Why Danish Parliament should consider Education as Full Time Job as part of the new bill?

Chrissy Patton is a graduate of Aalborg University, Denmark.

According to the Ministry of Higher Education and Science Denmark, 80% of the foreign graduates from Danish universities leave Denmark after two years of their graduation. It is probably because of the uncertainty around settling down in Denmark. One of the recent studies of Aarhus University Professor found that immigration rules in Denmark are changed after every 3 months . Frequent changes and constantly tightening the requirements for permanent residency create a basic sense of uncertainty and lack of predictability. It not only makes it difficult to live a normal life but people who think they are on the right track towards getting permanent residency find that they face yet another new set of requirements.

Read more: Denmark concerned about the high proportion of foreign students who leave after graduation

In the pre-2016 scenario, education was counted as full time work. International students, reunified spouses of Danes and their children were eligible to apply for Permanent Residency by showing that either they have been working or studying in Denmark. But the laws were changed in 2016. Education was thereafter, no more counted as full time work. Thus International students, reunified spouses and their children would either leave the country or stop studying and have to take unskilled jobs to fulfil employment requirement before they can apply for permanent residency.

Here is how immigration laws have been effecting these groups and adversely effecting Denmark and the integration of these new Danes.

International Students

The elimination of education has directly affected international students. An international student roughly pays a fee of 80,000 per year to a Danish University. Apart from that, a student works up to 80 hours a month and pay taxes. Chrissy Patton, an American student in Denmark who graduated from Aalborg University in January 2020, is now on an establishment card. Although I’ve graduated with my Master’s degree from a Danish university, have lived here for the last five years, passed the Danish language exam PD3 and have a full time job, I still won’t qualify for permanent residency anytime soon as I have to work full time for a minimum of 3.5 years before I can be eligible to even apply, says Chrissy Patton.

Chrissy Patton during her graduation at Aalborg University, Denmark.

I will likely have to rely on the pay limit scheme in order to meet the 3.5 year requirement, but that means I should have a permanent job contract with a salary of more than 436.000 DKK a year (and this amount increases every year) which is extremely difficult for a new graduate, adds Chrissy Patton. International students in such cases decide to leave Denmark despite they are well integrated, highly qualified, have full time job just because they could not extend their stay by not showing few more thousands krones of income a year. If education is counted as full time work they could not only stay in Denmark but also get permanent residency and focus on their career which ultimately contribute to the Danish society and economy.

Reunified Spouses

Thousands of Danes are married to individuals from out side of EU. They join their spouses after fulfilling number of requirements of the strict and controversial family reunification laws. Thereafter, these spouses have to fulfil individually all the requirements to get permanent residency. They have to either work full time for 3,5 continuous years after graduation which means a wait of 8 years after coming to the country (that also if they get full time job and work without any break during these years) or leave studying and start unskilled odd job. When they leave education it not only stop their personal growth but also Denmark ends up with unskilled labour force. Another International student of Architectural Technology, graduate of KEA Denmark, Katie Larsen came to Denmark in 2015 from the States. She is now married to a Dane. She has represented Denmark at Dutch Design Week 2019, with a project rooted in Danish history and culture, at a conference for the world’s best design graduates. She could not apply for permanent residency as education is not counted as full time work so she applied for family reunification.

Katie Larsen while presenting her seaweed project at KEA Denmark

Katie lost her job after the corona crisis and thereafter, have to leave Denmark with her Dane husband to study in The Netherlands and come back after few years under EU laws. I was two months away from completing my mandatory integration contract with Slagelse Kommune, a contract that required me to work for at least a year to prove my “self-sufficiency”. But then I lost my job due to corona crisis and my any hope of applying for permanent residence in the next 4 years has also been ruined says Katie. In case education was counted as full time work just like before 2016, I would have gotten permanent residency by now. I decided to leave Denmark to take a masters degree in the Netherlands and come back under EU laws. This would take almost the exact same amount of years as if you stay in Denmark to get a masters degree. The big difference is if you stay in Denmark, and lose your job for more than 6 months, you start over again and have to wait another 4 years. So it punishes you to stay in Denmark even if you are contributing says Katie.

Reunified Young Children

The children of reunified international workers is another group of people who suffer because of the strict permanent residency laws. When a child of foreign worker join their family at the age of lets say 14 and their parents could not get permanent residency while they are under 18, then these youngsters have to fulfil all the permanent residency requirements by their own. They either have to leave their education to get permanent residency in next 4 years or wait for another 8 to 10 years before they can get permanent residency. Their life is totally uncertain before they have gotten permanent residency.

Maya Young, who came to Denmark when she was 14 under her father work visa. She is now 17 and studying at a folkeskole in Hundested. Her father will still not be eligible to apply for permanent residency permit by next year and she will turn 18. This means that after she turns 18, she will have to fulfil all the permanent residency requirements by her own.

Maya Young (middle) with her parents in Denmark

Maya says, If education counts as full time work so I can apply for my permanent residency permit next year as I have been studying ever since I came to Denmark almost 3 years ago. This will bring calm in my life and I will be able to focus on my studies and career. Now she has to either leave education which she does not want or wait for another 8 to 10 years before she can complete her education and work full time for 3,5 continuous years to be eligible to apply for permanent residency. During these years her future in Denmark will totally be uncertain which will effect her studies and career.

The current bill at the Danish parliament argue to include education as full time work. The bill is presented by Radikale Venstre party MPs and have support from Enhedslisten, Socialist Folkeparty SP, Alternativet and Frie Grønne.

The new bill (By Radikale Venstre) proposes that education should again be counted as full time employment.

Danish politicians must consider these young highly qualified individuals lives before voting on this bill. Education if counted as full time work will only benefit Danish society and economy.

