Hundreds have cheated their way to stay in Norway, according to UDI

Sylvi Listhaug waggingSylvi Listhaug (Progress Party).Photo regjeringen.no

Several hundred people have had their  residence permit in Norway revoked in recent years because of cheating.

Norwegian authorities have in recent years told over 800 people  that they have been caught cheating on their asylum stories or otherwise providing incorrect information. Afghans, Iraqis, and Somalis are the three  groups with the largest number of people who have got such messages, according to NRK news.

Over 400 of these have still got their residence permits renewed. This may be because they have lived in Norway very long, or because they have children.

Immigration and Integration Minister Sylvi Listhaug says they cheating is done in several ways.

– Sometimes the persons in question have traveled on holiday to the country they claim to have escaped.

Other people have said that they are from a country, but are in reality from a peaceful neighboring country.

And there may be people who both have gained permanent residency and citizenship this way, says Listhaug who want immigration authorities to prioritize these issues.

Leader of Somali Network, Bashe Musse, say they find evidence remains uncertain, difficult and thin.

-The evidence  is mainly based on Facebook pages, social media, hawala transactions. That is circumstantial evidence. There is no clear evidence, says Musse.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today