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Two steps forward, one step backward in immigration tango
In late December, when I reported that the S-R-SF government wouldput a hold on deporting children, I wrote that while this was wonderful news for the families who find themselves facing the unimaginable scenario of sending their children alone on an outbound plane, the rest of us navigating the minefield of Danish immigration were still waiting for the government’s ballyhooed “new era”to begin.
Since then, we’ve gotten a few steps closer. First, the government ruled that seven-year-old Phatteera could remain in the country while the Justice Ministry processes her case rather than following through on deportation threats. To be clear, it’s indeed a sad state of affairs when we need to celebrate the fact that the government didn’t rip a young girl from her family and send her packing. But in Denmark, this is what qualifies as a positive development in immigration policy.
Then, Morten Bødskov, the justice minister, announced that the government would seek to repeal the previous government’s points system for family reunification (well, one of the points systems, but we’ll get to that later) in which the foreign spouses of Danes are rated based on their education, job experience, and language skills.
This was predictably, soundly attacked by the opposition parties, who must stay up at night with delusional worries that a mass influx of poor, brown and Muslim people will flee their caves with a Koran in one hand and their 13-year-old cousin bride in the other and head to Denmark to milk its welfare system.
The reality, of course, is the vast majority of people looking to come to Denmark under family reunification rules do so because of a personal relationship they’ve developed with a Dane. It’s not for the welfare and it sure ain’t for the weather. So, scrapping a system in which individuals are pre-emptively judged before they can even come to the country is a step in the right direction.
Unfortunately, when it comes to immigration issues in this country, it’s often a case of two steps forward, one step back.
In mid-January, there was a story in Politiken newspaper about Maria, a single mother from Haiti, who is facing being sent back to the same ravaged country in which she was sold into sex and contracted HIV. If she returns to Haiti, she fears she will die due to a lack of medical attention, and then her same sad fate will play out on her nine-year-old son. Denmark has denied her asylum as well as a humanitarian residence permit.
But it’s not just the tear-jerker cases. The nation’s pig-headed approach to immigration also has a significant economic impact. Take the case of Mark Turner, an American whose companies earn 10 million kroner a year. Despite completing the necessary tasks as laid out in that other points system, the one in which immigrants on a temporary permit must amass 100 points through work, language, and volunteer requirements in order to earn a permanent residence permit (opholdstilladelse), he had his application denied. The reason? The 15 points he obtained for the ‘active citizenship’ clause were deemed invalid because the board he served on hadn’t been approved by the Udlændingeservice. He’s now forced to apply for extensions on the temporary permit, paying extensive fees and living in limbo.
Meanwhile, in 2006, a programmer by the name of Sean Treadway was kicked out of the country because, in his words, Denmark ruled that his “contribution to the country through my freelance work is not of significant value” and told him to take a hike. He’s now the Berlin-based lead programmer of online music sharing service SoundCloud, one of Europe’s hottest tech start-ups. How much money did Denmark lose on this guy?
Now, while my case is certainly not as sad as that of Phatteera or Maria, nor my potential financial contribution nearly as high as that of Turner or Treadway, the mess of the immigration rules also hit home for me recently.
My first bid to renew my temporary permit was tripped up by a ridiculous clause in the housing requirement. In order to first obtain a permit and come to Denmark, my wife and I had to document that we had an adequately-sized home and a lease period of at least three years. Now, as I go to renew it 20 months later, the renewal application states that the lease period must be a minimum of three years from the date of the renewal application. Obviously, I am still under my original lease contract and 20 of the 36 months of the lease period have elapsed. But the logical progression of time is not a sufficient excuse in this country. We faced the possibility of my extension being denied before our landlord – herself married to a foreigner and thus a sympathetic soul – agreed to provide us with a new extended contract.
That the fate of my family came down to the kindness of a relative stranger provoked my wife to write a complaint to the Justice Ministry, both about the absurdity of the housing clause and because my caseworker had previously incorrectly told her that the lease period only mattered from the original application period.