Naqeeb Khan (left) and D. Valentino (right) with Danish MP Andreas Steenberg (Radikale Venstre) at the Danish Parliament after a meeting regarding education to be counted again as full time work.

Written by: Naqeeb Khan

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No mercy for foreign workers who lost their jobs amid Corona crisis: Work or Leave Denmark, Social Democrat replied

Social Democrats leave no option for immigrants after corona crisis. Work even if you are corona positive or leave the country. Photo: Niels Christian Vilmann/Ritzau Scanpix

Foreign workers are supposed to show an annual income and continuous work if they desire to continue their stay in Denmark or apply for family reunification or permanent residency permit. After the Corona crisis, thousands of workers were fired from their jobs and thus are unable to fulfil these requirements. These laid off workers are not even eligible for Government Corona help package. Those who are getting the compensation are also not fulfilling the income requirement as the compensation amount is much less than the required income.

Read more: Denmark migrant workers face another battle amid COVID-19 with mandatory work despite economic lockdown and fear of corona infection

Since the start of Corona crisis, foreign workers have been asking for a relief as many lost their jobs. Right after the lockdown was announced, immigrants wrote to the ruling party, Social Democrats MPs and Ministry of Immigration and Integration to announce a dispensation of work and income requirement for visa extension, family reunification and Permanent residency applications. Immigrants also wrote to other political parties in the parliament like Enhedslisten, Radikale Venstre, Venstre Party, SP and Alternative. Enhedslisten and Radikale venstre came out loud to support foreign workers and asked the ruling Social Democrats and Minister Mattias Tesfaye to waive income and work requirements during this lockdown.

Read more: R og EL vil tilgodese udlændinge i corona-klemme

In the beginning, Minister of Immigration and Integration replied to MPs request that he does not see any logic for changing the rules. Immigrants thus started an online petition to ask for dispensation of work and income requirements during these corona crisis for visa extension and Permanent residency application. The petition has almost 2200 signatories. The petition explained as how foreign workers have been hit by corona crisis and thus can not fulfil the income and work requirements.

Read more: Nearly 2200 join call for Denmark to suspend work permit rules

With all the appeals from various rights groups, political parties and thousands of immigrants, Social Democrat MPs and ministry of immigration and integration continue to show no mercy to foreign workers despite this global pandemic. They are told to continue work and show required income despite the corona lockdown.

This means that immigrants who desire to stay in Denmark must continue work and show income even if they are corona positive. Immigrants who have been living in Denmark and fulfilling every requirement will only be sent back home because they are laid off from work due to corona crisis. Though corona crisis has indiscriminately hit everyone but immigrant workers are the one who are hit twice, once by coronavirus and than by the Danish Govt.

In a written reply to Naqeeb Khan request for dispensation of income and work requirements during these crisis, ministry of immigration and integration writes, “Dispensation from this income requirement due to the COVID-19 situation cannot be granted, even if you have been sent home without salary and laid off from your job.”

Here is the complete reply of Ministry

The above reply is to Naqeeb Khan first email to ministry which he sent on 19th of March. Later on 27th April another email long the online petition was sent to ministry and number of parliament members. Ministry is yet to reply to immigrants online petition.

Over 1700 signatories to Tesfaye: Suspend income and work requirements for immigrants amid Corona Crisis

Immigrants in Denmark write to Immigration Minister Mattias Tesfaye
after corona crisis. Photo: Ida Guldbæk Arentsen / Ritzau Scanpix

Dispensation of Income and Work requirements for Denmark Immigrants during Corona Lockdown

Dear Mattias Tesfaye,

COVID-19 crisis has on one side caused a huge human and economic loss but on the other side, it has also united us as human beings as we all are in this together. Denmark surely has suffered a lot during these crisis but our unity and helping spirit will keep us alive and prosperous. 

Although COVID-19 has indiscriminately hit everyone, whether local or immigrant but immigrants are the one who have to face another battle amid COVID-19. They have to face the strict immigration laws and earn required income and work continuously. One might justify these strict rules in normal circumstances but asking for the same level of income and work despite COVID-19 crisis and lockdown is unfair and irrational.

These immigrants have to show an annual income and continuous work for visa extension, Permanent Residency and Family Reunification applications. During these corona crisis many of them have lost their jobs, while others have been told to stay home. Thus it is impossible for many to show the required income and continuous work.

It is commendable how the Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen with the help of government support parties like Enhedslisten, Radikale Venstre and SF, showed leadership and took initiatives that has minimised the damage to human lives and economy. We also appreciate government financial support to companies and employees but that still do not solve those immigrants’ problems who are on pay limit scheme, green card scheme or applying for Permanent Residency or family reunification or EU students who could not fulfil the work requirement thus told to return back all SU amount.

Why Government Corona Package is not helping these immigrants:

The Corona package to employees has a limit and conditions. These conditions and limit has cut the last hope of immigrants. Corona Help Package could not help these immigrants because;

Workers are fired: One of the conditions of Corona Help package is that it can be received only by those who are not fired from work. Hundreds of these immigrants have been fired from jobs thus they can not avail the Government corona compensation. Especially, tourism, hotel and restaurant industry has fired most of their employees. It is thus impossible for these employees to earn the required income and show continuous work for visa extension or Permanent Residency and family reunification applications. In some cases, the companies have filed bankruptcy and employees have even not got March salary. 

Part time job holders: Most of the part time jobs holders are straight away fired from work after corona crisis. Many of immigrants were doing two part time jobs due to various reasons and after the lockdown they lost both of their jobs straight away. Thus they are not getting any compensations from Corona Help package.

