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Long story short, I am a US citizen who has lived in Belgium since September, 2021 with a student visa to pursue a master's degree. I will graduate in June, 2023 and plan to move to Sweden to work and be with my native Swedish boyfriend at that time, but it seems like there are so many obstacles. I realize that moving from the US to Sweden is complicated, but is it as complicated if I would be moving from a temporary residency in an EU country (Belgium)? He and I have been researching this online but we can't seem to get the same answer in two places.
Thanks, this is very distressing for us, as we have been long distance for over a year now and just want to be together! Any suggestions are much appreciated!
If it is as distressing to him as it is to you, why didn't he stay in Belgium until you were graduated? Couldn't you marry and go next year as a married couple?
He never lived in Belgium. We met last year when he was in the US on a temporary work assignment and I had just been accepted at the Belgian university but hadn't moved there yet, and the company moved him back to Sweden earlier this year.
There do not seem to be many obstacles. If you cohabitate or marry, you get your residential visa and you can apply for citizenship in three years. Easy Peasy!
This describes the process clearly. If you are married to or cohabitating with a Swedish citizen, the required residence time is reduced to three years from five years.
"If you are married, live in a registered partnership or are a cohabiting partner with a Swedish citizen, you can apply for Swedish citizenship after three years. If so, you must have lived together the past two years. It is not enough to be married with each other. You must also live together."
"If you are a citizen of a country outside the EU and want to move to a family member in Sweden, you will need a residence permit. You may be granted a residence permit if you are married, have entered into a partnership, or have been cohabiting with someone who now lives in Sweden."
There's no "girlfriend" visa in any country. You have to plan to marry or register a partnership and fill out the appropriate paperwork, while you boyfriend has to make the required financial commitments to support you should you be unable to find work. Sweden is outside the EU so your EU study student residency papers are irrelevant.
Generally, any country will want to see that you are seriously committed (work, school, or partnership) to living there before they will allow you to emigrate. Otherwise, you can go as a tourist for less than 90 days, but you likely will not be allowed to work there during that time.
All this commercial link posting does not do any good. OP is a masters student and should be able to google Swedish Immigration. Her respective other half is a swedish national if I understand her posts and shoul;d be able to access and apply the original directions.
All this commercial link posting does not do any good. OP is a masters student and should be able to google Swedish Immigration. Her respective other half is a swedish national if I understand her posts and shoul;d be able to access and apply the original directions.
Just because you have a MS doesn't mean you have any common sense, as I demonstrate to my wife at least once a day.
Besides, maybe she has a MFA, and you're lucky if you can find one of those who can walk and chew bubble gum at the same time.
Her school may have handled all the paperwork regarding her student visa, and her BF may not think much about immigration issues, since he's from a country pretty high on the enlightenment scale, or whatever you want to call it.
On the other hand, I have to admit I am tickled by the idea of a response to an immigration question on an immigration message board being "figure it out yourself, smart guy."
There's no "girlfriend" visa in any country. You have to plan to marry or register a partnership and fill out the appropriate paperwork, while you boyfriend has to make the required financial commitments to support you should you be unable to find work. Sweden is outside the EU so your EU study student residency papers are irrelevant.
Generally, any country will want to see that you are seriously committed (work, school, or partnership) to living there before they will allow you to emigrate. Otherwise, you can go as a tourist for less than 90 days, but you likely will not be allowed to work there during that time.
Actually the US issues B2 with extensions for cohabitating partners.
OP, hasn't your boyfriend been looking into this for you? It seems like he would know better than any of us what you would need to do to move to Sweden to be with him.
I DO wish you luck as long-distance relationships can be hard.
Actually the US issues B2 with extensions for cohabitating partners.
Sweden issues something similar, but you must still submit documentation proving the relationship and promising/proving financial support should the applicant not find work.
I assume they have the same income/support documentation requirements for the US Citizen.
I guess I should have said that there is no "casual girl/boyfriend" visa.
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