“Is this really how you want to treat a well-integrated family doing everything possible to meet all these preposterous requirements that unreasonably interfere in our private affairs?” my wife asked. “I find it deeply unacceptable and I am ashamed of the way my country treats me and my family. Don’t forget that we are two highly-educated people that could just as well choose to live in the US instead. Is it really what Denmark wishes?”
During the VK reign, the answer to the question seemed to be a resounding ‘yes’. Here’s hoping the new government feels differently and continues to make positive changes.
In the meantime, uncertainty reigns. We have begun discussing buying a house, but I’m increasingly unwilling to make such an investment when I feel that any day – for any unforeseen reason – I myself might get the boot.
Permanent residence almost unobtainable
URL: http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Andre_sprog/English/2011/09/07/133825.htm
The government has successfully reduced the number of immigrants who obtain permanent residence.
Last spring, the government introduced a new point system. Prior to its implementation, 59 per cent of applicants were granted permanent residence. Today only 18 per cent manage to slip through, according to a new report from the Danish Ministry of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs.
Not even a firm job offer is enough to guarantee permanent residence, as 38-year-old Julien Kalimira from Congo has discovered, despite his impressive CV.
• English Master’s degree in Public Administration, RUC
• Interpreter, Red Cross in Denmark, Asylum Department
• Interpreter, Danish Refugee Council
• Student Assistant, Ministry of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs
• Interpreter, Danish National Police
• Interpreter, International Court of Justice, The Hague
Julien Kalimira fled from civil war in Congo. After five years in a refugee camp in Rwanda, he was brought to Denmark as a refugee under the quota system in 2003. Today he lives in Copenhagen with his girlfriend and their two young children.
Wants to give something back to Denmark
But after nine years, he still does not have permanent residence.
“I have so much to give back to Danish society, so I can’t understand why they don’t want me,” says Julien Kalimira to DR News.
Julien Kalimira speaks seven different languages and is therefore often used as a freelance interpreter by, among others, the Danish National Police and the Red Cross Asylum Department. He wants a permanent job and therefore spends his days on job applications.
Outside Denmark, the International Court of Justice in The Hague is ready to hire Julien Kalimira as part of a group tasked with investigating war crimes in Africa. The job requires that Julian Kalimira is issued with Danish travel documents, but that is not possible because the Ministry refuses to grant him permanent residence.
No future in Congo
“I am depressed and my family is suffering because we live in poverty thanks to the immigrant policy,” says Julian Kalimira.
Paradoxically, the job in The Hague would enable him to meet the residence requirements of the new point system, but the Danish rules require the job to be located in Denmark.
Julian Kalimira feels discouraged.
“I have no future in Congo, it’s here in Denmark. And my children’s future is in Denmark,” says Julien Kalimira to DR News.
12 year olds cannot be integrated
URL: http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Andre_sprog/English/2011/09/08/125558.htm
Even though 13-year-old Nisanur from Turkey has only been in Denmark for a short time, she speaks Danish in the classroom at Sønderland School in Holstebro.
Nonetheless, she is not allowed to live with her father in Denmark because the immigration authorities believe that she has come to Denmark at an age where she is too old to be integrated.
Rule with a broad impact
Since 2005, 796 children under 15 have been refused permission to be reunited with their father or mother – and always on the same grounds.
The rule in question was adopted in 2004 to prevent children being sent abroad to be brought up by relatives, but this rule has a far broader impact in practice.
Authorities will not meet the experts
These refusals are administrative, and are given without any authority ever meeting the children concerned, or their parents.
In Nisanur’s case, her teachers, educationalists and a bilingualism consultant all believe that Nisanur can be integrated. The Danish Immigration Service refuses to listen to them, however.
“They have not examined the actual case in detail. They have just considered the children’s age and concluded that they cannot be integrated now,” says Charlotte Pors, the family’s attorney.
Mayor is furious
In Holstebro, teachers, educationalists and a bilingualism consultant are all prepared to speak up for Nisanur, but the authorities are unwilling to listen.
