Baltic States – CIS, EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation

Calls were received from different regions of Latvia, as well as from Russia. While third-country nationals* residing in Pieriga (Jelgava, Ogre and Jurmala) mostly visited consultations on site – 39 consultations were provided.  The largest interest was shown about residence permits, as well as about tools for proving means of subsistence.

Specialists say that there frequently occurred situations when issues to be solved during consultations were very specific and their topics were about entrepreneurship and the tax policy. The longest consultations in December lasted for more than two hours.

Lawyer Alvis Skenders (Alvis Šķenders) mentions the explanation process as the major challenge while giving consultations to third-country nationals. “Taking into consideration that some of third-country nationals come from Eastern countries, these people very often have a different understanding about various legal issues.  We have to repeatedly discuss the same issue to ensure that the client has indeed understood the legal terminology precisely. During consultations, we often have to explain why exactly migration rules in Latvia are so complicated and why such procedures as proving means of subsistence are necessary”.

Shelter “Safe House” reminds that Free consultations are provided by phone +371 25565098, e-mail: [email protected], as well as in person – at the premises of Shelter “Safe House”, Lacplesa Street 75-9/10, Riga. The consultations are provided in Latvian, Russian and English.

Aimed to determine the needs and satisfaction of third-country nationals with the received service, in the homepage of the society www.patverums-dm.lv there is created and available a client satisfaction survey.

Consultations are provided under the participation agreement concluded between the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and “Shelter “Safe House” on 17 September 2015, on execution of certain public administration tasks for integration of third-country citizens. The agreement provides that, as of October 1, the society shall ensure integration support measures for third-country nationals, including refugees and persons having the alternative status. It is planned that during a four-month period within the framework of the agreement the needs of third-country nationals will be identified in order to improve the process of their integration in Latvia. Experts of the society inform that, during the four-month period, it is planned to identify the needs of third-country nationals to improve the process of their integration in Latvia.

*A third-country national is any person who is not a citizen of the member states of the European Union, the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation