(edit title) Swedish learning and finances Some practical queries Options

[CosmoKramar]

Hi all.

Sorry if these questions seem...unashamedly venal, but...when you're moving to a country with a job market like Sweden's, you have to focus on the finances and every little helps. So, without further ado:

1. Is the bonus for completing SFI within 15 months available only to people who do the kommun's SFI programme? ie. Are there other ways to take and pass SFI (say through some distans kurs) and still get the bonus? And if so, would those courses have to be paid for (hence reducing net profit)?

2. Once you've done SFI, are there any similar financial incentives for completing SAS or SFA courses? Or is CSN your only potential source of financial support for studying the language from that point on?

Eg.

If you were to arrive in August 2012
Pass SFI D in August 2013 (receive 12,000kr bonus)

...do you then have to wait till August 2014 before you could receive CSN and/or any other sort of financial help?

Tack i förhand...

[StephenR]

You need to be careful about raising the issue of finance on these forums otherwise you'll find a lynching mob denouncing you as a free loader.

1. My understanding is that the SFI-bonus is only paid for those who are studying SFI in a Kommun's adult education centre. Private schools won't qualify. Even if they call their course SFI, it isn't automatically "genuine" SFI though some schools like Folkuniversitet can run both private and public SFI in conjunction with a Kommun. As for whether there are distance SFI courses, I don't know.

2. CSN is the only possible financial assistance and in most cases you will have to wait until August 2014. There are some limited exceptions such as being a parent of Swedish citizens but otherwise, it's tough luck unfortunately.

[CosmoKramar]

Haha, thanks for the heads-up Stephen. I've noticed the tendency. I reckon the distinction should be fairly easily made between someone who intends to milk the state for the rest of their lives and do as little as possible, and someone who merely wants to be fully informed about all the assistance available to them in the short-term so that they have the best chance of getting a leg up on the ladder, becoming self-reliant and NOT being a "freeloader" in the long term. But...yeah, I imagine that's a little bit too conceptually nuanced for some folks who prefer to operate a strict lynch-first, ask questions later policy. Still, it's all good craic on the internet isn't it?

Thanks for your knowledgable answers, I appreciate it. So bottom line is: SFI bonus is the only viable source of study-related income for the first two years, except in some very exceptional cases where CSN can be had earlier? Okej, it's good to know where one stands.

[Yorkshireman]

2. CSN is the only possible financial assistance and in most cases you will have to wait until August 2014. There are some limited exceptions such as being a parent of Swedish ... (show full quote)

2. CSN is the only possible financial assistance and in most cases you will have to wait until August 2014. There are some limited exceptions such as being a parent of Swedish citizens but otherwise, it's tough luck unfortunately. ... (hide full quote)

The rules for CSN eligibility also differs slightly if you are EU using Right of Residence, or have residency based upon some kinf of permit. eg. In general, if not registered EU Right of Residence, then a Permanent Residency is required.

[HannahSwain]

1. Is the bonus for completing SFI within 15 months available only to people who do the kommun's SFI programme? ie. Are there other ways to take and pass SFI (say through ... (show full quote)

1. Is the bonus for completing SFI within 15 months available only to people who do the kommun's SFI programme? ie. Are there other ways to take and pass SFI (say through some distans kurs) and still get the bonus? And if so, would those courses have to be paid for (hence reducing net profit)? ... (hide full quote)

You probably already know this, but just to make sure: you only get the bonus for SFI under certain circumstances, i.e. you've moved to Sweden under a sambo visa. You don't get it if you've moved here for work.

[Puffin]

Sorry if these questions seem...unashamedly venal, but...when you're moving to a country with a job market like Sweden's, you have to focus on the finances and every l ... (show full quote)

Sorry if these questions seem...unashamedly venal, but...when you're moving to a country with a job market like Sweden's, you have to focus on the finances and every little helps. So, without further ado:

1. Is the bonus for completing SFI within 15 months available only to people who do the kommun's SFI programme? ie. Are there other ways to take and pass SFI (say through some distans kurs) and still get the bonus? And if so, would those courses have to be paid for (hence reducing net profit)? ... (hide full quote)

You only qualify for the SFI bonus is you take SFI through an approved provider - ie - you apply through the kommuns SFI service - sometimes the kommun may contract out the SFI service but in these cases the kommun remains the "huvudman" or responsible for the school following the national guidelines etc So it has to be an officially sanctioned SFI course to qualify for the bonus

The clock start's ticking from the day you arrive in Sweden only those courses completed within 15 months/or 12 months of starting SFI are counted. You cannot get more than 12,000kr in total.

Not all immigrants are eligible for SFI bonus - many EU permits are excluded - basically you have to have come to Sweden on a refugee or sambo permit

There is a Skolverket brochure that explains the system in English
http://www.skolverket.se/polopoly_fs/1.166...%2020120113.pdf

2. Once you've done SFI, are there any similar financial incentives for completing SAS or SFA courses? Or is CSN your only potential source of financial support for studying the language from that point on? Eg. If you were to arrive in August 2012 Pass SFI D in August 2013 (receive 12,000kr bonus)...do you then have to wait till August 2014 before you could receive CSN and/or any other sort of financial help?

For most people you have to have PUT (non EU) or 2 years of residence before you are eligible for student grants and loans of approx 8000kr/month - student aid is restricted to long term residents (but not students)

There are a couple of exceptions - for example if you have a permit based on family ties of a EU national who has moved to Sweden to work or run a company you may in some cases be eligible earlier


The full list from CSN's website is below:

Right to financial aid for studies according to Swedish regulations

• You may have the basic right to receive financial aid for studies, if you meet one of the following requirements:
• You have a permanent residence permit.
• You have refugee status or status as eligible for protection or have received a residence permit because of particular hardship according to the Swedish Migration Board.
• You have a right of residence and are an EU citizen or are a relative of an EU citizen, and you have lived and worked in Sweden for at least two years.
• You have a right of residence and are an EU citizen, and you have been married or cohabited in Sweden for at least two years. The person with whom you are married or cohabiting must be a Swedish citizen or be living in Sweden and have the basic right to financial aid for studies. Under certain circumstances, you may qualify if you have been married or cohabiting for less than two years.
• You have a right of residence and are an EU citizen or are a relative of an EU citizen, and you were younger than 20 when you moved to Sweden. You accompanied or joined your parents, who are living and working in Sweden.
• You and one of your parents have a valid residence permit based on close family ties with someone who lives in Sweden.
• You have a parent who is a Swedish citizen.
• A Swedish agency has placed you in a foster home institution.
• A special

guardian has been appointed for you under the Children and Parents Code.

Right to financial aid for studies according to EU Legislation

If you are an EU citizen or a relative of an EU citizen, you can be ranked in the same category as a Swedish citizen according to EU Legislation and thus qualify for financial aid for studies. You must meet one of the following requirements:

• You have a permanent right of residence.
• You came to Sweden to work or run a company and have established yourself on the Swedish labour market before you start to study. You must continue to work during the period that you study. Even if you have stopped working you may have the right to financial aid for studies, but then you must meet special requirements.
• You are married to, cohabiting with or the child of an EU citizen who came to Sweden to work or run a company and who has established themselves on the Swedish labour market. Even if he or she has stopped working, you may still be entitled to financial aid for studies in certain cases.

http://www.csn.se/en/2.135/2.624/2.625/2.710/villkor