Longer processing times are expected at the Migration Board

Michelle Kull, 36, lives in California and has a nurse as a nurse. When she asked to live with her husband in Sweden almost three years ago, she thought it would be fast before she was reunited with her husband.

– I did not think that there would be any problems. We both have a master's degree and her family has been living in Sweden for generations, "Michelle said.

The Migration Board now says it will take another eight to 12 months before Michelle and her husband are treated.

Longer processing times

The government and the Migration Board have agreed on a reasonable treatment period of three to four months in case of asylum. It is far from the 14 months ago a decision of the Migration Board today.

"We therefore believe that we will not be able to achieve our goals with shorter turnaround times and fewer receiving systems if we do not receive more money," said Henrik Holmer, director of planning for the Council of Europe. migration, in a press release.

For Michelle Kull and her husband Andreas, long waiting times are devastating.

"We got married because we want to be together and form a family, and now I travel between Sweden and the US every month, so I do not want it the day of my pregnancy," says Michelle Kull.

Old problems and an uncertain government

In the absence of a government in place, the Swedish Migration Board took over the budget proposal that the Riksdag had decided last autumn when drafting a forecast operations of the Authority in 2019.

In 2018, the Swedish Migration Board reduced its workforce by 1,500 people, which means increased pressure, but a reduced cost of about 800 million SEK for the authority.

"If we maintained this pace, and this is what the budget proposal says, we still have to change and it would be very difficult compared to our results." Processing time and residence time in the host system increase, says Henrik Holmer.

Having a master but may not work

Although Michelle Kull has been authorized by the National Board of Health to work as a nurse in Sweden, she can not come here to work.

– I do not understand. Sweden screams after the nurses, but when you have a competent, educated person who wants to work and contribute to society, I can not do it.

After the temporary introduction of 163,000 asylum applications in Sweden in 2015, a provisional law was introduced with less generous provisions for permits for family immigration and permanent residence.

According to forecasts by the Office of Migration, the number of asylum seekers next year will decrease slightly, from 23,000 in 2018 to 22,000 applications. However, the removal of the law would result in an increase of 26,000 claims in 2019, according to the Board's forecast.

– The temporary law will expire in July 2019. If a future government wants to act, it is the business of this government, said the Minister of Migration, Helene Fritzon (S).

The Social Democrats have already announced that they want the asylum law to be maintained until the EU has decided on a common migration policy.