Copy-Pasted from my blog... A little bit depressed at the moment, so I can't be bothered to re-write it all for ya.
I got a letter in the post this morning. Nothing unusual about that really 'cept one of the letters was from the national registry, so I took it with me to physical therapy, opened it as I walked.
I read it twice before I got there, and I read it three more times on my walk back home.
In that letter were the words "you no longer fulfill the requirements for legal recidency in this country".
I said "what?"
I said it again and louder.
I read the letter again, and again, and again, and then I got home and told Sel, I said "they're writing us out of the country!"
They are delisting me as living at my home and instead they're listing me as "living abroad".
From today, I have three weeks to do "something" about it.
The core of the problem appears to be that I've not had a taxable income in Iceland for the last 18 months, meaning they read it as I'm unable to make enough money to support myself and my family. Their solution to that is to list me as "living abroad"
If I'm unable to correct this the follwing will happen.
I'll loose all rights to disability of any kind since I'm not living in Iceland any more.
I'll loose all rights to child support and extra supportive monies for Hafdís's Autism because I'm not living in Iceland any more.
I'll loose much of my chances to getting a better paying job because I don't live in Iceland anymore.
This means that their solution to my lack of income is to rob me of what little I have left and then de-list me from the country so they don't need to take responsibility for whatever follows.
So,.. unless I can "correct" this shortly, Me and Selcar will in all probability move to Canada since we'll have no chance of surviving over here, at all!
What will become of my daughter is all up in the air, but considering her language issues and social problems, the most probable course of events is that she'll stay winters in Iceland with her father, so that she can continue to go to an Icelandic school and doesn't have to start from scratch again, and then spend the summers in Canada with me.
I'll be keeping you all updated through here, posting a link to a new blog in english on LJ as I write them from Facebook, Deviantart and wherever else I feel the need to notify people of my perdicament.
I'll probably do an obvious plug for help in the form of donations or purchases of art and/or art commissions, but that's a problem for a later date.
After all, three airplane tickets from Iceland to Toronto are pricy!
I am currently finding out one thing with flights. Book early it seems.
*HUG* I am sorry and I hope something works for you guys.
That's shocking.
Are you not a native or a citizen? So it's illegal to be poor in Iceland now? Did it get taken over by the Soviet Politburo after the economic crisis hit?
That is certainly a strange and unfortunate position to be in. I've never heard of that situation before and hopefully it will work out for you. On the other hand Canada is a pretty nice place to live.
-={LR}=-
WTF. Were you born there?
Yep, I'm a native and a citizen but apparently that is not worth much...
oh geez dude, I'm so sorry to hear this! Thanks for the update, and let us know :-\ I hope it all works out okay for you...
Sorry to hear of your situation. In many areas of the U.S. they put a maximum time people could live on welfare. After that time if you have not found a job they drop you from the roles or force you to work in a very undesirable job.
Iceland is just about bankrupt. The whole world can not support the total population of earth as resources are running out faster than they are replaced. A drastic reduction in population is needed and or a drastic reduction in standard of living for billions.
Quote from: Miniar on May 28, 2009, 03:01:59 PM
Yep, I'm a native and a citizen but apparently that is not worth much...
wow, and I though we American citizens were undervalued...
Quote from: Miniar on May 28, 2009, 03:01:59 PM
Yep, I'm a native and a citizen but apparently that is not worth much...
Then I'm not sure how they can send you to Canada, because unless you were born in Canada, there are requirements to gain citizenship, work and stay here. Are you sure it's not some screw up?
Quote from: Monty on May 28, 2009, 04:01:17 PM
Then I'm not sure how they can send you to Canada, because unless you were born in Canada, there are requirements to gain citizenship, work and stay here. Are you sure it's not some screw up?
they're not sending me to canada, they're listing me as "living abroad" which may mean I'll just follow my canadian husband to canada.
OMG!! What a ridiculous fashion to go about keeping a country's inemployment rate figures low. Just kick those who are unemployed outta the country!
Any idea if that is occurring with some of your bankers and financiers up there who've definitely crashed over the past year?
I hope the move works out. I presume there's no recourse to this of any kind. Is this sort of thing "big news" in Iceland?
Nichole
I'm sure I could "make" it into big news with the right approach to the media, but honestly.. I'm starting to just feel like "f this, I'm leaving"
Quote from: Miniar on May 28, 2009, 06:36:28 PM
I'm sure I could "make" it into big news with the right approach to the media, but honestly.. I'm starting to just feel like "f this, I'm leaving"
Quite honestly, I can understand that, Min. Good grief. What a pile of poopie that is! :)
N~
Ah....scratches her head....they can do that? ??? Isn't your SO working there? Maybe it would be better just to go.
Janet
Quote from: Miniar on May 28, 2009, 06:36:28 PM
... but honestly.. I'm starting to just feel like "f this, I'm leaving"
Which, of course, is exactly what they want you to do/
Can't the answer be that your husband has income and pays taxes and that you chose not to file a joint return?