“There is no consideration of all the expert opinions our specialists and consultants put forward. This is unbelievable in Denmark’s democratic society,” says H.C. Østerby, Mayor of Holstebro.
Marianne Jelved, integration spokesperson for the Social Liberals (R), wishes to change the rule so it does not affect children that have not been sent abroad to be brought up by relatives.
You can hear the story of the children that cannot be integrated on PI Documentary at 14.03 on Thursday afternoon.
Police tend to search non Danes
URL: http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Andre_sprog/English/2011/08/02/112118.htm
Ethnic minorities are considerably overrepresented in the thousands of body searches police have carried out since 2007 in and around Copenhagen.
This is evident from a report, which DRC (independent institution that combats racial discrimination) is going to publish today, Politiken writes.
According to police figures, half of those who are searched are non-ethnic Danes – even though this group constitutes only around 20 percent of the Danish population.
All of the respondents in the report view police behavior in search zones as discriminating. According to criminal law professor Vagn Greve from CBS, it is a consistent pattern that police form an opinion about how a perpetrator is and looks.
- When they search a non-ethnic Dane, they confirm their own opinion, which is not in keeping with reality, he says.
DK loses battles for the world’s brightests
URL: http://www.ugebreveta4.dk/da/2005/36/Baggrundoganalyse/Danmarktaberkampenomverdensklogehoveder.aspx
BRAIN DRAIN
Denmark lags hopelessly behind in the battle to attract the brightest and best educated minds from abroad. And while many choose the best educated Danes to live and work outside their home country. According to a startling new report from the World Bank, which has counted on in-and outflow of highly educated workers across 174 countries.
Among OECD countries, Denmark ranks a paltry 21st space, and compared with the ‘old’ EU countries and the rest of Scandinavia, Denmark is clearly below average.
According to the report, based on the most comprehensive study of the phenomenon was in 2000 only 32,000 skilled foreigners who took Denmark and the Danes so attractive that they had settled here. At the same time had no fewer than 69,000 highly skilled Danes decided to search abroad. Overall, Denmark has thus lost almost 37,000 highly trained to more exotic climes.
It is disheartening Danish result is in sharp contrast to countries like USA, Canada and Australia. Here they had in 2000 a net gain of 10 – 2,2 – 1.4 million highly educated. But compared to countries like Denmark usually compares itself with, it’s gone really bad. Both Sweden and Norway had the benefit of the high educated wanderlust, and they had a net gain of respectively 143,000 and 18,000 highly educated.
Denmark’s ability to attract and retain highly educated workers may prove to be disastrous, says an economist at the World Bank Frédéric Docquier, co-author of the report:
“For a small country like Denmark is a loss of 37,000 individuals considerably and it can have a very negative impact on Denmark’s innovation capacity and economic growth,” he says.
Embarrassingly far behind Sweden and NorwayOve Kaj Pedersen, a professor at the International Centre for Economics and Politics at Copenhagen Business School, also notes the poor performance at Denmark, which he finds especially shameful in light of our Nordic brother countries’ performance.Development continues, it could have serious consequences, he said:
“The consequence is that the pressure on the welfare state grows. We do not get enough qualified personnel that can step in and contribute positively to growth in Denmark. And while many are not educated pressure on welfare systems. This can make it very difficult to finance future society, “says Ove Kaj Pedersen.
According to Minister of Integration Rikke Hvilshøj (V) is the government aware of the problem:
“We are very concerned that attract highly educated in Denmark. Among others, the government introduced job card scheme, which allows people with skills in areas where Denmark are labor shortages that have faster access to the Danish labor market, “says Rikke Hvilshøj.
Job Card Scheme has so far generated only a very few highly skilled foreigners to Denmark. In 2004 it was a mere 447 people, and in 2005 has so far issued 458 job card.
Get educated immigrants in DenmarkThe fact that Denmark has fared very poorly in the international battle for the brightest minds by the fact that education levels among foreigners who are in Denmark, is far below what it is in many other countries.
