Denmark: Corona Virus economic crisis may result in thousands of immigrants losing their work permits

Immigrants will hardly fulfil Income and work requirements after corona virus economic crisis.

The current crisis around Corona virus has on one side caused a huge human and economic lose but on the other side it has united us as human beings as we all are in this together. Denmark surely has suffered a lot but our unity and helping spirit will keep us as a living nation for ever.

Corona virus crisis will affect immigrants even more especially those hourly and salaried employees on temporary visas, green card holders and all those who are going to apply or applied for Permanent Residency (PR) permit. These immigrants has to show a  required annual income before they can extend their visas to stay in Denmark or apply for Permanent Residency PR. Considering the current crisis it will be almost impossible for many to earn the required annual income.

Immigrants in Denmark e.g. green card holders are required to show an annual income of DKK 317,681 (Styrelsen for International Rekruttering og Integration SIRI calculation) to extend their visa. Similarly, those who have to apply for Permanent Residency permit has to show an annual income of DKK 292,256 (SIRI Calculation 2020 level) and should have a continuous work from last 4 years with 120 hours per month. After the corona virus crisis thousands of employees are fired, many are told to stay home or called for work less than usual. The current situation might last for months. This will surely impact the annual income of these immigrants which will put them on risk of losing their visas or green cards or rejection of their Permanent Residency Permit applications.

The Danish government must come up with legislations regarding this and here are some recommendations which might help immigrants continue their stay in Denmark after the corona virus crisis.

Income Requirement for Visa Extension: The current rules states that for visa (green card) extension an annual income of DKK 317,681 (SIRI calculation) is required. Considering the current crisis, it is almost impossible for many to fulfil this requirement. It is recommended to exempt at least 3 months’ average income from the required annual income which will make the required annual income DKK 238,260. A green card holder (who do not want to be named) who have been working in tourism industry from last 5 years, is told on Monday 16th March to stay home until further notice from employer as there is no work. It will be hard for him to find another job in the current crisis. His visa extension is due in December this year for which he has to show last 12 months’ income. It will be unfair to ask him to show DKK 317,681 annual income. Therefore, considering his situation and hundreds more, it is recommended that the income requirement for visa extension is reduced to DKK 238,269 for all those who have either been laid off or told to stay home or called to work less than usual.

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Income Requirement for Permanent Residency applicants: The current rules states that one should have an annual income of DKK 292,256 in the last 2 years before applying for Permanent Residency permit. Someone might have fulfilled all other requirements of work, language and active citizen exam but because of the current coronavirus crisis he/she will not be able to fulfil the income requirement for which they have to wait for another year before they can apply for PR. Therefore, we would like to recommend that the income requirement of the last one year before applying for PR should be reduced to DKK 219,192 this will give 3 months’ relaxation to all the potential applicants.

Work Requirement for Permanent Residency applicants: The current rules states that one has to work at least 120 hours per month for last 4 years before you can apply for PR under 4 years’ rules and 3 and half years work under 8 years’ rules. Considering the current situation, hundreds of immigrants might not fulfil this requirement therefore, it is recommended that at least 3 months starting from March 2020 should be exempt from this rule of 120 hours work per month.

MAP: The Danish regions most affected by coronavirus

Continuous Work: The current rules also state that if someone has submitted a PR application so he/she should fulfil the continuous work requirement which means one should be working even though if he/she has submitted their PR application. Considering the current situation, many have lost their jobs which will risk their PR application rejection. For example, an immigrant (who do not want to be named) who has been working with an ice cream factory in Denmark from last 4 years lost his job on Monday, 16^th March 2020 because of the coronavirus crisis. He has applied for PR 6 months ago. He is expecting his application decision in next 3 months. Under the current rules, his PR application will be rejected only because he would not fulfil the current work requirement despite the fact that he has fulfilled all other requirements from last 4 years. Therefore, if these 3 months are exempted from the work requirement so not only him but hundreds more who have been the victim of corona virus crisis will have a fair chance for a better life.

 

 

Naqeeb Khan is a research graduate of the University of Glasgow, Scotland and currently resides in Denmark. He is president of Green Human Resources and an executive member with the Danish Green Card Association (DGCA). He can be contacted via email.

 

All that you need to know about Denmark’s Permanent Residency new rules

Naqeeb Khan Executive member of DGCA and Voice for Justice speaks at Aarhus Meeting regarding Bill L154

The Venstre government along the anti-immigrants Danish People’s Party (DF) with the support of Social Democrats, Conservative Party and Liberal Alliance passed the controversial Bill L154 on 4th May 2017.

MP Josephine Fock from Alternative party speaks at Demonstration

Kingsley Ezeoma, Executive Memeber DGCA and Voice for Justice speaks at demonstration.