Lower Compensation than required income: Although there are many immigrants who get the compensation from Government Corona Help Package but the amount of compensation is much less than the required annual income for visa extension or other applications. Thus these immigrants still have to suffer as they can not fulfil the income requirement and finding a new job is almost impossible in these crisis. 

Commission based jobs: There are many immigrants who are working in retail and commission based businesses. Their salary is based on basic pay plus commission on the sales. Corona Compensation to these employees is given on their basic pay which is why their income is much less than the required income. 

Over 1730 Signatories asking for Dispensation of Income and Work Requirements

Due to this stressful situation, we collected signatures through an online petition asking for dispensation of income and work requirements for visa extension, Permanent residency and family reunification during these crisis. More than 1730 people have signed the petition until now.

Link to Online Petition: Click here

Solution and Recommendations: 

There can be quite a simple solution which will help thousands of immigrants breathe peacefully during this global pandemic. Government can suspend these income and work requirements for visa extension, Permanent Residency and family reunification applicants during these crisis lets say from March to June just like the suspension of 225 hours of work per year rule for Danish national getting cash help and the handshake requirement for new citizens. This will give a fair chance to these immigrants to fulfil the requirements when the lockdown is over. These immigrants will thus be able to focus on their daily life and safeguard themselves and their families from coronavirus and its aftermath.

Best Regards

Over 1720 signatories

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EU students continue to receive bills to pay back SU after they lost their jobs amid Corona crisis

Boglarka Makari, an EU student told to return SU DKK 16,424 after she could not continue work amid Corona crisis. Photo: Boglarka.

Denmark State Education Support called Statens Uddannelsesstøtte (SU) is a education grant for home and EU students studying in Danish educational institutions. EU students can be eligible for SU if they show equal status to Danish citizens under the EU laws. They can show equal status by working 10 hours per week while they are studying in Denmark. One of the conditions is that they have to work 10 hours per week for a continuous period of 10 weeks. In case they could not show continuous 10 weeks work, they will be told to return back all the SU money.

Read more: SU as a worker or a self-employed person under EU law

Boglarka Makari, an EU student has been receiving SU after she started working in January, 2020. Boglarka came to Denmark in August 2019 when she got acceptance in Service, Hospitality and Tourism Management program at UCN Aalborg. She brought all her savings so that she could focus on her studies while looking for a part time job. It was difficult to find a job and I consumed all my savings and I have to call my family back in Hungary for help during the last months of 2019 say Boglarka.

After five months of trying, Boglarka found a job in a restaurant in Aalborg in January. I was so relieved that I finally got a job and I didn’t have to worry whether I would have money for the next month rent or not said Boglarka. She was then eligible for SU under the EU law as she started a job. She was fulfilling the number of hours requirement and got SU for the first time for February 2020 at the end of January and similarly she got SU for March.

At the beginning of February, Corona virus crisis started hitting economies around the world and at the end of February Denmark also saw economic downfall. Hotels and Restaurants were first to suffer the most and many restaurants started firing employees. I was called less for work even in February but I managed to work for the required number of hours for February says Boglarka. After the Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced the lockdown, I received a message from my employer that I am not required any more. As a part time foreign worker and my employer circumstances, I could not avail the Govt Corona Help Package nor I am allowed to take any other sort of benefits says Boglarka.

Read more: Sad and Unrealistic: EU students could not work amid Corona lockdown and are now told to Pay back SU money

Boglarka received a letter from Styrelsen for Institutioner og Uddannelsesstøtte along a bill of DKK 16,424 at the end of March. Boglarka was told to return all the SU amount she received for February, March and April. The reason mentioned in the letter is that she could not fulfil the 10 hours per week rule for a continuous period of 10 weeks. My life went up side down when I received the letter that I need to return all the SU amount i.e. DKK 16.424. Though the updates on SU official website did state that there will be special consideration regarding the SU amid COVID-19 but Borlarka says she has been treated otherwise. Borlarka have filed an appeal but she says that many others students appeal has been rejected so she is afraid that she will also be not entertained.

A bill of DKK 16,424 that Boglarka, an EU student is told to pay back after she could not continue her work amid Corona crisis.

Empathy and Understanding required

After the lockdown, Denmark went to a standstill position where business were shutdown and people were told to stay home. In these circumstances, it is obvious that no body would work and neither can anyone show any number of hours of work. These EU students have to stay home without work. It will be irrational and unfair to demand number of hours of work or income from these studnets.

If Danish government understand the situation and show some empathy, solution might be quite simple. As government has announced to pause 225 hours of work per year rule for Danish national getting cash help from March to June, and suspended the handshake requirement for new citizens during the corona crisis, similarly 10 hours work rule for EU students can also be suspended during this crisis.

In these times of uncertainty, all I’m asking for is understanding and empathy towards these students. We should be socially distant, but still together in heart” says Boglarka. She believes it will only be fair if Govt freeze the 10 hours per week work rule for the period from March to June. This will give EU students the chance to start their work again and focus on studies without worrying of paying back the SU amount.

Unfair: Irfan can neither get Corona Package nor A-Kasse but asked to show income to extend residency despite losing job

Danish Govt needs to understand Immigrants situation after COVID-19. Photo: Raisul Jhilan

Denmark is one of the few European countries re-opening its businesses and gradually getting to normal after the Corona lockdown. Apart from global pandemic and health crisis, economy has also seen a huge downfall. Thousands have lost their jobs while hundreds of businesses have shutdown. Although COVID-19 has indiscriminately hit everyone, whether local or immigrant but immigrants are the one who have to face the aftershocks of COVID-19 in the shape of strict Danish immigration laws. One might justify these strict rules in normal circumstances but demanding the same level of income and work amid COVID-19 is not only unfair but inhumane.

