of old debts at the Enforcement service (Kronofogden) (They stem from an old relationship, with a girl who was addicted to gambling - all debts are paid, but I will still be in the database for another year) - will this create any problems if we write that I will be her sponsor? I make good money, and am permanently employed since 1,5 years - have been employed at the same firm for 2,5 years.
• I have read and heard from different people that Russia might give her problems - since she is 25 years, single, and will be invited by me... is there any truth to these rumours? She's been to Sweden 4 months (fall 2005), studying, and I've been to Russia 5 times since.
• The swedish Visa seems to be valid för 90 days (if I read correctly), but can she enter Sweden more than once on the same Visa? Or, how do we otherwise do? Can she apply for two Visas at the same time - or does she have to return to Russia from the first visit - before she can apply again?

Any help and thoughts are appreciated.

[SANDRO43]

Bjoer, first let me say that I have NO direct experience in this, and that maybe fellow members from other Schengen countries who have it will be more helpful. However, a few points :

1. If you Google for Schengen, you should find several more detailed references to the whole subject of visas.
2. Re "since I have a so called 'prick' " (curious terminology you use in Sweden ) : could you not wire-transfer the money to Sasha ?
3. Re "Russia might give her problems" : that is entirely dependent upon the attitude of your consular authorities in Russia.
4. A  Schengen tourist visa is valid for 90 days and, IIRC, does not allow multiple entries/exits from/to non-Schengen countries.

An alternative that you could consider would be for your Sasha to buy package tours to Sweden from a Russian travel agency, who will take care of getting the visa for her. This usually works because it satisfies most of the visa requirements (self-sustenance, return ticket, health insurance, etc.).

[Bruno]

I'm planning on making a private invitation, and then she either needs to prove she has 40€/day on her account - or I can write that I will sponsor her stay.
Well, her having >400€ on her account will not be an easy task.
So, since I have a so called "prick" because of old debts at the Enforcement service (Kronofogden) (They stem from an old relationship, with a girl who was addicted to gambling - all debts are paid, but I will still be in the database for another year) - will this create any problems if we write that I will be her sponsor? I make good money, and am permanently employed since 1,5 years - have been employed at the same firm for 2,5 years.

No problem there... you debts have nothing to make with the support itself... only if they take money directly via your employer, it can be difficult... but since all your debts are pay, all is right...

Some of the legal text for Belgium... can be a little different for Sweden, specialy the amounts who are related to the povrety level of the country...

- or the guarantor's financial means: A pledge of financial support is specific proof of means of subsistence. It offers a solution in situations where you cannot prove your own  solvency. Through this pledge of financial support, a Belgian national, or a foreign national resident in Belgium, acts as a guarantor for your period of residence, your return journey and your medical costs. The guarantor should ask for the pledge of financial support (also called Annex 3bis) at the municipality (commune/gemeente) of his/her place of residence. The guarantor does not have to be the issuer of the invitation. When the pledge of financial support has been authenticated by the municipal authorities, the original document must be submitted to the relevant embassy or consulate, within six months of the authentication, together with:

    * a copy of the guarantor's last three pay slips or any other (official) document proving his/her solvency. In the case of a family visit, the guarantor must earn at least 800 euro net per month + 150 euro for each of the guarantor's current dependents and/or + 150 euro for each person invited. In the case of a visit to friends, the guarantor must earn at least 1,000 euro net per month + 150 euro for each of the guarantor's current dependents and/or + 200 euro for each person invited;
    * a copy of a document proving that the guarantor is of Belgian nationality (identity card) or has authorisation to stay in Belgium indefinitely (residence permit).


Given that the number of current dependents is a factor in determining the solvency of the guarantor, it is also advisable to submit proof of the  make-up of the guarantor's family together with evidence of any family benefits received. 

From the FAQ :

What is the difference between a letter of invitation and a pledge of financial support?
   
A letter of invitation is not an official document but a document written by you in which you indicate clearly who you are, whom you are inviting, the link between yourself and the visa applicant, why you are inviting him/her and for how long, where he/she will stay (in a hotel, in your house, etc.), the relationship that exists between you and the applicant, and so forth. The purpose of this letter is to enable the embassy or consulate to determine all the circumstances of the planned stay. Belgian embassies and consulates always ask for an original document (i.e. not a copy).

By contrast, the pledge of financial support is a document that you can sign (although a signature is not obligatory) if you wish to act as guarantor for a visa applicant who does not have any or adequate means of subsistence or cannot provide proof of such means. You can obtain this document from your municipality . You must attach a copy of your identity card or residence permit together with copies of your last three pay slips. It is also advisable to submit proof of your family make-up and evidence of any family benefits received.

About multi-entry or more of 3 month stay :

Can I use my visa to travel out of the Schengen area and back in again?
   
A normal Schengen visa is only valid for a single entry into the Schengen area . Consequently, once inside the Schengen area, you cannot travel to another country outside the Schengen area and back again. For example, if you have a Schengen visa for a trip to Belgium and wish to spend several days in the United Kingdom and then return to Belgium, it is not possible to do so if you only have a single entry marked on your Schengen visa.

In some instances, a Schengen visa with multiple entries may be requested from the outset from the embassy or consulate. However, you will need to justify the fact that you require multiple entries.

If the visa is valid for multiple entries, this will be clearly indicated on the visa sticker. Such visas allow you to enter and leave the Schengen area several times (the number indicated on the visa) within the period of validity of the visa (i.e. the dates indicated on the visa under 'from' and 'until').
However, the total length of the stay may not exceed the number of days indicated under 'duration of stay'. In no event may the total stay exceed 90 days within any six-month period.

What do I have to do to extend my visa in Belgium?
   
All questions linked to extending your stay in Belgium should be addressed to the municipality of your place of residence in Belgium. However, it is only possible to have your visa extended in exceptional circumstances that could not have been foreseen at the time you made the visa application.

When you arrived in Belgium, you should have registered at the municipality and been issued with a declaration of arrival. On the basis of this document, it may be possible to have the visa extended via the municipality, who must seek authorisation from the Immigration Service at FPS Home Affairs.

Even if you were not required to register with the municipality (because you were staying at a hotel, camp site or youth hostel, or were being admitted to a hospital or prison), you must contact the municipality of your place of residence if you wish to extend your stay.

All this is about Belgium... rules are similar in all Schengen country but little difference can appear between country... contact your foreign office for more information ( sorry, i don't understand Swedish, it will be your work !!! )

[bjoer751]

Thank you, both of you!
Very informative Bruno.

[Kvinna]

you can check this too
http://www.migrationsverket.se/swedish/visum/index.jsp
http://www.swedenabroad.com/pages/start____28406.asp