Despite the 6 months long campaign against the bill by all immigrants supported by rest of the red block parties i.e. Alternative, Radikale Venstre, Enhedslisten and Socialist People’s Party for immigrants’ legal and justifiable demands, Social Democrats not only supported DF immigrations austerities but also voted against immigrants’ proposed amendments.

Read more: Danish parliament rejects campaign to soften residence bill

Expats demonstrates against the Bill L154 enfront of the Danish Parliament

 

Here is what the final version of rules means for a foreigner who wish to apply for Permanent Residency in Denmark.

The requirements are categorized  in basic and supplementary.

Basic requirements

In order to be granted Denmark’s permanent residence permit you must meet the following basic requirements:

• You must still meet the requirements for the residence permit you hold.
• You must be over the age of 18.
• You must have resided legally in Denmark for at least 8 years.  If you meet all of the 4 supplementary requirements (see below) you only have to have resided legally in Denmark for at least 4 years. Read more about legal residence.
• You must not have committed certain types of crime. Read more about crime.
• You must not have any overdue public debts unless you have been granted an extension of the repayment of the debt. Read more about debt.
• You must not have received public benefits within the last 4 years under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act or the Integration Act. Read more about public benefits.
• You have to accept a Declaration of integration and active citizenship in Danish society. Read more about Declaration of integration.
• You must have passed the Danish language test 2 (Prøve i Dansk 2) or a Danish language test of an equivalent or higher level. Read more about Danish language skills.
• You must have held a regular full-time employment or been self-employed for at least 3 years and 6 months within the last 4 years. Read more about employment.
• You must still be working at the time when the Danish Immigration Service decides the case. Read more about current employment.

Supplementary requirements

In order to be granted a permanent residence permit you must meet at least 2 of the 4 supplementary requirements in addition to the basic requirements:

• You must have passed an active citizen exam test or have exhibited active citizenship in Denmark. Read more about active citizen.
• You must have held a regular full-time employment or been self-employed for at least 4 years within the last 4 years and 6 months. Read more about employment.
• You must have had a yearly taxable income that over the last 2 years has been DKK 275.400 (2017 level) or above on average. Read more about income.
• You must have passed the Danish language test 3 (Prøve i Dansk 3) or a Danish language test of an equivalent or higher level. Read more about Danish language skills.

The 4 supplementary requirements are equally ranked and therefore it is insignificant which 2 of 4 requirements you meet. If you meet all 4 supplementary requirements, you can be granted a permanent residence permit after having resided legally in Denmark for at least 4 years.

Credit: www.nyidanmark.dk

 

Reported by Naqeeb Khan, who is a graduate of University of Glasgow, Scotland and currently resides in Denmark. He is President of Green Human Resources, Executive member of Danish Green Card Association (DGCA) and Spokesperson for Voice for Justice Unfair Permanent Residency Rules Denmark. He can be contacted at qau2005@gmail.com.

 

What happened in 2nd Hearing of Bill L154 in the Danish Parliament

Main entrance to the Danish Parliament.

As part of the legislative process and under article 41 of Danish Constitution, each bill has to be read three times in the parliament before it is enforced. On Tuesday 2nd May 2017, Bill L154 which aim to tighten the already stricter Permanent Residency Rules of Denmark even more stricter, was set for second hearing in the parliament chamber. The session discussed and focused on the amendments proposed by various political parties with recommendations from Danish Green Card Association, Voice for Justice, The Invisible Danes, Danes Worldwide, Copenhagen University, UNHCR and 40 other organisations. In total there were four amendments proposed by Alternativet, RadikaleVenstre, Enhedslisten, SF and Socialdemokratiet.

 

The proposed Amendments

1. Education included in the job requirement. Proposed collectively by EL, ALT, RV and SF with recommendations from Danish Green Card Association and Voice for Justice.
2. Education with active student job included in the job requirement.Proposed collectively by EL, ALT, RV and SF.
3. Certain training jobs be included in the job requirement. Proposed by Social Democrats.
4. Final and the most important amendment proposed collectively by EL, ALT, RV and SF with recommendations from Danish Green Card Association and Voice for Justice is that bill L154 should not be applied on those immigrants who are already in Denmark rather only be applied on those who come after the law become effective.

 

Each amendment was set for voting separately. All the amendments were rejected because Social Democrats did not support their own red block parties proposals and the consequent attitude of governing parties.

Read more: Now the Parliament must intervene

United we Stand, divided we falls

The phrase united we stand and divided we falls can best be observed during the voting over amendments in Bill L154 in the 2nd session of parliament. Contrary to their manifesto and history, Socialdemokratiet all 29 seated members in the parliament chamber voted against the amendments proposed by the four red block parties which Social Democrats is part of. On the other side, considering the best interest of Denmark and immigrant community the four political parties EL, ALT, RV and SF voted in favour of the amendment proposed by Social Democrats. If Social Democrats would have extended their support during the 2nd session, our proposed amendments could have become part of the bill. But unfortunately, they voted against the amendments.

