The case summed up Dayo from Nigeria came to Bodø in 2021 to take a master’s degree in economics. He now works as a waiter and at a school, but neither job is relevant to his education. According to UDI, Dayo must have a relevant job for the master’s degree in order to continue living in Norway. Dayo was due to complete his master’s degree in economics in the spring of 2023, made a mistake which led to him missing 7.5 credits and was not approved for the education. Dayo was caught between two chairs when he did not have enough credits to apply for an extended student visa, but also could not get a work visa without the missing credits. The Ministry of Labor and Inclusion says there is no general opening in the regulations to recruit unskilled labor from countries outside the EEA, but students from countries outside the EEA who have completed their education in Norway can apply for a residence permit for up to one year to look for work. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. Do you work with what you trained as? Not everyone does that. If we take, for example, a master’s degree in economics, there are 24,595 people who do not work in a profession that is relevant to the education in Norway, according to Statistics Norway. That would mean 44 per cent of all those who have studied economics. For most people, it has nothing to say either. Work is work. But for Dayo in Bodø, this is to be or not to be. If he does not get a relevant job for his master’s degree in economics within three weeks, he will be kicked out. – Many people ask me why I came here. I have never been able to answer that, but the answer is perhaps why not, says Dayo. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news – I have been so lucky Actually, his name is Adedayo Adebiyi. But everyone just calls him Dayo. He came from Nigeria to Bodø in 2021 to take a master’s degree in economics. He could take it anywhere. But just that winter, Bodø/Glimt won the Eliteserien. Then Dayo was in heaven. He loves football. – My first experience was the celebration in the city. For me it was fantastic. I enjoyed every second, says Dayo. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB Now he has both a lover and a bonus family in Bodø. And if he doesn’t know why he came here, the community in Bodø has at least given him an answer as to why he wants to stay. – I have been so lucky and met the right people. They have welcomed me so well. Now he works both as a waiter in a restaurant and he works at Aspåsen school in Bodø. In addition, for example, 269 economists work as nursing and care workers and 81 economists work as postmen, according to Statistics Norway. 26 economists are kitchen assistants. – It gives me a lot to work at school. I come to work every day and am so happy because I know it will be a very fun day, says Dayo. But even if he loves his job and pays tax, it is not enough for UDI. He must have a relevant job for his master’s degree if he is to continue living in Norway. Three weeks to find a job Dayo was actually supposed to complete his master’s degree in economics in the spring of 2023. But he submitted an exam in a subject on the wrong submission platform. Then he did not pass the subject, and the education was not approved. He lacked 7.5 credits. Then Dayo ended up in a bureaucratic limbo: Dayo contacted an adviser at the university. She thought he should apply for an extended student visa to get the last points. On 2 January, he received a reply from UDI. They had rejected his application, because he was only supposed to take 7.5 credits. In order to have the application approved, he had to have 30 credits. Furthermore, it was stated that he had until 30 January to leave the country. But he had three weeks to appeal after he had received the letter from UDI. If he objected, he was allowed to stay while he waited for a new answer. Nevertheless, he must get a job that suits his master’s degree if he wants to stay in Norway. news has seen the letter from UDI. – It has not been an easy 2024 for me. It started in the worst way, says Dayo. On 2 January, he received the message that he had three weeks to get a relevant job. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news As a foreign student, you have two choices when you finish your studies: You can apply for a work visa. You can apply for an extended student visa. Dayo did not have enough credits to apply for an extended student visa. At the same time, he would not get a work visa if he lacked 7.5 credits. He therefore fell between two chairs. Now Dayo has applied for over 100 jobs, without being accepted for any of them. – I do it all the time. Every day, in every free moment, I send an application. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news Dayo applied for an extended student visa in August. During the autumn he took another course. He has therefore completed his master’s degree no. But he does not have a residence permit. Since he has already been refused an extended student visa, he will now also not get a work visa, unless he has a job related to his studies. – A ruthless system Nils Henrik Severinsen, inspector at Aspåsen school, says Dayo is a sociable person who is well liked by both adults and pupils at the school. – It is a rather ruthless system that you may not think about on a daily basis until it comes closer to people we know, says the inspector. – We hope it works out for Dayo. He has a high level of expertise in his field, and that is needed. I think he will be a good addition to any college, says inspector Nils Henrik Severinsen. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news – What do you think about Nett Dayo having to work within what he has a master’s in, while many Norwegians do not? – If you look at it purely logically, it doesn’t sound right. But we have to deal with it, whether we agree or not. So we just have to try to help him as best we can. This is what the UDI says about Dayo’s case Hind Dakhil, unit manager of Residence in the UDI wrote in an e-mail to news that a residence permit is required for work for a person who is a citizen of a country outside the EU/EEA and who will work in Norway . – If a person has completed higher education or vocational training, the person can apply for a residence permit as a skilled worker with an employer in Norway. But the person must have received an offer of work. The position the person has been offered must require competence as a skilled tradesman. The person must have the competence that the position requires. There are also other requirements that must be met. If Dayo gets a relevant position in at least 80 percent, that is enough to get a permit. He can then apply for an apprentice permit. – Is it any wonder that the rules are as knotty as we see here? – UDI administers a set of regulations that have been determined by the Storting, the government and ministries. The Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness and the Ministry of Labor and Inclusion have laid down the rules on residence permits for work in Norway. Dakhil says they have no idea how many people are in the same situation as Dayo. Ministry of Labor and Inclusion: – No opening in the regulations State Secretary Per Olav Skurdal Hopsø in the Ministry of Labor and Inclusion cannot go into the specific case of Dayo. But says that there are separate rules for people who come from countries outside the EEA. – It is because Norway wants the need for labor to be met through the resources of the Norwegian population and of labor immigrants from the EEA, says Hopssø. – In order to obtain a residence permit as a skilled worker from a country outside the EEA, the applicant must have a concrete offer of full-time work with Norwegian wages and working conditions, in addition to a formal education that is relevant for the position, says State Secretary Per Olav Skurdal Hopsø in the Ministry of Employment and Inclusion. Photo: Trøndelag Labor Party This for the need for labor must be balanced against consideration for controlled and sustainable immigration. – There is therefore no general opening in the regulations to recruit unskilled labor from countries outside the EEA, says the state secretary. Dayo said that he was very upset when he received the letter from UDI in January. Not just because he was rejected, but because he broke the rules. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news But he adds that arrangements have nevertheless been made so that students from countries outside the EEA who have completed their education in Norway can apply for a residence permit for up to one year in order to look for work. – One must be professionally trained and have a valid residence permit as a student at the time of application in order for such a permit aimed at job seekers to be granted. – I do everything I can to be the best I can for the children as an assistant. That’s why I also think I can add value if I work with a job I’m trained for, says Dayo. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news – I’m a rule rider – I believe in rules, says Dayo. He has worked as an auditor and accountant before. – Therefore, I know that a system must have rules. According to them, I broke the rules. I understand that. – Isn’t it unfair that you have to work with what you have an education in? – I don’t think it’s unfair. I am a regular rider. If that’s the rule, then that’s the rule. – But for people who were born in Norway, aren’t the rules like that? – Those are the rules, says Dayo. Several people in the Bodø community have tried to help Dayo after he first told his story on social media. – It makes me feel loved. People want the best for me. It also motivates me. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news Thank you for reading the whole story. Feel free to send me a tip if you want me to write about something else! Do you want to read more? Here are some tips:
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What happens when you cannot find a job relevant to your education? Dayo’s story – news Nordland
