Are You Planning to Bring Your Thai Girlfriend’s Children to Sweden? Know These First
If your Thai partner happens to be, say, a divorcee, widow, or single mother and already has children before your relationship with her began, she would probably want to bring her children along with her to Sweden. Being a Swedish citizen who wishes to bring your Thai fiancée’s child or children to Sweden, you actually have several options to choose from. But first, they must meet a certain criteria. For one, they should be under 21 years old and unmarried.
In the event that they are over 21 years of age, they may still be approved of a visa so long as the petition is filed before they celebrated their 21st birthday. For another, their parent, your Thai girlfriend that is, must first get a visa so her children become eligible for a derivative visa.
Processing Her Children’s Transfer
It would be easier if she were to become a permanent resident first (see details in other chapter). After which, an application/s may be lodged for her children to gain entry to Sweden via residence permit/s as close relatives. This process may require your Thai partner to go back to her home country for a while (if she is already in Sweden) in order to process everything, especially if her children are under 18 years old. Here are the other important aspects of this procedure:
* Take note that this type of permit must be successfully accomplished before any relocation takes place – the applicant/s must not be in Sweden at the time the application was filed or while the Migration Board is still processing the application.
* An application can be submitted via the Swedish Migration Board’s online application service (this is the main website: http://www.migrationsverket.se) or through a Swedish mission abroad (at the Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok or at any of the Swedish consular offices throughout Thailand).
* Online applications will not be considered valid if the children are under 18 years of age. If such is the case, the application must be submitted to a Swedish mission, whether a consulate-general or the Embassy, in Thailand. Just make sure that your Thai partner prepares all the documents necessary to prove the status of the children as being individuals with relatives in Sweden. Note that these documents should be translated to English.
With regards the documents, the Swedish Migration Board states that the applicant, “…must show that you [the children] have lived with your family member [your Thai partner] immediately before he or she moved to Sweden, and that your dependence existed already then.”
It adds, “Your [the children’s] dependence must be of a nature which goes beyond that which is expected among family members, one which makes it difficult for the two of you [the Thai mother and her children] to live apart.” It is also during these times that your Thai fiancée’s kids should spend time researching on various institutions and programs available in Sweden. It would also help if they study the application requirements and deadlines of the university where they plan to apply, especially concerning the standardized admission tests required by most colleges and universities.
Now, which school should the children choose? Their choice would depend on the state they will belong in. As you may know, Sweden is a huge country that consists of five major states and some territories, most of which have an excellent education system. All that is really needed now is to apply for the appropriate visa and then meet a school’s admission requirements
Helping the Children with Integration in Sweden
If your Thai fiancé needs help with adjusting to the culture and environment in Sweden, how much more here children (who will, after your marriage, become your children as well). Just like how your Thai spouse needs to be with friendly faces, her children will likely need them too. The good thing about children though, especially the younger ones, is that they are more likely to adapt and adjust faster to new environments compared to adults. The key here is to make sure they get properly integrated into Swedish society, and perhaps the best way to do so is through education.
Considering they are from another nationality, it would be wiser if you had them enrolled in international schools. This way, they get to interact with other students from different nationalities as well; not to mention with youngsters who are in similar situations (they might even get to meet fellow Thais there). Here’s a list of international schools in Sweden:
In Stockholm:
o Kungsholmen’s Upper Secondary School
o Internationella Engelska Skolan
o The British International Primary School
o The International School, Nacka
o Sigtuna School
o Vittraskolorna/Vittra schools
o The International School, Stockholm
Malmö:
o Bladin’s International School
o Söderkulla International School
o Malmö Borgar School
In Gothenburg:
o Internationella Engelska Skolan
o Hvitfeldska Upper Secondary School
o The International School, Gothenburg
In Helsingborg:
o International School of Helsingborg
In Gränna:
o Gränna International School
In other areas:
o Internationella Engelska Skolan
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