According to World Bank report had 22 percent of the foreigners who in 2000 was in Denmark and was over 25 years, attended school in less than nine years. 32 percent had 9-12 years of schooling. And just 19 percent had attended school for more than 12 years, which corresponds to the number of years, a Danish student has attended school. The remaining 27 percent of the foreigners who are in Denmark, it has not been possible for the World Bank to obtain some data.
Despite the incomplete data, it is clear that educational attainment among immigrants in Denmark are much lower than it is in other Nordic European countries. In Sweden, 27 percent of foreigners over 25 years more than 12 years of schooling behind him, and in Norway the whole 32 percent. Right at the top is Canada, where 59 percent of foreigners over 25 years have attended school for more than 12 years.
The low educational level among foreigners living in Denmark, partly due to Danish immigration policy historically has never been directly biased to bring in highly educated country, which has been the case in countries such as Australia, Canada and the USA.
Moreover, Denmark has a number of natural barriers for highly skilled foreigners choose to travel to the country. Here several points that the Danish weather can be an obstacle. More likely, however, that the Danish language makes it less attractive for highly skilled to travel here. How many foreigners speak English and therefore can enter almost directly into a U.S., Canadian or Australian workplace, speaks very few Danish.
Finally, several suggested that the relatively low Danish wages and the high Danish tax burden means that many scientists and experts would prefer the USA:
“Scientists and other highly educated people can always get a much higher net earnings in the U.S.. Therefore it is very difficult for European countries to attract the brightest. While the U.S. has a large concentration of researchers, which helps to create a stimulating environment that many find attractive, “said Frédéric Docquier from the World Bank.
Neither the weather, the language and the tax burden may explain why foreigners in Sweden and Norway have a higher educational level. Here, according to Ove Kaj Pedersen from the Copenhagen Business School look towards the social ability to integrate the best-educated residents. Here Denmark is simply not good enough and therefore, many highly skilled foreigners to leave Denmark again.
The wise come home againDenmark’s inability to attract highly-skilled workers from abroad is only one reason the kingdom has done so poorly in the international struggle. The second reason is that many Danes in recent years have chosen to leave home for foreign climes.
The reason is, according to professor of economics at the University of Aarhus Peder J. Pedersen, among other things, that the new generations in the labor market is more international than before.
“Today, it is in the cards that you stand out. This means that a larger proportion of the most resourceful is gone in their most productive years, “says Peder J. Pedersen.
Yet he does not believe that it is necessarily a problem. It depends on whether the youth will return home with new experiences, a greater knowledge and more resources. And there is much to suggest.
An earlier study by A4 has made, turning well over half of the highly educated Danes who travel abroad, at a time back to Denmark. For example, 65 percent of the educated Danes who emigrated in 1998, returned to Denmark in 2003. And among the Danes who emigrated in 1981, the entire 81 percent returned in 2003.
Why so many returnees Peder J. Pedersen hard to explain, but he has previously advocated a so-called love variable that should capture the importance of love and commitment to people’s migration patterns.
Like Peder J. Pedersen, says Erik Simonsen, chief consultant at the Danish Employers’ Confederation, nor that it necessarily is less of a problem that many Danes travel.
“By far along the road is actually positive and a natural consequence of the fact that we live in an interconnected world. And if those who leave, come back wiser, it’s good business for Denmark, “he says.
Erik Simonsen believes therefore that Denmark would primarily be put into relation to our ability to attract highly skilled foreigners. if we are to hope to get a ‘surplus’ in the battle for the world’s pundits:
“Generally you have to say that the Danish immigration legislation in the past 30 years has been focused on keeping people out and put barriers up. Our challenge in relation to finance the welfare society in the future means that we will have to change focus. It is essential that we create an environment where there is appreciated that highly-educated people from other countries come here, “says Erik Simonsen.
Ove Kaj Pedersen, professor at Copenhagen Business School, agrees:
“We need a 180 degree shift in the way of thinking on immigration,” he says.