Read more: Expats attend Copenhagen demonstration against residency curbs

Now the 3rd and final hearing of the bill L154 will be on 4th May 2017. The proud liberal, democratic, international and justifiable political parties of Denmark Alternativet, Radikale Venstre, Enhedslisten and SF have put another amendment for the 3rd hearing which Danish Green Card Association recommended as a second option after the rejection of our first proposal in the 2nd hearing. This proposed amendment for the 3rd session says;

Bill L154 should apply only to those who have entered Denmark after 1st January, 2016. This means that those who entered Denmark on 31st December, 2015 and before, this new law should not effect them.

Although it will not be fair to those who entered Denmark after 1st January, 2016 as they took their life changing decision to immigrate to Denmark looking up to the current rules. But after considering the Social Democrats and governing parties attitude towards the amendments in the 2nd session the four political parties on the recommendation of Danish Green Card Association and Voice for Justice proposed this final amendment in a bit to save those who entered Denmark before January 1st, 2016.

Now again we request for support from Social Democrats and the governing parties to at least do justice with those immigrants who will be yet again adversely effected if Bill L154 is passed without this final amendment.

Read more; ‘Denmark’s constant residency curbs will turn away skilled workers’

 

Reported by Naqeeb Khan, who is a graduate of University of Glasgow, Scotland and currently resides in Denmark. He is President of Green Human Resources, Executive member of Danish Green Card Association (DGCA) and Spokesperson for Voice for Justice Unfair Permanent Residency Rules Denmark. He can be contacted at qau2005@gmail.com.

 

 

Presentation to Parliament Immigration Committee regarding Bill L154

PP Slide Photo: Naqeeb Khan

Each year approximately 250 bills are tabled in the Danish parliament and under article 41 of the Danish Constitution no bill shall be finally passed until it has been read three times in the Folketing. After the first reading of a Bill in the Chamber, the Bill is referred to one of the 26 standing committees of parliament. Each ministry has their own relevant standing committee who over look the bill and rise questions and recommend amendments to the proposed bill.

Read more: Now the Parliament must intervene

In the case of Bill L154 which is aimed at tightening the already strict Permanent Residency rules of Denmark even more stricter, the relevant standing committee is Immigration and Integration committee. This committee is comprised of 29 members and headed by Danske Folkeparti parliament member Martin Henriksen. The committee has six members from Danske Folkeparti, Venstre, and Social Democrats each, two members from Liberal Alliance, Radikale Venstre, Enhedslisten, Alternativet and Socialistisk Folkeparti each and one member from Det Konservative Folkeparti. Bill L154 is proposed by the Danske Folkeparti and backed by the governing parties Venstre, Liberal Alliance and Det Konservative Folkeparti.

Read more: Here’s what Denmark’s new budget means for foreigners

After the first reading of the bill L154 in the chamber on 23rd March 2017, it was handed over to Immigration and Integration committee. This is where the real work starts on any bill. Each member, concerned organisations and individuals rise their questions which minister and/or MP who propose the bill answer. There has been 15 very important and relevant questions raised by MPs, Danish Green Card Association (DGCA) and Voice for Justice (VFJ).  When DGCA and VFJ found out that the answers of the raised questions from the Minister are not satisfactory, DGCA and VFJ requested for a time to present immigrants’ case to the whole immigration and integration committee.

Read more; ‘Denmark’s constant residency curbs will turn away skilled workers’

On 18th April 2017, at 3pm DGCA, VFJ and The Invisible Danes members were in the parliament for a presentation regarding bill L154. They presented their case to the Immigration and Integration committee in the form of powerpoint slides. The presentation is now published on the parliament page and send to each member and minister. This will help reach Immigrants’ voice to all parliamentarians.

DGCA, VFJ and Invisible Danes team in the parliament for presenting immigrants’ case to Parliamentary committee on Immigration and Integration. (From left) Olga Fedorova, Feyi Diao, Bilal Yousaf, Naqeeb Khan, Signe Kibuuka Hermann and Kingsley Ezeoma.