Read more: Danish Govt demand immigrants to show annual income or be ready for deportation despite corona lockdown

Irfan Ali, a fictitious name, who has been living in Denmark since 2011 is in a real dilemma after the COVID-19 crisis. Irfan lives in a small town called Farum but travel to Copenhagen for work. He has been working in a restaurant in Copenhagen centrum since January, 2017. After completing his 8 years in Denmark, Irfan applied for Permanent Residency permit in July, 2019.

There are number of conditions before one can be eligible to apply for Permanent Residency in Denmark. Apart from residing 8 years one must have worked full time 3,5 years in last 4 years (under 8 years scheme). In any month if one has worked less than 120 hours, that month will not be counted as full time work, thus prolonging the process by one month subsequently. S/he must have passed Danish language test (Danske Prøve PD 2) and must continue to work after submission of Permanent Residency application.

One of the conditions for applying for PR is to fulfil the conditions of your current visa. For instance, if a person is on an accompanying spouse visa, s/he must fulfil first accompanying spouse visa requirement similarly family reunification visa holders, pay limit scheme holders, green card holders etc must all first meet the requirement of their current visa before applying for PR. Irfan, thus have to meet his current visa requirement i.e. to show an annual income of over DKK 300,000 in the last 12 months before he can apply for PR.

Irfan full time work in the restaurant was not fulfilling the income requirement, thus he started a part time job of 15 hours per week in June 2018. This part time job added with full time work made him fulfil the annual income requirement for PR in July 2019 that was when Irfan applied for Permanent Residency.

Though the expected maximum processing time for PR applications mentioned on SIRI website is 8 months but now it have been over 9 months and Irfan is still waiting for his final decision while he got his visa extension decision in November, 2019. As per rules, until you have not received final decision on PR application, you must show a continuous work which has put Irfan in real dilemma.

Read more: Denmark migrant workers face another battle amid COVID-19 with mandatory work despite economic lockdown and fear of corona infection

COVID-19 crisis started hitting economies around the world in mid-February and at the end of February, Denmark also came under its pressure. Restaurants were first to suffer so by 10th of March Irfan’s employer decided to fire employees due to low business and Irfan was one of them. After over 3 years, 12th of March was his last day at work in the restaurant. Luckily Irfan continue to work in his part time job and gets some income to survive.

As Irfan got fired from work so he is not eligible for government Corona Package. His only source of income now is his part time job. Irfan is living with his wife and two kids, 7 years old daughter going to primary school in grade 2 and 4 years old son attending kindergarten. I usually was getting over DKK 20,000 as salary after taxes but now I get less than DKK 7,000 which has made it impossible to met my expenses says Irfan. I am searching for jobs but it is almost impossible to get a job during these crisis.

Although Irfan has been a member of unemployment insurance called A-Kasse since 2012 and is eligible to avail it but he still can not avail A-kasse despite he is in desperate need of extra income. After a year of residing in Denmark, I decided to become member of unemployment insurance as you never know when you going lose your job. But as an immigrant I have always been in dilemma whether to take A-kasse for which I pay every month or not because it will have impact on my visa says Irfan. Now that I need A-kasse the most, I still can not take it as my PR application is under process and I have to meet the current work requirement which means I need to continue working. I just pray God that I do not lose my part time job otherwise I will have no money to pay my rent plus my PR application will also be rejected for which I have struggled for 8 years says Irfan.

Solution for Irfan and thousands more!

There are thousands of immigrants who have either lost their jobs or told to stay home after the COVID-19 crisis. This has reduced their income to zero or minimal thus they not only face financial crisis apart from corona fear but they might lose the right to stay in Denmark as they could not fulfil the income and work requirement for visa extension or PR or family reunification applications.

There is quite a simple solution which will not only help Irfan settle down and get positive PR decision for which he has worked hard for 8 years but also thousands of immigrants can breathe peacefully. If government suspend these income and work requirements during these crisis lets say from March to June like they have suspended 225 hours of work per year rule for Danish national getting cash help from March to June, and the handshake requirement for new citizens during the corona crisis than everyone will have a fair chance to fulfil the requirements. Otherwise it will not only be unfair but inhumane to demand continuous work and income from these immigrants during the lockdown while they have lost their jobs due to corona crisis and finding a new job is not an option these days.

Govt to suspend mandatory handshake for new citizens while Non-EU workers and EU students are told to show income and work despite Corona crisis

After a long fight by Enhedslisten and Radikale Venstre, the govt agrees to temporarily suspend the handshake requirement for granting citizenship. Photo Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix

In December 2018, a bill was passed in the Danish parliament calling for foreigners to shake hand before they can be granted citizenship. Since then it has been a requirement and everyone who have been granted citizenship were supposed to shake hand.

During the current corona crisis when authorities instruct to avoid handshakes, some 2700 new Danes were in line to be granted citizenship only waiting to shake hand. Social Democrats Minister Mattias Tesfaye stopped the citizenship ceremonies and these probable Danes were told to wait for further instruction probably until the pandemic is over. These applicants otherwise have fulfilled every requirement but only waiting to shake hand to be granted Danish citizenship.

Read more: Tesfaye dropper midlertidigt krav om håndtryk for statsborgerskab

Radikale Venstre and Enhedslisten parties have pressed strong to suspend the law for the time being. The decision comes after a week in which the minister did not want to answer whether handshakes at citizenship ceremonies should be paused, when the government itself is urging people not to shake hand because of the corona crisis. Today the Minister announced to suspend the handshake requirement temporarily which Radikale Venstre and Enhedslisten have been fighting for.