Canada leads the wayBoth Ove Kaj Pedersen and Erik Simonsen suggests that one can usefully look towards Canada, where they have a point system that makes it possible for people with special skills – such as an education in IT or biotechnology – to get residence and work permit.
Integration Minister Rikke Hvilshøj (V) agrees that there may be good reason to look at the Canadian experience, but she does not want to come with concrete suggestions as to how this might be translated into law as it currently is discussion in the Globalisation Council.
“We are very focused on how we become better able to attract foreign workers to Denmark, and a scoring system is one of the items being discussed,” says Rikke Hvilshøj.
The conservatives integration spokesperson Henriette Kjær (K) is also positive about changes in integration code that can make it easier for highly skilled to get residence and work in Denmark. She cautions, however, that you should not tap the world’s poor countries of their best people.
“Denmark has a great responsibility to the developing countries. Therefore, I also believe that our own efforts to attract highly skilled labor must go hand in hand with us to contribute to continuing education in developing countries, “says Henriette Kjær.
But Rikke Hvilshøj believe developing countries must be prepared that their best workers go out.
“This is a consequence of globalization. One can only hope that one day they go home again, so they contribute to their home country’s development in the same way as the many Danes who have been in the U.S. to study or work, “says Minister of Integration.
Denmark debates the cost of immigrants
URL: http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/628911-denmark-debates-cost-immigrants?1
The controversy has been stirring Denmark for some days. “The economists behind the report on the cost of immigration oppose the government,” writes Information, accusing the government and its majority of exploiting the economists’ work for political ends. Drawn up at the government’s request, their report is now being used by the Danish People’s Party — the far-right party supporting the Liberal-Conservative majority in parliament — and the integration minister to call for further restrictions on immigration. Denmark is already applying the most restrictive immigration laws in Europe.
The conservative daily Jyllands-Posten revealed this report on April 28 under the headline “Restrictions on foreigners saves billions”. According to the liberal daily, the annual cost to Danish society of non-Western immigrants is put at 15.7 billion kroner (2.1 billion euros), and since the right came to power in 2001 the kingdom has saved 5.1 billion kroner (nearly 684 million euros) every year.
In Information, the economists deny this interpretation of their report, explaining that it cannot be known how non-Western immigrants affect the economy of the kingdom. While the figures are correct, the economists explain, they do not capture the cost of immigrants. For example, their study does not distinguish between refugees and immigrants whose situations and journey to Denmark differ. And as the proportion of children and youth is higher among immigrants than in Danish society in general, immigrants do currently contribute far less than others in society through taxes, but that will probably change over time. That is why, says Marianne Frank Hansen, one of the leaders of the group of economists behind the report, calling for tougher immigration law “is a somewhat exaggerated conclusion to be drawn from the report.”
Only in Denmark in FB
Only in Denmark is now in Facebook page.
Follow the latest updates on articles about Denmark there.
Link: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Only-in-Denmark/134465526623367
Please let me know if the link doesn’t work.
Wake up, Denmark!
URL: http://jp.dk/morgenavisen/meninger/article2298620.ece?ncc=1
Letter from Inger and Børge Bagger, Drosselvej 14, Middelfart, Denmark
Published 9:01:11 pm. 03:01
In Japan, people wonder how it is possible that two people can legally marry, but be prohibitted by law from living together.
Before the Christmas holiday, our family lost a dear member. Fortunately, it was not due to death, but after almost one and a half years of hard struggle trying to get the Danish authorities to permit her to live here, without success, our Japanese daughter-in-law has, understandably, chosen to leave her husband and the couples´home to return to Tokyo.
Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen wrote in an article in Jyllands-Posten 27/11 2010, entitled “Denmark is an open society” that we need those who can and will contribute to the Danish welfare state, and “We must organize ourselves so that we can attract good companies and employees that could make Denmark richer.”
This is not what is happening, however.
Our son Martin was married to Satsuki in Middlesbrough on October 10, 2009. Her parents and her sister attended the wedding from Japan. Satsuki is 32 years old, educated as a teacher, and obtained the necessary approvals for her education from the Danish authorities. In addition to Japanese, Satsuki speaks excellent English and Danish, after having worked for several years alternately in Denmark (teaching in folk high school and in independent school(s)) and Japan (in IT and as an instructor).