Following were the main parts of discussion during our presentation;

1. The overall issue; Constant Changes
2. Attracting and Retaining Foreign Professionals
3. Consequences for Danish Employers and Economy
4. Bill L154; A source of Dis-integration
5. Employment and Residence Requirement
6. Education counted as full time work
7. Possible Amendments

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The bill is set for the 2nd reading on 2nd of May 2017 and its final reading will be on 4th of May 2017. All the immigrants are hopeful that either the whole bill L154 is rejected or at least amendments are brought to the bill. At the presentation, it was made clear to all the parties that every single immigrant truly respect the parliament decisions and the mandate that Danes have given to them by electing them to the parliament. But neither parliament members from any party nor their voters will do injustice and make unfair rules. Immigrants believe that if this bill L154 is applied on the existing immigrants that will be injustice and inhumane on the part of parties who support this bill. Justice will only be done if this bill L154 is either rejected or at least applied on those who are yet to come to Denmark.

Read more: Expats attend Copenhagen demonstration against residency curbs

 

Reported by Naqeeb Khan, who is a graduate of University of Glasgow, Scotland and currently resides in Denmark. He is President of Green Human Resources, Executive member of Danish Green Card Association (DGCA) and Spokesperson for Voice for Justice Unfair Permanent Residency Rules Denmark. He can be contacted at qau2005@gmail.com.

Now the Parliament must intervene

Danish Parliament (Folketing) in Christiansborg. Photo: News Øresund – Johan Wessman

Each year the Danish Parliament (Folketing) starts it’s session on 1st October and continue till the Constitutional day, the 5th of June. During this period approximately 250 bills are tabled in the parliament. Under article 41 of the Danish Constitution no bill shall be finally passed until it has been read three times in the Folketing. To maintain the quality of laws being passed and protect public interests, draft bill has to be available to the public and concerned organisations for consultation. Therefore, a Hearing Portal is set which compel ministries and individual MPs to publish draft bill on Hearing Portal and ask concerned organisation for their comments and remarks before it is tabled in the parliament. These comments and consultative remarks are then considered for any amendments into the bill and made part of the legislative process.

On January 13, 2017 the Ministry of Immigration and Integration presented  a Draft Bill regarding Permanent Residency rules and was published on Hearing Portal inviting various organisations for their comments and remarks. The draft bill contain a new set of stricter rules for obtaining Permanent Residence permit in Denmark. Among other stricter rules, the bill includes raising the number of years of stay in Denmark from 6 to 8 years and raising the number of years of full time work from 2.5 years in last 3 years to 3.5 years in last 4 years. According to Immigration and Integration ministry the purpose of the bill is to tighten the already strict Permanent residency rules even further as agreed on the Finance Bill.

As per required by law, the draft bill was published along an invitation to dozens of organisations for their comments and consultative remarks. Draft bill was than tabled in the parliament on 15th March, 2017 in the form of Bill L154. Along the bill were comments from over 40 organisations and a summary of the comments with replies from Ministry of Immigration and Integration.

The beauty of a liberal, just and open Denmark can be very much seen in the comments from all the organisation who represents thousands upon thousands people. All the organisations have raised their concerns over the Bill L154. While some of these organisations have asked for amendments into the bill, others call for a total rejection of the bill. From Catholic Church (Den katolske Kirke) to Council of Ethnic Minority (Rådet for Etniske Minoriteter), from Children’s Council (Børnerådet) to University of Copenhagen, from Danish Green Card Association to Dane Worldwide, from The Association of Invisible Dane (Foreningen “De usynlige danskere”) to Aarhus Business and International Community (Erhverv Aarhus/International Community) every organisation has reservations over the bill L154. On 5th April 2017, up to 400 expats also protested against the bill outside parliament calling it an immoral and unfair bill.

Read more: Denmark is alienating its needed foreign workers

Constant Changes

The Danish Association of Social Workers, Aarhus Business/International Community, Danish Green Card Association, Children’s Council, Danes Worldwide, The Danish Refugee Care, Work-live-stay Southern Denmark, the Association of “The invisible Danes” and Red Cross has raised their concerns over the constant changes in the immigration rules. These rules are changed after every 3 months on average. It is completely problematic to adjust with the new rules which comes so frequently, they added.

Attracting and Retaining foreign professionals

Danish Universities including University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University, Denmark Technical University, Copenhagen Business School have pointed out that the frequent changes in the immigration rules has adverse impact on foreign researcher and students who seems to be losing interests in staying in Denmark. Aarhus University states that tightening the rules will make it even more harder to recruit and retain researcher with foreign background thus it is an obstacle in achieving the Danish objective of innovative and research based Denmark.

Danish Union of Students (Danske Studerendes Fællesråd) fears that the implementation of new stricter rules will surely reduce the number of international students in Danish institutions. This will lead to a lower growth rate and internationalisation of Danish institutions.

