Renewing my Visa

[JerseyGirl]

I know this subject has been discussed a million times over at the other site (maybe even on this one too?), and I apologize for bringing up something that's probably been discussed to death, but sometimes I have such trouble with the searches, and can't find what I'm looking for. So maybe you guys can help me? I've been here about 9 months now, so it's absolutely time to renew my visa.

I'm asking also because I think I remember there being some changes to the process recently.. but anyway...

So I have to go to Migration-(I can't remember how to spell it right now). Do I have to make an appointment before I go?

I will be bringing with me: My passport, 500:- (I think that's what the fee is), and my Sambo ;D

Is there anything else I need to bring?

Do I have to have forms to fill out before I go? And where do I get them?

And is there any other info you can give me?

BTW, I'm in Stockholm. Thanks guys :-D

[Carolyn]

The form is the exact same form you filled out in the first place, except on the top front page, you check "renewal", but it's identical to the one that got you here in the first place. I don't know that in Stockholm you will need to go down there, especially since I think that, given their enormous waiting lines there for interviews and such, the chances are pretty slim that you'll be interviewed right away. From what I understand, they will give you some sort of letter that you have applied so if you go out of the country, which you CAN do, even if your UT expires in the meantime, you can get back in, no problem.

What is REAL important and doesn't seem to be in print anywhere easily available is that at the time you turn in the application, you MUST give them the 500 SEK at the same time. They don't make that real clear, but they don't even start the paperwork going until they have your money!

Anybody else here have a link for the form she's going to need?

[Debbie]

As far as I remember it is a by mail process. You can pay your fee at posten and then attach the receipt.

I believe this is the correct form.

www.migrationsverket.se/blankett/utblank/bluten_115021.pdf

(Sorry I can't open pdf's on my laptop to make sure)



BTW Does anyone know why I cannnot open pdf's on this machine?

[Aussie]

Hi there,

I've done this in Stockholm earlier this year. Here is what I did.

Firstly, you can download the form (and fill it in) on your computer, then print it off and sign it. Very worthwhile as it saves time and hassle at the office. You can download the form here.

They recommend that you apply to renew your permit at least one month before it expires. So you still have plenty of time.

Take your form, 500SEK and your sambo to the Solna office. Check the opening hours, as I remember that one day a week they open late.

Get there as early as you can as it's a LONG wait. You need to take the correct queue number as well. There are a choice of 3. My advice is to sit close to the queue ticket machine. Many people take multiple tickets etc and often put the excess on the machine and you can grab them if they have an earlier number than yours. Don't laugh - we saved ourselves a three hour wait doing that

The interview is pretty straightforward. You will be asked some questions alone, then your sambo will be asked some questions alone. Nothing scary at all.

When I went in June it was all done that day. Then they tell you that they will make a decision and let you know. Mine took a just over a week to come as they had to check my papers at Norrköping. After you get that letter, you go back with your passport, take a queue number (on the short, quick queue) and they put the visa in the passport.

They used to do it all on the same day, but now they seem to do the two day process.

Anyway, you can read more at Migrationsverket

[Carolyn]

I know this has been said before, but don't you wish they could manage to get some uniformity in processing? You hear of Aussie's procedure with Solna, others apparently go right in and it's done on the spot, with others, it takes ages. I've heard of people putting in the money and application and six months later, they're still waiting for an interview (usually Stockholm area).

When we came back in March, we filed the paper and did a bank transfer with the 500 SEK. Then we were told to wait and that it could be a month or more. A week later, we received a letter, setting us up for the interview two days after that and I got the approval and stamp right there in the office the very same day.

One never knows what to expect, do they?

[Debbie]

Amen!
Carolyn.....


When I went the first time we got interviewed (read that grilled). She made a big thing out of the fact that we did not get a newspaper delivered, even though we both read several papers online and had access to papers at work.


And I didn't have to have Bosse with me when I got my permanent. He was instructed to write a letter. "I would like to have my wife remain in Sweden."
He sent it in and about a week later I got a letter to come in with my passport.

I am appplying for citizenship within the next few weeks. I wonder how that will go.......

[JerseyGirl]

You guys are THE BEST

Thank youf or all the VERY USEFUL information!!! I really really appreciate it!!!! ;D

[JerseyGirl]

Sorry, I just  have another question...

The top of the form looks like this:

------------------------------------------------------------------
[] Residence Permit       [] Permit Extension
[] Work Permit             [] Permit Extension
[] Alien's Passport         [] Permit Extension
[] Travel Document       [] Permit Extension
[] Conferral of Refugee Status
[] Resident permit visit from ____ to (dates)______
--------------------------------------------------------------------



When I applied originally, I checked both residence and work permit boxes (I have a copy of it that I'm looking at). Do I check those as well as the "permit extension" ones next to those? Or do I just check the "permit extension" boxes for both of them?

[Carolyn]

I would just check the permit extension boxes myself!

[Debbie]

I would just check the boxes for permit extensions...that is what you are applying for.

[JerseyGirl]

And I got another couple

(I will be going to the office within the next few days so I promise these questions will eventually stop! I just keep thinking I got all the info and then we come up with more stuff. And the Migrationsverket site gets a little confusing to read lol)

Does my boyfriend need to bring a personbevis from Skatteverket?

And which office, in Solna, is the one I go to?

Solnav. 96, Box 507, 169 29 SOLNA

or

Pyramidv. 2 A, Box 507, 169 29 SOLNA

Thank you for all your help guys. You're really helping me out!

[Carolyn]

I don't know about the office, but when my husband and I went for our first renewal, we BOTH needed a personbevis, which had to be issued within a month of the time we appeared. Fortunately, you can usually just walk into the Skattemyndigheten office and ask for one and get it on the spot.

[Aussie]

For the personbevis, we were told that we BOTH needed them. As it turned out, he wasn't asked for his, but then, you just never know with these things! You can order them on-line and they are sent within a day or so and cost nothing, so I would err on the side of caution and get it for both of you. It can't hurt.

Sorry, I forgot about that bit

The office you need is at Pyramidsvägen. If you are taking the train, you can see it from the station - it's a large, new, greenish coloured building. If in doubt, follow all of the other non-Swedes at the station ;D

[JerseyGirl]

And the final question before we head off there in the morgon bitti *teehee* (we picked up our personbevis papers this morning, easiest thing ever, took 5 minutes.)

In the application, on the first page at the top it asks for:

Valid Permit currently held in Sweden

And then it has a box under it. Do I put the number of my visa, or the type of visa (Uppehålls - och arbetstillstånd)?

[Aussie]

Lycka till!

I'm sure it will be fine. Just keep an eagle eye on that queue number machine!

That part of the form you mentioned is for THEM to fill in. I know it's not made clear on the form, but they take your passport and write stuff in those boxes from the information on their computer system.

Apart from a long wait (while we were trying to keep our dog that we'd smuggled into the building in a backpack quiet ) it was really quite painless.