Martin and Satsuki have known each other for five years and since they decided last year to get married, Satsuki arrived in Denmark in September. The Fænøsund Independent School stood ready with a job for her, and students there looked forward to seeing her again.
Accordingly, she applied for a residence permit but was immediately informed by the Danish Immigration Service that she was not permitted to work or volunteer while her request was under consideration.
The Independent School held her position open for a month, but eventually had to hire someone else for it since Satsuki´s casework was still not resolved..
Refusal
Satsuki and Martin lived in their own house in Middlesbrough. Neither has ever committed any crime, and they had no problem providing the government with the approximately 60,000 Danish kroner it required.
Nevertheless, early in 2010, the couple received notice from the government that their that Satsuki be permitted to live in Denmark (called “family reunification”) was denied on the ground that, in September 2009, Martin pursued his education as a bio-analyst, through a rehabilitation program that was offered to him by his kommune.
In 2002, an accident caused Martin to suffer some brain injury. He developed had problems concentrating, taking initiative, with his stamina and ability to learn new subjects. Following advice from the social worker, Martin opted to use rehabilitation services rather than using the aid that is ordinarily set aside for students. The former gave him the right to take longer to complete his studies versus the time alloted to students not undergoing rehabilitation from injury.
Complained about the decision
Martin´s socialworker had not known that Martin´s decision to choose rehabilitation would be considered a “social benefit” with the consequence that he would not be permitted to have a spouse come from another country until at least one year after his benefit terminated . . . as compared with having his receiving the cash support ordinarily provided to higher education students, called “SU”, which would not have had the same limitation (the one year post-rehabilitation waiting period has since been extended to a three-year wait).
We appealed the decision on the ground that the law also said that the rule could be set aside in cases where the Danish spouse suffers from a severe disability. After the typical lengthy proceedings in the ministry, the appeal was denied and the ministry said that the couple should pursue their life together in Japan as their attachment was as much to that country as to Denmark.
This, despite the fact that doctors had provided documentation that Martin would not be able to learn Japanese as would be necessary to complete his education in that country.
It is paradoxical that the government has just introduced a points system which gives the applicant 60 points out of 100 for qualified work experience over the last 2 ½ of 3 years before the application is filed, while it, at the same time, prohibits applicants from working while its long proceedings continue.
Throughout this entire case, which still is not over, we have written to relevent politicians, including, among others, the minister of integration, Birthe Rønn Hornbech. Only two have answered: Karsten Lauritsen of the Venstre party, and Marianne Jelved of the Radikale Venstre party – the latter of whom has been most appreciated for her help and understanding.
Despite all this, both Satsuki and Martin love Denmark . . . while Denmark, meanwhile, has missed out on good and creative (she can, for example, play three instruments) labor.
The family’s future lies in ruins, particularly as it is impossible to plan a family together.
In Japan, people wonder that a couple can get legally married, but at the same time be prevented from living together.
Denmark, wake up. This is enough.
Brain researcher is forced out of Denmark
URL: http://www.information.dk/250964
The Chilean-born neuroscientist Alvaro Cabrera to leave Denmark, despite the fact that he has lived almost 10 years in the country, has a Danish girlfriend and two children – and that Denmark would like to attract specialized knowledge to the country
Alvaro Cabrera has lived almost 10 years in Denmark, but when his contract researcher at Aalborg University expires in March next year, he must leave Denmark. Chilean-born Alvaro Cabrera would otherwise like to stay with his Danish girlfriend Marianne and their two children. But when his Danish residence and work permit is tied to his research contract, he must leave the country where the research completed in March.
Something he still is struggling to avoid.
“My life is here in Denmark, I have my girlfriend and our two children here. I will keep searching and hopefully have extended my residence and work permit so I can stay with my family, “says Alvaro Cabrera.