A source of dis-integration

Legal Policy Association, Danish Refugee Council, Plums Funds for Peace, Danish Association of Social Workers, The Catholic Church, Red Cross, Council of Ethnic Minorities and UNHCR have noted that the bill is a source of disintegration. Bill L154 is an hindrance to integration rather a source of integration. Only last year in January, rules for obtaining permanent residency in Denmark were changed and now again there are even more stricter new set of rules. The Catholic Church does not believe that tightening the rules will strengthen the integration process as otherwise noted in the bill because the new proposals will make it 11 years to reunite with family. Plums Funds for Peace highlights that Bill L154 will increase the level of uncertainty, lower the opportunities for family unification, create unsafe conditions in labour market as most companies require permanent workers without visa extension issues.  UNHCR Regional Representation for Northern Europe has pointed out that it will be very difficult for many refugees and persons with other protection status to meet the requirements for permanent residence. UNHCR therefore regrets deeply the proposed austerity – especially the sharpening of the residence requirement from 6 to 8 years.

Read more: Denmark is locking every door to immigrants

Residence Requirement

The current bill L154 proposes that an immigrant must stay 8 years in Denmark before he/she can apply for permanent residence permit. Plums fund for Peace has commented that in most of the EU countries the residence requirement is either 5 years or shorter but Denmark is increasing from 6 years of stay to 8 years. It is unreasonably long time to wait for permanent residence permit says Refugees Welcome in their comments on the proposed bill. The Association of Invisible Danes proposes that the residence requirement should be set as 5 years for obtaining permanent residency. The tightening of residence requirement will increase the risk that a foreigner will not feel comfortable living in Denmark for 8 years and will feel that he/she does not belong here says SOS Against Racism. UNHCR notes that a secure legal status and residence within a reasonable time is crucial for integration process and reject the idea of increasing the residence requirement from 6 to 8 years.

Read more: Working in Denmark – how challenging is it for a foreigner?

Studying must be counted as full time work

The proposed bill L154 suggests that an immigrant must stay 8 years in Denmark and work 3.5 years in last 4 years before he/she can apply for permanent residence permit. Study period and part time work which was counted as full time employment before January 2016 amendments to the permanent residency rules, are no more regarded. This means that if you are a student you will not be eligible to apply for permanent residency in Denmark. The Govt consider doing a cleaning job for 2.5 years is better than studying at Copenhagen Business School (CBS) says CBS in their comments to parliament over Bill L154. Danish Green Card Association (DGCA) suggests that education is a great source of integration and should be counted as full time work. The Danish Union of Students argues that by not considering studying as full time work will reduce the incentives for international graduates to stay in Denmark after graduation. This will also make Danish Institutions less attractive to international students in general.

Enforcement Date

The current bill L154 is once again aimed to be applied retroactively. An immigrant who has come to Denmark 6 years ago with a mindset and planning that he/she will obtain permanent residence after 5 years is told in January 2016 to reside one more year and now when that one year has also passed, he/she is told to wait for 2 more years through this bill. This will rise the level of uncertainty further and reduce transparency in the Danish system writes University of Copenhagen in their comments to ministry on bill L154. Danish Green Card Association recommends that the new proposals should only be applied to those who are yet to decide their destination as Denmark. This means that those who will come to Denmark for the first time after 15th May 2017, where the new bill will take effect, these rules should be applied on them, not on those who have been living in Denmark for years. The Association of Legal Immigration Lawyers argues that immigrants who already face stricter rules are now facing another set of rules which are once again aimed at taking effect retroactively.

Read more: ‘Denmark’s constant residency curbs will turn away skilled workers’

Now the Parliament (Folketing) must intervene

The Ministry of Immigration and Integration received comments from over 40 organisations regarding bill L154 and not a single organisation has agreed on any point of the Bill. Similarly hundreds of expats have protested via social media and outside parliament against the bill. The 16th President of the United States Abraham Lincoln has very rightly said that government should be of the people, by the people and for the people. Danish governments in past has always shown the utmost responsibility and delivered according to the wishes of people. It is very much expected from the current government to act on the fundamentals of Danish values and democracy same as it has always shown in the past. I urge all the Politicians to intervene and at least bring amendments to the current bill L154 according to the comments and remarks send by over 40 organisations.

 

 Naqeeb Khan is a graduate of University of Glasgow, Scotland and currently resides in Denmark. He is President of Green Human Resources, Executive member of Danish Green Card Association (DGCA) and Spokesperson for Voice for Justice Unfair Permanent Residency Rules Denmark. He can be contacted at qau2005@gmail.com.

 

Denmark against Anti-Immigrant Rules

Demonstration against Anti-Immigrants rules in front of the Danish National Parliament. Photo:Aras Rasouli

On the call of Danish Green Card Association and Voice for Justice Unfair Permanent Residency Rules Denmark, some 400 people from various wake of life attended a demonstration on 5th April 2017 outside parliament, protesting against a new bill L154 aimed at tightening the stricter permanent residency rules even more stricter in Denmark.

