We moved to Sweden for my husband's job 4 years ago. Now, we're struggling to keep the life we worked so hard to build.

A family commits to Sweden

Michelle Clardie and her husband Jarrod moved to Sweden in 2022 when Jarrod got a video-game development job. They bought a home on Billingen Mountain, enrolled their son in school, and learned the language.

They chose Skövde carefully

Before moving, they visited Skövde in person and met founding members of Jarrod's prospective studio. Several other video-game studios were in town, offering backup employment options if the main job fell through.

The home became their anchor

They bought a house with space for two home offices, a playroom, and a guest room. The yard had an apple tree with a swing their son played on every day after school.

They built a Swedish life

Over the next few years, they practiced the language, built community, and adapted to Swedish seasons. They got accustomed to affordable childcare, accessible healthcare, and the extreme daylight shifts.

The studio closed suddenly

A few years later, Jarrod's studio closed with little warning. As Americans on a work visa, they were reminded that their life in Sweden was contingent on that job.

The visa deadline loomed

Jarrod was given three months to find a comparable position or leave the country. Homeownership did not grant them the right to stay in Sweden. The local game-studio industry had largely collapsed.

“As Americans here on a work visa, even homeownership doesn't grant us the right to stay in Sweden.”

The job search expanded

Jarrod searched in surrounding cities like Gothenburg and Stockholm. Finding another position in the struggling industry proved harder than expected, and hiring a non-citizen involved bureaucratic red tape and costs.

Michelle's business became crucial

Michelle's business earned enough to cover their expenses. She contacted the Swedish Migration Agency to show they were self-sufficient. Jarrod began working with former colleagues to launch a new game studio.

The startup work didn't count

Until the new studio could pay Jarrod a salary, that work did not qualify as employment for immigration purposes. The Swedish Migration Agency asked them to leave. They formally appealed that decision.

“However, until the studio can pay him a salary, that work doesn't qualify as employment for immigration purposes.”

They fight the appeal

Michelle continues running her business in Sweden while Jarrod builds his. They work through the appeal process with a local attorney. Each mail delivery brings hope or dread about their visa status.

Commitment remains despite uncertainty

Michelle does not regret committing to a life in Sweden. She does not know if they will stay, but her son will still swing under the apple tree after school tomorrow.

“Even if our time here ends up being temporary, buying a home and assimilating to life in Sweden has been an unforgettable adventure for all of us.”