The Migration Committee wants to make it easier for Swedes abroad to move home with their foreign partners by abolishing the maintenance requirement.
But the proposal does not help against the long processing times, which many Swedes abroad experience is the worst problem.
Their partner is not allowed to be in Sweden when they apply for a residence permit - despite the fact that the process can take upwards of two years.
- It is precisely the maintenance requirement that does not mean that the processing time can be delayed, says Irene Sokolow at the Swedish Migration Board's press service.
It also does not matter if there are children in the picture.
Jonas and his two children, three and five years old, have been away from the children's mother Yashoda for three months.
They are still waiting for a decision.
- According to the Swedish Migration Agency, two small children is not a strong enough reason for us to be together during the process.
- The children feel bad that mother is not here.
Yashoda can be visited as a tourist for a total of 90 days.
Jonas hopes that they will have time to make a decision before the time expires.
"Feeling hopeless"
Ida Lenert has also had to separate her family in order to apply.
She has moved back to Kalmar with her three small children, while the children's father is in the USA during the application process.
- I understand that the Swedish Migration Agency does its best, but that my husband is not allowed to stay in Sweden feels so hopeless, she says.
It is possible to apply from within Sweden if you can show that there is no other choice.
But Ida does not want to try.
- We do not dare to apply and then risk being rejected, she says.
Felicia Johansson is a lawyer at Lawline Juristbyrå and often handles cases with Swedes abroad.
She understands the anxiety.
- It's a justified fear.
First and foremost, the Swedish Migration Agency tests your right to apply from within Sweden.
If you do not have the right to apply from within Sweden, the application is rejected without the Swedish Migration Board having tried the case itself and you can start again, she says, and continues:
- I very rarely recommend applications from within Sweden.
The Swedish Migration Agency rejects the criticism and says that they cannot treat Swedes abroad differently.
- This is not unique to Swedes abroad.
This applies to everyone who wants to live in Sweden with their family, says Annica Dahlqvist, press communicator at the authority.
- This is what the law looks like, and it is only the law we have to relate to.