On the other side, Non-EU workers like green card holders, pay limit scheme holders, Permanent Residency (PR) and family reunification (FR) applicants and EU students are still supposed to fulfil the work and income requirements despite the corona lockdown. Non-EU workers in Denmark are required to show an annual income to extend their visa while permanent residency and family reunification applicants are supposed to show annual income and a continuous full time work. EU students on the other side are required to show a 10 hours work per week for a continuous period of 10 week before they can be granted Education Support Grants called SU. After the current corona crisis many of these workers and students lost their jobs or told to stay home. Thus they could not fulfil the income and work requirements but government continue to demand to show income and work otherwise their visa will not be extended or their applications for PR and FR will be rejected or EU students have to return all the SU money back.

Read more: Sad and Unrealistic: EU students could not work amid Corona lockdown and are now told to Pay back SU money

While these workers and students have lost their jobs with non of their faults but government continues to demand income and continuous work. Although there has been demand from immigrants and political parties like Enhedslisten and Radikale venstre to suspend these requirements for the time being but Social democrats and Danish Peoples Party continue to demand to fulfil these requirements.

Read more: Denmark migrant workers face another battle amid COVID-19 with mandatory work despite economic lockdown and fear of corona infection

It is indeed a good step to suspend the handshake requirement for new citizens and it is welcomed by immigrants but government must also suspend the illogical and unrealistic work and income requirements for visa extension, PR, family reunification applications and EU students. How can I continue to show 10 hours work per week when everything is closed and government is the one who closed it says Blanka an EU student. I am told to return back all SU money only because I could not show 10 hours work per week. I think it is unfair says Boglarka another EU student.

While the government suspension of handshake is welcomed but they are criticised over their demand from Non-EU workers and EU students to continue to show income and work. It will only be fair if these requirements of work and income are also suspended for time being like the handshake requirement.

Generous Danish landlord offered immigrant tenant 3 months rent relief after losing job amid COVID-19 crisis. Will Danish Govt act likewise

Generous Danish landlord offered immigrant tenant 3 months rent relief after losing job amid COVID-19 crisis. Will Danish Govt act likewise. Photo: MOFA Denmark

Danes are usually reserved and talk less, especially with strangers or people they have just met. It is hard to make Danish friends whether at university or at work or else where. A study of international students at DTU reveals that the Danish friends circle is usually close-knit, but once you are in, then they open up and become helpful and understanding.

Nerrisa Rose Weis is an expat residing in Denmark since 2007. She came to Denmark under an expatriate work contract. She is a single mom and living with her 14 years old son in the outskirts of Copenhagen in Hellerup.

After the current Corona crisis unfolded, thousands of businesses shutdown while millions of people reported unemployment around the world. In Denmark around 43,000 people registered as unemployed just in two weeks from 9th March to 24th March, 2020 and the numbers are much higher now. Nerrisa was one of those who lost their jobs. Though the government announced the historic Corona Help Package for employers and employees but not all can benefit from it. Employees can only avail the package if they are not fired from work. As Nerrisa got fired from work so she could not avail the compensation.

Read more: Denmark migrant workers face another battle amid COVID-19 with mandatory work despite economic lockdown and fear of corona infection

Considering her expenses and the current crisis, Nerrisa decided to approach her landlord for a relief on rent. Nerrisa has been renting her current apartment for three years now from her landlord. After sharing her story, Nerrisa got a very positive response from the landlord – a Dane.

The generous Dane gave a relief and told Nerrisa that she only needs to pay 2/3 of her rent for the next three months i.e. April, May and June. Not everyone who lost their jobs is provided with an acute lifeline like Nerrisa. Through she still has to beat the odds of finding a job and earn money to afford the home with her 14 years old son but the relief her landlord has given make us believe that kindness in humanity exist and it is always good to approach others for help at the time of crisis. This gesture of the Danish landlord reminds us that Danes are helpful and understanding once you approach them. It will surely strengthen the bond between the landlord and tenant.

Read more: It would be unfair to deport foreign workers hit by coronavirus lockdown

While the generous Dane came forward and extended support to the unemployed single mother, Non-EU workers and EU students are still looking for some miracle to happen. Non-EU workers e.g. pay limit scheme holders or green card holders are required to show an annual income and continuous work if they desire to continue their stay in Denmark. During this corona crisis and especially after the lockdown thousands of Non-EU workers lost their jobs or are told to stay home. It has resulted in either no income or less than required income for those immigrants. They will either be told to leave Denmark or their Permanent Residency (PR) or family reunification (FR) applications will be rejected. One prime example, a green card holder (who wish to remain anonymous) who has been working in the tourism industry for the last 5 years, was told by his employer on Monday, 16th March, to stay home until further notice. 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 DKK 317,681 as an annual income or he must leave Denmark.

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

EU students are another group who have to face one more battle during corona crisis. In Denmark, students are paid certain amount of money called SU each month. EU students are paid this amount on the condition that they have to show 10 hours work each week for a continuous period of 10 weeks. In case any student could not show 10 hours work in these consecutive 10 weeks, they will be told to return all the money they have received so far as SU.

Boglarka Makari, an EU student in UCN Aalborg could not continue her job after the lockdown. She still received a letter from the SU department asking her to return back all the SU amount i.e. DKK 16.424. The reason mentioned in the letter is that she did not fulfil the 10 hours work per week rule. Though she was told to stay home by employer after the corona lockdown but still have to pay back the SU amount for which she has worked.

Read more: Sad and Unrealistic: EU students could not work amid Corona lockdown and are now told to Pay back SU money

Immigrants will suffer miserably if the same understanding and kindness is not shown to them by Danish government like the one Nerrisa received from her Danish landlord. As Nerrisa has been paying her rent on time and taking care of the apartment,  in return, her landlord understood her situation and offered her relief when she direly needed it. It is the same for immigrants who have been working hard over the years and paying taxes, and now when it comes time for the government to respond with kindness and fairness especially in this global pandemic, it should respond positively.