In late 2009, Alvaro Cabrera denied a permanent residence permit on grounds that his training was conducted in English, not Danish. Most of Alvaro Cabrera education as a civil engineer is otherwise taken at Aalborg University, but in English and it was decisive in the rejection.
Brain Research
The project has three affiliated scientists. One is Chilean Alvaro Cabrera, the other is Kim Dremstrup, the third Sami Saber. But when the research project ends in March 2011, Denmark can no longer use a man like Alvaro Cabrera, and the knowledge he acquired through his education at Aalborg University.
“Yes, he is certainly capable,” says Kim Dremstrup on his Chilean colleague in the research.
Dremstrup had no doubt that Alvaro Cabrera would be able to cope living / working in Denmark.
“With his engineering education he will be able to perform many jobs, both in research but also out of business,” says Dremstrup who therefore do not think Cabrera would necessarily fit into academia.
Jobs that match Alvaro Cabrera, does not hang on trees, he said. Since he is not an EU citizen, he can not take any job. He must find a job that can not be handled better by an EU citizen. It must be a job that provides more than 31,300 kr a month in salary. The problem for Alvaro Cabrera is that he is so specialized in its field, there are many similar jobs, either at public or private sector, and certainly not in these times, “says Alvaro Cabrera.
10 years in Denmark
Nearly 10 years ago, Alvaro Cabrera came to Denmark and continued his education in civil engineering at Aalborg University – the education was in English.
After his completed PhD from Aalborg University, Alvaro Cabrera could stay in Denmark for six months before he was to return to Chile. But when he was a month after was employed at Aalborg University, his residence and work permit instead tied to his employment contract.
But when Alvaro Cabrera current employment contract expires on 15 marts, Alvaro Cabrera would lose his residence and work permit for Denmark.
Cabrera can not obtain permanent residency in Denmark by a marriage with his Danish girlfriend, Marianne. Under current rules on family reunification, then Cabrera girlfriend, Marianne, to prove to state that she can support Alvaro Cabrera. With his current salary as a research Cabrera has no problems with that support both his girlfriend and their two daughters.
“With my current salary I can support myself and my Danish family,” he says.
New rules may help
Alvaro Cabrera and Marianne would not necessarily get a rejection of family reunification if their conditions were judged on the reunification parameters in these days negotiated during budget negotiations.
Compared to what is reported about the government and Danish People’s Party’s current negotiations for reunification, then meets Alvaro Cabrera several of the criteria. He has both the specialized knowledge, experience in Denmark, and most of his training, he has taken at Aalborg University.
But the Chilean neuroscientist is thus caught in the current rules.
Alvaro Cabrera will continue to apply for permanent residence in Denmark, so he can keep his girlfriend and their daughters.
“I have nothing to lose,” he says.
Immigration advocates: Apply now to avoid tightened laws
URL: http://cphpost.dk/news/national/88-national/50442-immigration-advocates-apply-now-to-avoid-tightened-laws.html
Foreign family members must act quickly if they want to dodge tightened immigration rules
Immigration advisory organisations are now encouraging people who may be affected by the new rules to send in their application immediately.
Leif Randeris of the Danish Immigrant Counselling (DIC) estimates that 95 percent of applications will be unsuccessful under the tightened rules. “So now when we receive new applications, we try to push for all the relevant documents so we can send off the applications as soon as possible,” he said.
The first tightening measure will become effective on Monday. Although not a part of the new of the measures passed last week, foreigners applying for family reunification in Denmark must now pass an immigration test consisting of 30 questions about Denmark and its social issues and 40 Danish language questions.
The changes agreed on last week by a majority in parliament will not be put forward until an agreement has been made on the details of the new points system, which will replace the current 24-year-rule.
According to the proposed changes, immigrants will now be required to achieve a minimum number of points, based on their qualifications, language skills and ties to Denmark. In addition, they will be required to pay a 100,000 kroner deposit, twice the current level.
Immigration Minister Birthe Rønn Hornbech said she couldn’t blame people who now rush to avoid the new tightening measures before they are passed in parliament.
