Queuing as National Sport

Since moving here, Kevin and I have been trying to establish our “right to reside”. As a Hungarian citizen (for the moment I’m ignoring my red and white half) I have a right to reside in Sweden for as long as I can support myself. No visas, no fees, supposedly less paperwork. But more queuing. We went to the Migration board last Thursday to take number 37 and see number 7 being called. Left as baby was cranky, thought we’d return. At school they told us that they had been informed we could not submit our paperwork until August as that is when our work contracts begin.

 Now, I have the right to be here and live here for 3 months with no proof of work, so then the question is in order to fill out the paperwork why do I need to be working? Grrr. The school suggested we try to get our personal numbers, by flubbing and saying we were in the process with the migration board. Personal numbers are very important here, they’re like SIN numbers back home, but you use them for EVERYTHING....employment, leases, taxes, daycare rights, the doctor, bank accounts, personal ID cards, even the IKEA club card. You can not do anything in this society unless you have one. But can we get one, no not until we are through the migration board, and then after we apply it’s at least another four weeks.

 Now this would not be terribly concerning except you need a personal number to get a bank account and without a bank account you can not pay for anything. They do not accept cash anymore at most places in Sweden. Stores yes, but doctor, daycare, any of your bills no. I could get a non-resident bank account, but then that haunts us for the rest of the time here. On the bright side, should we get a bank account someday, there are no fees and you may get a bit of a discount for not troubling them with cash, but we still have to get it. Think the landlord, utilities and daycare will mind waiting a couple of months before they get paid? I didn’t think so either.