As a common Dane, Nerrisa’s landlord showed how Danes should react in a time of crisis like this pandemic. Now it is time for the Danish government to respond positively to those Non-EU workers and EU students. If the Danish government exempts the three months income and work requirements for workers and students, or freeze these requirement during the current crisis, it will not only give a peace of mind to those immigrants but, more importantly, the bond with Denmark will be even stronger as they will feel that they’re a valuable part of the country they already call home.

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.

Sad and Unrealistic: EU students could not work amid Corona lockdown and are now told to Pay back SU money

Blanka Papp an EU student and worker victim of COVID-19 crisis told to pay back over 50,000 kr. by Danish authorities. Photo: Son Le

Denmark is one of the few places in the world where you are paid during your study period. There are various laws and ways under which you can be eligible to State Education Support called Statens Uddannelsesstøtte (SU). As a Danish national, you need to meet certain conditions thereafter you are ready to go. The second category is of those foreigners who can show equal status and get SU under Danish rules. One can get SU under Danish laws if you came to Denmark with your parents, you are married to a Danish citizen, you have worked in Denmark, you have resided in Denmark for a minimum of 5 years, you belong to the Danish minority in Southern Slesvig or you fall within Section 2 (2) (refugees) or Section 2 (3) (aliens granted family reunification) of the Act on Integration of Aliens in Denmark

The third category is of those foreigners who can get SU by showing equal status with Danish citizen under the EU Laws. If you are either a citizen of an EU/EEA country or are related to a citizen of an EU/EEA country you can get equal status. Under this category, you have to fulfil the conditions of either a worker or retained worker or you have resided in Denmark for five years.

Read more: SU as a foreign citizen

Boglarka Makari (photo: Boglarka) has been receiving SU under the third category by getting equal status as a worker and studying. Boglarka, an Hungarian student, came to Denmark in August 2019 when she got her acceptance in Service, Hospitality and Tourism Management program at UCN Aalborg. She started a new chapter in her life with her dream place Denmark. I have always looked up to Denmark and wanted to study and live here said Boglarka. I brought all my savings so that I can focus on my studies while I look for a part time job. It was difficult to find a job and I consumed all my savings and I have to call my family back in Hungary for help during the last months of 2019 say Boglarka.

After five months of trying, Boglarka found a job in a restaurant in Aalborg in January, 2020. I was so relieved that I finally got a job and I didn’t have to worry whether I would have money for the next month rent or not said Boglarka. She was then eligible for SU under the EU law as she started a job. It is worth to note here that when you are getting SU under EU laws you must not only work but fulfil one more condition and that is the number of hours of work per week. EU student must not only work but show that they have been working at least 10 hours per week and 43 hours per month for a continuous period of 10 weeks. In case one could not show 10 hours per week during these consecutive 10 weeks, s/he will have to return the whole of SU amount back.

Read more: SU as a worker or a self-employed person under EU law

Everything was going smoothly for Boglarka and she was enjoying the Danish life and her dream of studying in Denmark. She was fulfilling the number of hours requirement and got SU for the first time for February at the end of January and similarly she got SU for March. She never thought that the outbreak of a virus in the Chinese city of Wuhan could change her life.

Corona virus crisis started hitting economies around the world in early February but Denmark was safe until end of February. After Denmark got her first coronavirus case on 27th February, businesses started shutting down and employees were being fired. It got worse when on 11th of March PM Mette Frederiksen announced the complete lockdown. Boglarka said I was so afraid when I heard that PM has announced the lockdown as I thought, I will lose my job. Even before that I was not called for work as it was not that busy but after the lockdown I received a message from my employer that I am not required any more. As a part time foreign worker, I am neither eligible for Govt Corona Help Package nor I am allowed to take any other sort of benefits.

Read more: Corona crisis lengthens the job queue: The number of new vacant rounds is 40,000

Boglarka was still hopeful that though she is not working anymore but she has SU and she can survive. I was glad to receive the SU for April month at the end of March though I could not show my working hours. I thought Govt must have given a relief and paused the 10 hours rule as it should because of the corona lockdown. But my life went up side down when I received a letter from SU department that I need to return all the 3 months SU i.e. DKK 16.424. Now here I am, alone in a foreign country, without savings under the global corona pandemic and on top of that I am told to pay back over 16,000 kr. while the next month rent is up on my head. Though the updates on SU official website did state that there will be special consideration regarding the SU amid COVID-19 but Borlarka says she has been treated otherwise. Borlarka have filed an appeal but she says that many others students appeal has been rejected so she is afraid that she will also be not entertained.

Blanka Papp (photo: Blanka Papp), the 24 years old fashion design EU student in Herning is facing the similar situation. Though she has been living in Denmark since 2015 but she started studying again from August 2019. She has been working and receiving SU from August 2019 but since 13th March she is at home as her work place is closed due to corona lockdown. She also got a letter from SU department that she has to pay back the whole amount of SU from August 2019 to April 2020 which probably will be around 50,000 kr. I have been living in Denmark for almost 5 years and I have been working and studying all these years. I have respected every law and followed the Danish way of life. But this will be a shock for me if I have to pay 50,000 kr while I am still a student plus jobless.

Way out and recommendations

There are probably thousands of such cases where EU students are told to pay back SU money though they have followed the law by staying home after lockdown. I feel it is injustice and to be honest I can not pay 50,000 kr. as I do not have any, I am a student says Blanka Papp. I could only say that Govt should give a relief to EU student amid the corona pandemic and pause this 10 hours rule.