Signe Kibuuka Hermann, Executive member of Invisible Dane speaking at the demonstration. Photo: Aras Rasouli

Signe Kibuuka Hermann

Expats attend Copenhagen demonstration against residency curbs

Along other strict measures, the Bill includes increasing the number of years of stay in Denmark to 8 years instead of the current 6 years. It also includes increasing the number of years of full time employment to 3,5 years out of last 4 years instead of the current 2,5 years in last 3 years. This means that those who were supposed to have applied for Permanent Residency in January, 2016 would be applying in January 2019. These frequent changes would surely create an atmosphere of uncertainty among the highly qualified immigrants, which might force them to take back their human, financial, and social capital and either go back to their home countries or migrate to another country.

It was just in January 2016 that the stay period was increased from 5 years to 6 years, making Denmark one of the strictest countries in Europe on the issue. In case the bill is passed from the parliament, this period would be further extended by another two years.

Denmark’s constant residency curbs once again locked the Immigrants

The bill was tabled in parliament on March 15^th this year and the final vote is scheduled for May 4^th.

“The anti-immigration rhetoric is also having an effect on people here in Denmark… the government changes the rules of permanent residency and citizenship all the time, and they do it with an effect on people that are already here and have arranged their lives around the rules they were told to,” said Alternative party MP Josephine Fock in a speech at the demonstration.

MP Josephine Fock from Alternative Party delivering her speech during the demonstration. Photo:Aras Rasouli

“They’ve done everything the government asked them to, and then all of a sudden, the rules are changed again, and they cannot attain the rights they fought for. They have to reschedule their lives and start all over again,” Fock continued.

Naqeeb Khan, executive member of the Danish Green Card Association, has previously spoken out against the bill, criticising it for disrupting lives and deterring valuable skilled workers from entering the Danish job market.

The response at the demonstration was “really positive” and had boosted expats hopes that the campaign against the bill L154 could still result in the failure or revision of the bill.

Naqeeb Khan speaking at the demonstration. Photo: Aras Rasouli

“We’ve been working on this demonstration since August 2016 and have contacted many expat communities – Indian, Pakistani, Nepalese, Bangladeshi and Syrian, amongst others. We’ve also contacted political parties and received support from both Josephine Fock, Sophie Carsten Nielsen [Social Liberal Party MP and former minister, ed.], Finn Sørensen from Enhedslisten. It’s been a really positive response,” Khan said.

“We can still bring amendments to the bill until May 2^nd,” he said.

 

Organisers: Kingsley Eseoma, Feyi Diao, Mazher Hashmi, Naqeeb Khan, Robin Sayeed and Omar Faisal

Denmark is locking every door to immigrants

Report by Naqeeb Khan. A graduate of University of Glasgow, Scotland and currently residing in Denmark. He is President of Green Human Resources (GHR), Executive Member of Danish Green Card Association (DGCA) and Spokesperson for Voice for Justice Unfair PR Rules. He can be contacted at qau2005@gmail.com.

Denmark’s constant residency curbs once again locked the Immigrants

Støjberg’s post on Facebook on March 14th read “Today the 50th restriction on migration as passed. This must be celebrated!” along with a photo in which the smiling minister held a large cake with the number 50 on it.

Every time expats live by the rules and fulfil all the requirements for obtaining permanent residence permit in Denmark, comes a new set of rules. Only last year in January, the rules for permanent residency were changed and now once again Immigrants are locked up with another set of rules proposed by the new coalition government in the form of Bill L154.

Hundreds of immigrants applied for Permanent residence permit after fulfilling all the requirements and residing more than 5 years in Denmark last year but were told to wait for one more year when rules were unjustifiably changed in January 2016.  The new proposed bill L154  along other stricter requirements proposes that expats have to wait for 2 more years to make it 8 years of stay in Denmark to obtain permanent residency permit.

A recent study by a law professor at Aarhus University found that there has been 68 times changes in immigration laws of Denmark in last 15 years. This translate to a change in immigrations laws every 3 months. When there are frequent changes constantly tightening the requirements for permanent residency, it creates a basic sense of uncertainty and lack of predictability. Then it becomes not only more difficult to live a normal life, but also means that people who think they are right on the track of getting permanent residency yet they face another new set of requirements. It is problematic says law professor at Aarhus University Jens Vedsted-Hansen.

The permanent residence permit provides expats and their accompanying family the opportunity to start their own business, setup a firm, start a course in university without having worried for visa extension and most importantly a peace of mind that you will not be sent back to home country in case you lose your job, become sick, got divorced, become widow or could not fulfil the strict income requirements for some uncontrollable reasons.

