Friday, September 14, 2012
Is there a VISA for the spouse of a foreign student?
Is there a VISA for the spouse of a foreign student?
My husband is an Italian citizen, and I am American. He wants to go to a University abroad, perhaps in Sweden or Switzerland. He can obtain a student VISA, but is there any way I can move there briefly with him on some VISA other than a tourist VISA? We would likely stay there for 2-4 years, and it is not worth trying to get a permanent residency for such a short time.
Immigration - 4 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
This is not possible. He is only in the country on a tourist visa, which gives him no abilities to file for someones status to stay there with him. You have no option but a visitor visa. While youre there, you could look for a job and hope that a company would sponsor you to stay.
2 :
I can't say for sure, but my guess would be it depends on the immigration laws of the country, so Sweden and Switzerland would have different visa categories/options. I'd think your best bet would be to search the government immigration sites for the country he wants to go to school in.
3 :
Not a visa as such. If he studies in another EEA country, then you can apply for an EEA family residence card. This allows you to live and work in the same country as your spouse as long as it is not Italy. If you wanted to live with him in Italy, you would be subject to Italian immigration law, not EU law. http://www.historic-uk.com/StayUK/CastleHotels.htm
4 :
It's fairly simple in Sweden - as an Italian(=EU) citizen, your husband won't need to acquire a specific student visa to study in Sweden, but he WILL have to register as a resident within 3 months of arriving in Sweden. Presumably, he can stop studying and start working at any time. He won't need a work permit to work, and registering as a resident (compulsory) is a simpler process and not the same as applying for permanent residency. He can register online at the Swedish Migration board web site (link below) or by post or at a Migration board office in Sweden. Family members who are non-EU citizens are fully entitled to settle and work in Sweden, too, but they WILL have to apply for a residence card, again within 3 months of arriving in Sweden. NB as a US citizen, you won't need a visa to enter Sweden, just a valid US passport. You'll need to apply for your residence card by post or at a Migration board office. It looks like you will need to cut through a little red tape, after all, although registering as residents is a different and simpler process than registering for permanent residency, and there's no need to do anything before landing in Sweden. Further details in English are at the Swedish Migration board web site, link below. I have no idea what the rules are for Switzerland - it's not an EU country, so I imagine it's harder to settle there legally if you're not a Swiss citizen.
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