Boglarka says I doubt, I will have money to pay my rent leave apart SU as I am jobless and in current circumstances it is almost impossible to find a new job. In these times of uncertainty, all I’m asking for is understanding and empathy towards these students. We should be socially distant, but still together in heart.” She believes it will be fair if Govt freeze the 10 hours per week work rule for the period from March to June. This will give EU students the chance to start their work again and focus on studies without worrying of paying for food or rent.

Read more: ‘‘Unreasonable and sad’: Moumen has lost his job but risks his residence permit if he gets help

The solution can be quite simple if Govt wants to give a relief. As govt has announced to pause 225 hours of work per year rule for Danish national getting cash help from March to June, similarly work and income requirements for Non-EU workers and 10 hours work rule for EU students must be paused so that they feel included otherwise thousands of immigrants will have to face severe consequences.

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.

SIRI prolonged the closure of offices while deadline for recording biometrics remain the same; making it hard for Immigrants

Biometrics deadline remain the same while SIRI offices are closed until 10th of May. Photo: freeeducator

After the Prime Minister press conference on Monday 6th April, it was announced that Denmark will gradually be re-opened. In the first phrase, day care and schools kids under grade 5 will re-open Denmark. The rest of Denmark will continue to be closed until 10th of May.

SIRI has updated their website on 8th of April and issued a statement that it will remain closed until and including 10th of May, 2020. SIRI offices in Copenhagen, Odense, Aarhus, Aalborg and Aabenraa has been closed from 12th March (day included) which will make closure for 2 months on 10th of May.

Read more: SIRI’s Citizen Centres are closed for visitors until and including 10 May

On 2nd of April, SIRI announced that biometrics features can be recorded up to 2 months which in normal circumstances is 14 days. After the new closure dates, the 2 months extension will still not work. Many immigrants will still be unable to record their biometrics features within 2 months. There are many immigrants who have applied for visa extension before 10th of March which will make them unable to record biometrics features within 2 months as SIRI will remain close until 10th of May.

Read more: Biometric features can now be recorded up to 2 month after submission of your Danish visa extension and PR application

SIRI needs to extend the deadline further so everyone will be able to record their biometrics features.

Biometric features can now be recorded up to 2 month after submission of your Danish visa extension and PR application

Deadline for recording biometrics is extended Phone: biometricupdate

After the current corona luck down citizen centres of both the Danish Immigration Service and SIRI are closed. Therefore, SIRI and Danish Immigration Services around the world have extended the deadline for recording biometrics features up to 2 months which in normal circumstances is 14 days.

Your submitted application will still be processed but decision will only be taken when biometrics features are recorded.

Read more: Deadline for recording of biometric features extended up to 2 months

The SIRI website still states that it will be closed until and including the 13 April 2020 but it might have updates for which you need to keep an eye on the SIRI website.

For more details please follow newtodenmark.dk/corona and the website of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Online Petition calls for Dispensation of Income and Work requirements for Denmark Immigrants during Corona Lockdown

Immigrants have started an online petition for Dispensation of Income and Work requirements for Denmark Immigrants during Corona Lockdown

Link to Petition: Dispensation of Income and Work requirements for Denmark Immigrants during Corona Lockdown

Denmark has one of the strict immigration rules where Immigrants are required to show an annual income and number of hours of work each month (120 hours at least) to extend their visa, apply for Permanent Residency Permit (PR) or Family reunification. One should have earned an annual income of 320,000 kr (Green card Scheme) or 436,000 kr (Pay Limit Scheme) to be eligible for visa extension while should have work full time continuously for 4 years to apply for PR. 

Read more: Danish Govt demand immigrants to show annual income or be ready for deportation despite corona lockdown

In the current global corona pandemic and economic lockdown where thousands of immigrants have lost their jobs, it is now impossible to fulfil these requirements.

Recommendation: We demand to waive the income and work requirements for at least 3 months for visa extension, PR and family reunification applicants otherwise there will be humanitarian crisis as thousands of immigrants might lose the right to stay in Denmark without the fault of their own.

These immigrants otherwise have been working full time and are highly integrated in the Danish society. They will surely be required to boost up the economy once situation gets normal with COVID-19.

Read more: R og EL vil tilgodese udlændinge i corona-klemme

While the public and some political parties in Denmark support these demands, we request the Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Danish Govt, Danish Parliament and EU to intervene before immigrants face another crisis amid COVID-19. 

Immigrants are requesting everyone to sign the petition so it reaches to authorities. You can sign the petition here.

Why an American expat Katie Larsen decided to leave Denmark after the current Corona crisis

Katie Larsen while presenting her seaweed project at KEA Denmark

A Biobased Designer and Architectural Technologist, graduate of KEA Denmark, Katie Larsen came to Denmark in 2015 from the States. She is now married to a Dane and living in Slagelse, a town outside Copenhagen. She has represented Denmark at Dutch Design Week 2019, with a project rooted in Danish history and culture, at a conference for the world’s best design graduates. Katia Larsen has been active and campaigned for rational and humane immigration laws and met parliament members. She has campaigned to make Danish language classes affordable and count education as full time work.

Read more: ‘‘Unreasonable and sad’: Moumen has lost his job but risks his residence permit if he gets help DR North Jutland

She lost her job after corona crisis hit Denmark. Since she is under family reunification law in Denmark, she is not allowed to take any social benefits rather provide a security for DKK 100,000 as a financial collateral.

I was two months away from completing my mandatory integration contract with Slagelse Kommune, a contract that required me to work for at least a year to prove my “self-sufficiency”. But then I lost my job due to corona crisis and now my any hope of applying for permanent residence in the next 4 years has also been ruined, as the “fast-track scheme” requires 4 year uninterrupted work, says Katie.

Katia Larsen (2nd from left) with Danish Parliament Member Rosa Lund (in the middle) and
Naqeeb Khan (2nd from right) at Danish Parliament.