The overall issue

According to Jens Vedsted-Hansen study, the rules for permanent residency has been specifically changed 10 times in last 14 years. Only in last one year there has been a change and a new proposal for change which will make a change in permanent residency rules after every 8 months. This will definitely make Denmark on top for making life harder for immigrants.

On December 10, 2015, bill L87 was proposed to the parliament for tightening the permanent residency rules. It was passed through the parliament on 26th January, 2016 but adopted retroactively from the date it was proposed i.e. December 10, 2015. This legislation made it mandatory to reside 6 years in Denmark and work full time for 2,5 years in last 3 years to be eligible for obtaining permanent residency. Although expats protested against this bill but later start settling down with the new requirements. A year later, the new coalition government are proposing even stricter rules. Expats are told this time to wait for 2 more years and work 3,5 years in last 4 years to be eligible for obtaining Permanent residency.

The proposed bill L154 says that an expat has to reside 8 years in Denmark to be eligible to apply for permanent residency instead of the current 6 years and 5 years stay just few months ago. In most of the European countries and throughout the world it is usually 5 years of stay and full time work to obtain permanent residency. Even under the current rules of 6 years of stay, Denmark is on the top. The new proposed bill L154 will make it even harder for making it 8 years of stay for obtaining permanent residence permit.  These changes in permanent residency rules means that expats spend most of their time and energy to navigate with the amended legislations. It becomes too hard sometimes that expats decide to leave the country.

Denmark is locking every door to immigrants

Attracting and retaining foreign labour has become hard

In the recent years, Denmark has gained a reputation as a country that is not sympathetic to foreigners, where “smykkeloven (jewelry law)” is just the last example. It is not only salary and work environment that foreigners observe before choosing a job in a specific country rather they look for a place where they settle down eventually with a home and security of not being kick out of country in case they lose their jobs for various reasons. The reason why skilled foreign workers are scared and uncertain about their future in Denmark is the frequent changes in immigrations laws. This has adverse effects not only on those foreigners but also on the Danish labour market and overall economy.

Here are some examples of skilled foreign professionals who are severely affected by the constant changes in immigrations rules.

Marie, USA, Pay Limit Scheme

After 5 years in Denmark, studying and working, I applied for permanent residency on January 20, 2016. But on January 26, 2016 the requirements were changed and put in place retroactively from December 10, 2015. I didn’t fulfil the new requirements because my time spent studying didn’t count anymore and I needed to have worked not studied. I cancelled my application and prepared to apply again in one year. Now two months before I can apply again, the government is talking about changing the requirements again, requiring me to wait two more years. If they do that, my Danish boyfriend and I are prepared to move to another country. We want to settle down, have a family and buy a house. But I refuse to do those things before I am assured that I won’t have to leave the country if I lose my job. I don’t trust the government that they won’t change the rules again.

Danni, Israel, Family Reunification

I came to Denmark in January 2011 after marrying my wife, a Dane and doctor. At that time I needed to be in the country for 5 years, to study or work for 3 of those years, and study or work while my application for permanent residency was being processed. I finished my studies in Jan 2016 and before I could find a job, the requirements were changed. All my years of studying didn’t count anymore and I needed to work 2,5 years of the last three years. Currently I have 2 children and my own company. My wife and I dream of buying a house but we still have over 30.000 Dkk in a bank account we cannot access until I have permanent residency. Now in case these rules are passed from the parliament I have to wait for another 2 years to obtain permanent residency. It will mess up my whole life.

Ahmed, Pakistan, Green Card

I have a Masters in Computer Science from Sweden and I have green card to work in Denmark. It didn’t take me long to find a job as a web designer after I came to Denmark and after 5 years I had fulfilled all the requirements for permanent residency. I applied for permanent residence permit last year but the rules were changed and my applications was rejected and I lost my application fee of 5,450 DKK. Since then, I have be working to meet the new requirements and when I am about to apply for permanent residency, the government is once again changing the rules. If this happened I won’t stay in Denmark. I need a peace of mind and not worry about applying for visa extensions every time and permanent residency will give me a peace of mind.

Mario, Columbia, Establishment card

Six years ago I came to Denmark to study a Masters degree and when I finished I applied and received an establishment card. I qualified for permanent residency but didn’t apply immediately which I regret. I didn’t expect the changes coming nor that they would be implemented retroactively. The new requirements meant my time studying did not count anymore and I needed to have worked 2.5 of the last 3 years. I know it is my fault I didn’t apply for permanent residency when I could have. I don’t want it in order to get unemployment benefits (dagpenge or kontanthjælp). I want to stay and work and contribute. Apart from my full time job I also have a company I have started, and I play guitar in a music band. For me Denmark is home, but it is so difficult to stay.

