US-Danish Marriage Steps Afterward

Hi Gladmark -

Well, let's see if we can clear things up a bit.

If you're coming here on a tourist visa, you've got 3 months. So, if you marry within that time, then you need to file your family reunification paperwork before your visa runs out. At that point, once you file it and have the stamp from the police station in your passport (or stamped paper which is basically a temp visa), then you are able to stay in the country while the powers that be evaluate your application. Assuming you've dotted all your I's, crossed all your T's, and provided the requisite number of passport photos and whatnot, your spouse will be notified that a bank guarantee is needed in xx,xxx kr. Then you'll receive notice from the government that you can stay, at which point you can head down to your commune office, get your CPR number, and figure out danish classes, appointments with your counselor, etc. You'll also need to go to the police station and get your visa sticker set into your passport, which will then give you the right to stay in DK, and work.

That's the basic outline of how it worked for me, in 2007. As far as I know, most rules have stayed the same with regards to that aspect of the dance, though gaining permanent residency is a bit more interesting now, at least if you want to do it quickly.

The best place I found for information was nyidanmark.dk, which does have most of its information in English (including various forms needed for family reunification). Check it out, and feel free to PM if I can help further.

Money can definitely be a tough thing. Especially when one of you isn't working right off the bat. If he has a job now, with careful budgeting you can make it through on 15k a month (the husband and I live on SU right now, which is about that total, for both of us). And once you have your visa, you can look for work at one of the larger international companies (if there are any in your area). They often have English as a corporate language, which makes it slightly easier.

With the bank guarantee, you go to his bank and talk with someone there, who will draft up loan papers for the necessary amount. Will cost you interest every 6 months, maybe 400 kr. or so. Then there's having a big enough place, 40 sq meters minimum, if I recall. If he has a place at least that big or bigger, you should be fine.

Cost of living here is a bit expensive, but if you're careful with your money, you can get by all right. And for getting married, that's up to you how much it ends up costing, really. I can't remember now if we had a fee to pay, but we were married in the local courthouse. Fairly inexpensive, I think. Had a nice dinner afterwards with the family and close friends, and called it good. But that was me.

Language school is covered by the commune once you have your family reunification visa, but if you want to start early, then there will be a cost of some kind.

So, there are ways to get by here without having loads of funds. :) I'd personally prefer to work, myself, but school isn't a bad option in the meantime, until I can find something that works for me.

Good luck, and let me know if I can be of help again.