Read more: Corona crisis lengthens the job queue: The number of new vacant rounds is 40,000

Katie did not signed up for A-Kasse, an unemployment insurance because of the law passed in 2019 which required workers to have lived in Denmark for last 7 out of 12 years. Katie says, I expected I would be ineligible for A-kasse until at least 2025 so I never signed up for it. Though this law was abolished in January 2020, but now under the current corona crisis, one can only claim unemployment as a foreign worker if you terminated your previous membership due to the law change.

Katia will be unemployed from April end, without real source of income and an uncertain future. As she could not continue to fulfil income and work requirements after the corona crisis means that she has to wait for at least another 4 years to apply for Permanent Residency in Denmark. Thus she along her Dane husband has finally reached to a decision to leave Denmark. She has decided to return to Denmark after few years under the EU Laws.

Read more: Denmark migrant workers face another battle amid COVID-19 with mandatory work despite economic lockdown and fear of corona infection

When I come back, I’ll be able to live with my Danish husband under EU family reunification, rather than relive the humiliating, invasive, and expensive life under Danish family reunification laws. I’ll be eligible for permanent residence after five years in Denmark even if I lose my job or study, Katia says. I am lucky that I managed to get acceptance into Delft University of Technology Holland architecture master program and moving there along my husband, otherwise there are hundreds who have lost their jobs in current crisis but still have no other option but to live up tight under the strict rules in Denmark.

I hope that the government will wake up soon, and provide some form of relief for these people that have chosen to call this country home at least during this worldwide pandemic. So for me it’s Holland now and I’m working on wrapping up my activities in Denmark for the next four months- and moving all my seaweed research says Katie Larsen.

Report by Naqeeb Khan

Denmark migrant workers face another battle amid COVID-19 with mandatory work despite economic lockdown and fear of corona infection

Danish migrant workers face another battle amid COVID-19 with compulsory work despite the economic lockdown.
Photo: Niels Christian Vilmann/Ritzau Scanpix

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has currently effected 204 countries and territories around the world. The world is almost on a standstill position and face an economic recession that has not been seen over decades. UN has named it global pandemic and called for humanity and ceasefire around the world.

Denmark registered its first corona case on February 27 and announced a complete lockdown from 13th March, 2020. Since then the country has seen an unprecedented economic recession and the highest unemployment rate in decades. The Govt announced historic Corona Help Package where businesses gets incentives to keep their employees. The package would cover 75% of the employees salary while businesses would have to pay the remaining 25%. Despite the generous corona package almost 43,000 people have registered as unemployed from 9th March to 24th March, 2020 and the numbers are increasing. This is because of the fact that many businesses are left behind counting costs and loses and could not even cover the 25% of the employees salaries.

The world is almost on a standstill position and an economic recession that has not been seen for decades. Image: Chris Miller

Read more: Corona crisis lengthens the job queue: The number of new vacant rounds is 40,000

A Dane worker might stay home and get social benefits but an immigrant is not allowed to get social benefits. A Dane needs not to worry about fulfilling any income or work requirement while immigrants have to earn required income and continue work to stay in Denmark even if in the current corona crisis they have to risk their life.

‘‘Unreasonable and sad’: Moumen has lost his job but risks his residence permit if he gets help DR North Jutland

Immigrants in Denmark face one of the world most strict immigration rules. Though these rules need to be changed but one might justify these rules in normal circumstances. In the current global pandemic and economic lockdown, on one side Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen request people to stay home, on the other side immigrants are told to continue work and show the required income else leave Denmark.

Read more: Danish Govt demand immigrants to show annual income or be ready for deportation despite corona lockdown

The Govt support parties like Radikale venstre and Enhedslisten agree to accommodate immigrants during the corona crisis. The recommendations send to parliament by various groups includes that income and work requirements should either be suspended or an exemption of 3 months should be granted during the corona crisis. Radikale Venstre MP Andreas Steenberg and Enhedslisten MP Rosa Lund in their statements to minister of Immigration have said that it would only be fair if an exemption of these rules are granted during the corona crisis. The Social Democrats Minister of Immigration Mattias Tesfaye stands with the extreme far right Danish Peoples’ party and argue that there is no need to relax the rules. In a written response to DR, Mattias Tesfaye writes that “he has a hard time seeing the argument that the corona should also make us relax the rules to get a permanent residence permit”. While immigrants and activists demand to suspend the rules for the time being during this crisis, Minister manipulate the situation by arguing that rules will not be changed.

Read more: R og EL vil tilgodese udlændinge i corona-klemme

Now there is a battle for Immigrants in Denmark along COVID-19 and that is, they have to work and show required income despite the economic lockdown and fear of coronavirus infection. For some immigrants, it is a battle to fight every month by working at least 120 hours each month to apply for Permanent residency while for others it is a matter of total annual income of 320,000 kr (greencard scheme) or 436,000 kr (pay limit scheme) that they have to show to Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) to stay in Denmark. In the recent press conference Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was optimist and said that if Danes stay at home and continued social distancing, Denmark will open gradually after Easter. It will be indeed a win situation for everyone but immigrants battle to combat the income and work requirements will continue and get worse. Many immigrants will lose the right to stay in Denmark and might be forced to leave as thousands have lost jobs and will not be able to fulfil the income and work requirements. Thousands will have to wait for years to apply for Permanent residency while some might lose the right to apply for Danish passport for at least 4 years if they get social benefits to feed their family during these crisis.

A just scenario would be to exempt (not change as minister Mattias Tesfaye emphasis to divert the issues) these requirements during the current crisis and give a fair chance to immigrants who are laid off from work after the corona crisis. This is what is meant by UN when it calls for humanity and support during these crisis.

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.