Sara and her husband Bahram, Iran, Medical Doctor, Green Card

After getting Green Card my husband Bahram and I moved to Denmark in June 2011. Soon after, my husband got a job as a Doctor in Nephrology department at Viborg hospital and I start working in the IT department of Crisplant (Beumer Group). We both are well paid and enjoy our jobs. The only thing that worry us and stop us from having a family, a home and kids is the constant changes in the immigration rules. In May 2016 we got lucky that green card holders were given the right to extend their visa but I am not sure until when we will be that lucky. These new proposals for permanent residency will make our life even harder and we consider that they are totally unfair and unjustifiable. I frequently travel because of my job to different countries and I have to get re-entry permit every time when my visa is under process and this wouldn’t happen if I have permanent residence permit.

Consequences and Risk for Danish Employers and Economy

The Danish economy has increased by 34 billion kroner from 2010 to 2014 and some 24 billion kroner of that is due to the influx of foreign labour says Karsten Dybvad, the CEO of the Confederation of Danish Industry (Dansk Industri – DI). This implies that over two-third of the growth in Danish economy is due to the contributions of foreign workers. Denmark will need even more foreign labour in coming years as according to Kristian Weise, CEO of Cevea, “Denmark is facing demographic changes and we will be short of labor in the future. Only since 2000, the number of Danish nationals in the working age has decreased by 13.3 percent. Denmark therefore, need foreign labor to support the workforce”.

It is not possible for Danish employers to find the required workers within the boundary of Denmark. Therefore, either they recruit foreign labour or prevent business growth and development or in most extreme cases they move jobs abroad. It is therefore, important that employers can attract qualified foreign workers and retain those who are already here. The foreign worker will strive to obtain permanent residency to get the same rights and opportunities as their Danish colleagues. But if rules for settlement and permanent residency are changed every 3 months then it will be harder for Danish employers to attract and retain foreign employees. Danish employers will suffer to retain even Danish nationals who have his or her spouse on a family reunification. This subsequently will reduce economic growth in the country and thereby also education which is financed by the Danish taxpayers will come into play elsewhere in the world.

‘Denmark’s constant residency curbs will turn away skilled workers’

Expectations from the current legislation

In order to ensure legal certainty, transparency, foreign labour retention and economic growth, foreign skilled labour already in Denmark for years has the following expectations from the current legislation.

1. The rules for permanent residency should be attributed to the first residency permit. This means that the rules in force for obtaining permanent residency at the time a foreigner obtained a residence permit for Denmark are the rules when he or she is applying for permanent residence no matter the rules have subsequently changed.

2. The new proposals of 8 years of stay for obtaining permanent residency in the proposed bill L154 should only be applied to those who are yet to decide Denmark as their destination and not on those who have been living in Denmark for years. The draft bill which might be effective from May 2017 should mean that it is applied on those who get first time residence permit after this date.

3. Education and part-time work should again be counted as the employment requirement for obtaining permanent residency. It is because of the fact that education is a great source of integration and must be viewed as a full-time work. Danish government invest in scholarships for international students and when it comes the time to get something from these talented individuals, they are told to work for 2,5 more years in last 3 years before applying for permanent residency and 3,5 years full time work in last 4 years in the new proposed bill.

Denmark wants it to be even harder to get residency

 

Naqeeb Khan is a graduate of University of Glasgow, Scotland and currently residing in Denmark. He is President of Green Human Resources (GHR), Executive Member of Danish Green Card Association (DGCA) and Spokesperson for Voice for Justice Unfair PR Rules. He can be contacted at qau2005@gmail.com.

Extension Amendments for existing Green Card holders will have Catastrophic Consequences

Green card scheme has been under constant changes from the very beginning. It is third time in the last one and half year that Green Card holders face new amendments in their visa extensions. One after another tougher rules for green card holders. Although Green card holders are the only immigrant category who are highly qualified. Many of them are working professional jobs while others are on the way towards professional jobs. Almost all are working full-time and paying about 80 to 100 thousands kroner as direct tax per year. Many of them are already fluent danish language speaker and writer and almost all others are going to language schools and learning the challenging Danish language. Majority of them are living a family life here in Denmark. They are with their kids who are going to Danish schools and speaking fluent danish language. Many of these kids speak danish language more fluently then their mother-tongue. There is zero crime rate among the Green card holders and zero percent are on any state or kummune support.

An event by Nydansker and DGCA “Your Diversity is your Strength”.

Your Diversity is your Strength is an event organized by Foreningen Nydansker and Danish Green Card Association on Thursday, 15th January 2015 at International House, Gyldenløvesgade 11, 1600 Copenhagen

Report By Naqeeb Khan Bareach
Diversity is about recognizing, respecting and valuing differences based on ethnicity, gender, color, age, race, religion, disability, national origin and sexual orientation.

2012 in Review

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