– I want to be here with my husband. I love him and miss him very much. Takako Ellefsen brushes some debris off her husband Karsten’s gravestone. Makes sure everything looks nice when she visits him. Her husband of 46 years died of cancer in 2010. Now he rests at Revheim cemetery in Stavanger. She intended to continue with the regular visits until one day she was to be buried next to him. But the letter from the Norwegian Immigration Service (UNE) states that she must return to Japan by 28 December. She will not be issued the residence card she has applied for, and she cannot appeal the decision. Followed her husband around the world – This is very sad and hard to think about, says Klara Johanne Ellefsen. She is Takako’s daughter and takes care of her mother. TAKES CARE OF MOTHER: Klara Johanne Ellefsen has bought an apartment for herself and her mother in Stavanger. Now she may have to move to Japan. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news They are four siblings, but the brothers live in Japan and Great Britain. The brothers have started their own families. Klara Johanne has taken care of her mother since her father died 13 years ago. This week the two moved into a new apartment at Tasta in Stavanger. It was to be their permanent home, as their mother wanted. Now they have to pack up. – She cannot live alone. She is old and needs help. Then I have to sell the flat and move back to Japan with her, she says. Was a sailor To understand why Takako is not allowed to live in Norway, we have to go back to the 60s. Karsten Ellefsen from Stavanger is a sailor. He is sailing in the East as chief engineer when he meets Takako from Japan. They marry and move to Norway in 1965. Klara is born and the family stays in Norway until 1967. But because father is sailing in the East, the small family decides to settle in Japan. Then they can see each other more often than if they live in Norway. The couple have more children and Karsten gets a job at Det Norske Veritas. This means a further working career outside Norway. They live in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Great Britain. Until Karsten is diagnosed with cancer in 2008. Karsten and Takako move back to Stavanger, where Karsten dies in May 2009. – His last wish was that he should be buried at Revheim church, says daughter Klara Johanne. Moved to Norway during the pandemic When the father dies, it is the daughter who takes care of the mother. Klara Johanne moves to Norway. But because of her job, she has to go to Japan in 2010. Takako, who accompanied her husband for years, now accompanies her daughter to Japan. In 2015, Klara Johanne gets a job opportunity in Spain and the two move there. Here they apply for a residence card for Takako and get it granted. Then the pandemic comes and they decide to move to Norway. It has been Takako’s wish all along that she should move back to Norway. On 21 December 2020 she is back. Finally closer to Karsten. But now she must apply for residence. But why didn’t she apply a long time ago? – It was easier that she had Japanese citizenship when we lived in Japan. That’s why she hasn’t applied before, says Klara. The pension is too good On 4 January 2021, Takako applies to UDI for a so-called residence card as a family member of an EEA citizen, i.e. the daughter. On 26 November 2021, UDI rejects the application. Takako Ellefsen appeals against the refusal, and it is the Immigration Board (UNE) that will assess the appeal. On Monday this week, the final rejection came from UNE. news has read the entire rejection. In the justification it is stated that it is not sufficient for the daughter to assume parental responsibility. It must also be documented that there is a support need for Takako Ellefsen. This means that the daughter must both provide for her mother, but also that the support must be necessary to cover her basic needs. And UDI and UNE believe that is not the case because Takako Ellefsen receives a pension from Det Norske Veritas. According to the decision, the 83-year-old had an income of NOK 245,700 in 2021. UNE quotes UDI’s reasoning, and agrees with the reasoning in its decision: “UDI considers that the pension you receive should cover your basic needs and that the condition of need for maintenance is therefore not met . Even if you have received money from the EEA citizen (the daughter, journal note) over a longer period, the UDI believes that you do not need support to cover your basic needs in your home country.” Has no particular connection to Norway It has also been assessed whether the 83-year-old fulfills the conditions for a residence card as part of the daughter’s household, but due to the fact that her health insurance in Japan does not have sufficient coverage, she does not receive residence based on this either. A final possibility is the Immigration Regulations. This allows for an exception if there are strong human considerations or complaints have a particular connection to Norway. But this is not considered to be the case for Takako Ellefsen either. “UNE has assessed the information that the complainant has a special connection to Norway due to family and previous residence, but has, after an overall assessment, come to the conclusion that a residence permit will not be granted in this case,” they write in the decision. The Immigration Board has not had the opportunity to be interviewed on Sunday, and refers to the decision that has been made. Don’t give up The apartment at Tasta has just moved in. They are still missing some furniture. But the wedding picture is in place. – He showed me the world, says Takako when she holds up the photo from 1964. THE BEST DAY: Karsten and Takako Ellefsen got married in Japan in 1964. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news But now Klara Johanne may have to sell the apartment they moved into for four days ago, and move with my mother to Japan. But she’s not giving up quite yet. – I have an appointment with our lawyer on Tuesday. Maybe we have to go to court. But in any case, mum has to leave before the case comes up in court, says Klara Johanne Ellefsen.
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Takako (83) was married to a Norwegian for 46 years, now she is thrown out of Norway – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