Robyn
So Iceland can take away your rights as a natural born citizen because you're out of work? That sounds very wrong. Before you make plans to leave do some research and make sure this is legal. It sure seems fishy to me.
Julie
I hope you can find a way to work things out. It sounds like a raw deal. I always thought Iceland would be one of the more civil places to live. And your a born Icelandic citizen you say? It doesn't seem just.
Is there some kind of deadline, like, what if you get any kind of job/taxable income?
Best wishes, to you and yours Miniar.
This sounds absurd.
How can a country make their own citizen a none citizen? I know people can be arrested and deported, as in USSR etc but that was usually at the pressure of the USA saying she would accept that person rather than goal in Siberia. I would have thought that this went against UN charters. I know Iceland seems to have a group of people in their Parliment that have made major stuff ups, but is this their solution. What would happen if you were single? Anyone single and unemployed in Iceland is to be deported?
I'm so sorry, I wish I could be of help. I would be willing to support your art by buying something I liked. How can I see them. ps I'm not in any way wealthy.
Love and Hugs
Cindy
no no... I will still be a citizen, I just won't be allowed to have a legal residency in Iceland.
And hubby doesn't have an income at the time being because we're still waiting on paperwork making it possible for him to get work.
We're currently living "rent free" so we haven't needed much money to make ends meet (and are making ends meet quite well actually) so I haven't gone and filed for unemployment support or other extra payments from the government cause... there's other ppl that need it more than I do.
My deadline to fix this is 3 weeks... and then I loose my legal residency..
I'm currently waiting on them to send me letters with the details of of which the ruling was made.. should be here.. tuesday, wednesday at the latest.
Just curious, Min, is the procedure one that's parliamentary or one that's been procedurally done by a ministry?
N~
it's beurocratic....
Quote from: Miniar on May 29, 2009, 07:41:57 AM
it's beurocratic....
In which case perhaps a good darned airing of the procedure publically might not be a bad way to have it changed? :)
I'm just completely amazed by this. It doesn't make any sense to me.
I hope that everything works out for you, Miniar.
So they can remove your residency rights if you aren't gainfully employed?
Is your rent free status paid for by the government or are you living with family/friends?
Once they remove your residency rights does that mean they can deport you or otherwise force you to leave the country?
I'm still blown away by this! Min, you have to put up a fight if they are trying to kick you out of your country just because you don't have a job! Here in the US, the media would have a field day with this.
Julie
Apparently they can remove my residency.
I'm living in my mom's house, doing maintenance instead of paying rent.
I'm still an Icelandic citizen so I can live here as long as I want to, I just loose my legal residency and with it any rights to any gov. supports.
They're not kicking me out, just listing me as "living abroad"
And listing you as "living abroad" lowers the statistical occurrence of "unemployment" and ups by that much the "median income" of the country.
I thought the USA was bad about finagling statistics! Wait'll the Feds here hear about this. The poverty rate here will drop to zip as all the "poor people" won't live in-country any more!
This is just terribly sad and duplicitous.
QuoteAn individual who moves away from Iceland and abandons his/her legal domicile should report this to the municipality where he/she lives, prior to moving away. It is also necessary to report it if the individual plans on residing in a foreign country.
It seems that you need to keep the government informed of you legal domicile or they think you are gone.
Quote from: lisagurl on May 29, 2009, 12:06:38 PM
It seems that you need to keep the government informed of you legal domicile or they think you are gone.
I've lived here, in my legal residency, for two whole years solid. I haven't gone anywhere for any substantial time since I got here, not even to another Icelandic town.
I've had my legal domicile here for all of those two years.
Very interesting. A couple months ago you disagreed with me about how bad Iceland's financial situation is, and how that nation is in for a world of hurt. And this - much like California shutting down government offices every other Friday (thus cutting about a months salary for all those workers) or threatening to shut down 80% of the public parks - is but one indication of just how bad it is.
Call it good, bad, horrid or whatever, the real issue here is: How are you going to support yourself independent from The State, cause I'm sure Canada is not going to want to foot the bill either. It is interesting to redefine 'citizen' as someone who contributes to the whole. Used to be, like in Roman times, you could not be a citizen until after you did your years in the Legion, that citizenship was an earned privileged, not some sort of acquired right.
I can not find any case such as yours, it might have some thing to do with your marriage to a foreigner who has no job. Then getting a job is not easy with a ink on the neck.
Yeah Lisa that might be it, married to a foreign national who does not have a job might have something to do with it, as 'he' no doubt is considered 'the head of household.'
Quote from: tekla on May 29, 2009, 07:54:39 PM
Very interesting. A couple months ago you disagreed with me about how bad Iceland's financial situation is
Actually, I disagreed that there was any point in rolling on the floor screaming "the world is over".
Sun still comes up in the morning.
Kids still gotta eat.
So, we all still just gotta put one foot in front of the other.
_
And this is not because of my husband.
This much I've verified as of yet.
