Umeå office temporarily reopens to provide better service to Ukrainians living in Norrland
The Swedish Migration Agency is listening to applicants and temporarily reopening its closed office in Umeå to receive visits from people applying for extended protection under the Temporary Protection Directive.
When applications for extended protection under the Temporary Protection Directive opened for the fourth consecutive year on 28 January, there were fewer locations than usual for applicants to choose from when submitting photos and fingerprints for their new residence permit cards. The reason for the change is that several of the Migration Agency's service centres were closed when parts of the service operations were taken over by the National Government Service Centre at the turn of the year.
It is now possible to book appointments in Umeå
This was particularly noticeable for Ukrainians with temporary protection residing in Norrland, where there is a long distance between the Migration Agency's offices for booked appointments. Many contacted the Migration Agency regarding difficulties in travelling to Boden or Sundsvall, and wondered why they could not book appointments in Umeå as in previous years.
‘We have listened to those who have contacted us about the need to be able to visit more locations in Norrland. Thanks to reinforcement from other offices, we are able to temporarily reopen the closed service office in Umeå and receive 800 applicants during weeks 8 and 9. Those who have already booked an appointment at another office can reschedule in My page’, says Madelene Winqvist, Process Specialist responsible for Applicant Services.
Many visits in a short period of time
Everyone who applies for a residence permit must have their photograph taken and provide fingerprints before they can receive their new residence permit card. This is now usually done at the National Government Service Centre. However, people who are extending their protection under the Temporary Protection Directive must, as in previous years, visit the Migration Agency.
The reason why people with protection under the Temporary Protection Directive must book an appointment at the Migration Agency and not the National Government Service Centre, which has offices in several locations around the country, is the large number of people who need to submit photos and fingerprints in a short period of time.
‘It would take too long for 44,000 people with temporary protection to get their new residence permit cards if they had to compete for appointments with everyone else who needs to visit the National Government Service Centre for other matters,’ explains Madelene Winqvist.