Immigraion To Norway

About Norway Who needs a visa? Who can obtain a visa? What type of visa should I apply for? How do I apply for a visa? Invitation and guarantee declaration What is taken into account when assessing visa applications? Work and residence Who needs a work permit? What type of work permit should I apply for? Immigration   Business   Health and Fitness

What is taken into account when assessing visa applications?

There may be many different reasons why a visa application is rejected.

Sources of law in processing visa cases

A visa application is processed in line with the provisions of the Immigration Act, Immigration Regulations and Public Administration Act.

In addition, Norway has undertaken to harmonise its visa system with the other Schengen countries. The Schengen Agreement has produced joint consular guidelines on how visa applications are to be processed. These form the basis for many of the visa-related provisions in the Immigration Act and Immigration Regulations.

Rejection for failure to meet the formal requirements

One of the reasons why visa applications are rejected is that the applicant has not provided sufficient documentation, or does not meet the requirements laid down for visa applicants. Examples of this may include:

? Not having a valid passport or other approved travel document

* Not having had a right to return to the country of origin

* Not having provided documentation that you have valid travel insurance for the whole visa period as required

* Having travel documents that are not valid for at least three months beyond the period of your stay in the Schengen area

* Being registered in SIS, or being subject to a rejection or expulsion order

* Wishing to stay in Norway on grounds which require a residence or work permit. A visa will then be rejected and the applicant advised to apply for the relevant permit

Rejection following discretionary assessments

A large proportion of visa rejections are due to immigration policy considerations suggesting that a visa should not be granted. Rejections on grounds of immigration policy considerations are based on a discretionary assessment that there is doubt as to whether the applicant intends to return to their country of origin when the visa expires.

Central to the assessment is the applicant’s link to their country of origin. Relevant assessment factors in this respect may be the applicant’s marital status, age, nationality, housing, work/study situation, etc. A visa may be granted if the immigration authorities decide that the applicant has sufficiently strong links to their country of origin, and that the other conditions are met. In cases where the immigration authorities decides that the applicant does not have sufficiently strong links to their country of origin, the application will be rejected, unless there are specific welfare considerations which support the issuing of the visa (see below).

There are also other discretionary assessments which may lead to a visa application being rejected:

* Considerations of foreign policy or security policy support rejection

* There are grounds to doubt the purpose of the trip

* There are grounds to doubt the information provided

Granting a visa due to substantial welfare considerations

If it is decided that an applicant does not have sufficiently strong links to their country of origin, the application will generally be rejected. However, the immigration authorities may grant a visa, if there are sufficiently substantial welfare considerations. Welfare considerations which carry weight in visa processing include:

* Visit to close family (e.g. a visit to your own child or other close family members)

* Visit to girl/boyfriend, fiancé(e) or spouse/partner (the relationship must be of a long-term and serious nature)

* Events/occasions (e.g. Christening, wedding, funeral or cultural/sports event)

* Serious illness or death of a close family member