Min',
Does "living rent free" have anything todo with this? Does the government interept your not having a rental contract, mortgage, or home ownership as a sign that you have moved out of Iceland?
Hopefully the confussion of your situation will be settled by the middle part of next week.
Best of luck to you and your family...Mich'.
It appears that the only reason for this is the "taxable income".
Quote from: Miniar on May 30, 2009, 06:31:08 AM
It appears that the only reason for this is the "taxable income".
In the U.S. all support is considered income and must be filed on taxes. It is deductible for the ex. If the ex deducts it will show up as income for you.
Which would be relevant if I was in the u.s... which I'm not
I sure hope everything works out for you. I guess I just want to "subscribe" to your thread.
Quick Update -
Mom's gotten her personal attorney, that has been working with her and her hubby regarding their business, in on the whole "goings on".
I'll be sending him all my documents, interactions and etc, and he'll be helping me out with this.
SO..
I'm in good hands.
And worst case scenario being "moving to Canada" ain't so bad, so I'm good in general.
Stress is still causing me pain and stuff ofcourse, but what else is to be expected from a fibromyalgic person.
Quote from: Nichole on May 29, 2009, 11:13:26 AM
And listing you as "living abroad" lowers the statistical occurrence of "unemployment" and ups by that much the "median income" of the country.
I thought the USA was bad about finagling statistics! Wait'll the Feds here hear about this. The poverty rate here will drop to zip as all the "poor people" won't live in-country any more!
This is just terribly sad and duplicitous.
I thought all the poor people in America already didn't live here, or at least about 12 million of them ...
Quote from: Alyssa M. on June 01, 2009, 12:50:17 AM
I thought all the poor people in America already didn't live here, or at least about 12 million of them ...
Nope, not here in the US. That is, of course, if all the Home Depot parking lots are territories of Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador.
In South Florida they are like that. Had a poor guy killed in a parking lot about a month ago. As in a migrant worker accidentally jumped in front of a moving truck.
Quick little update on this front...
I got a bill in the mail today.
They've listed me as "living abroad".
They're demanding I pay back the governmental child support.
I'm... not doing so good actually.
Quote from: Miniar on August 04, 2009, 09:50:26 AM
Quick little update on this front...
I got a bill in the mail today.
They've listed me as "living abroad".
They're demanding I pay back the governmental child support.
I'm... not doing so good actually.
what happens if you can't?
I can't pay it. It's twice what I make in a month, and with last month's extra expenses, I'm already in the red a bit.
I'm seriously considering just going "f-it" and leaving.
Be very careful here. You could be charged with fraud, grand theft, and flight to avoid prosecution, and such charges could a) prevent your entry/legal standing in Canada, b) result in extradition requests. Canada does have a bilateral extradition treaty with Iceland by the way.
For better or worse, in the internet, computer search, information age it's become very hard to run away from anything anymore.
I had a lawyer. Technically my mum handled that for me.
He died.
Also, I'm not being "prosecuted" for anything Tekla.
If a government thinks you owe them money, sooner or later they will file charges to get it, if you don't answer the charges, they will take the next step, and if they think you received said money in violation of their rules, then that is fraud.
And in the current age, they will know the instant your passport passes border control now. It's all encoded, and its all shared information.
o.O Now where did I say I would refuse to pay?
I'm seriously considering just going "f-it" and leaving.
that would be a reference to leaving the country and giving up on it..
I'm not the sort of person to pretend my bills don't exist and hope they disappear.
Mind you, my dad's advice of the day is "Refuse to pay it"...
Quote from: Miniar on August 04, 2009, 02:31:00 PM
Mind you, my dad's advice of the day is "Refuse to pay it"...
I would. Why should you have to pay it back, when you were given it when you were a legal resident? Just because they're listing you as a non-resident now, means they can get their money back? That doesn't make sense, but then any government doesn't make sense.
Get another lawyer if you can, go to the press, this whole thing just sounds so absurd to me.
Working on the "new lawyer" thing.
They've decided to list me living abroad "from 2008" not from now.
this is just really crazy. do they think you defrauded and weren't really entitled to whatever welfare you got?
Quote from: Miniar on August 04, 2009, 05:11:16 PM
Working on the "new lawyer" thing.
They've decided to list me living abroad "from 2008" not from now.
Wow...Miniar, I'm sorry this whole thing just leaves me speechless. I mean, dealing with a bureaucracy is one thing, but this just sounds like madness! :icon_blah:
Quote from: Nero on August 04, 2009, 05:14:30 PM
this is just really crazy. do they think you defrauded and weren't really entitled to whatever welfare you got?
Not really or they'd be demanding a lot more.
Post Merge: August 07, 2009, 08:41:52 AM
Aaaand now it turns out, my new lawyer's fallen ill and hasn't been able to leave his bedroom for a couple of days.
"He should be alright by monday" my mother says, but I can't help but to think...
Wouldn't it be "typical" if he'd die over the weekend?
*broods*