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During the second weekend of April, Nedeľná paráda (The Sunday Parade) took place in Bratislava´s Stará tržnica (Old Market Hall) as an accompanying event of the multi-genre festival fjúžn. In addition to concerts, circus workshop or theatre performance, migrant communities living in Slovakia also contributed to the great atmosphere. They were offering their traditional meals and information on their countries of origin at the Multicultural Market. At the Market visitors could try food specialities from Brazil, Iran, Ghana, or Kazakhstan and get to know cultures and traditions of these countries. The Market Hall was crowded with visitors, you can visit the photogallery from the event here.

Ms. My left her native Vietnam and departed for Russia to help her sister. Ms. My lived with her son for some time in Moscow where she worked in a garment factory. She found out that life in Russia was difficult for her. She had to pay high school fees for her son, but she was receiving low salary at the factory. Her cousin called her to come to her to Slovakia and promised her to pay a higher salary to her. She crossed the Slovak border illegally. She found herself without proper documents and without any help from family...

You can watch the whole of My´s story in the documentary film on the IOM´s YouTube Channel. For other stories of migrants returning home from Slovakia with the assistance of IOM, visit www.avr.iom.sk.

Mr. Xuan Quynh lived in Slovakia for more than four years. Initially, he aimed to work in the United Kingdom in order to earn money for his family. “I only got stuck in Bratislava as I could not afford to pay for the whole trip,” he said. He did not have legal residence permit in the country. “It was difficult for me to live in a foreign country without my family, my wife and children..."

You can watch the whole of Xuan Quynh´s story in the documentary film on the IOM´s YouTube Channel. For other stories of migrants returning home from Slovakia with the assistance of IOM, visit www.avr.iom.sk.

IOM Migration information Centre (MIC) in Bratislava and Košice offers migrants free of charge open courses of the Slovak language. A new cycle of beginner courses starts on 3 June 2014 in Bratislava, classes will be held at Grösslingová 4 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. In Košice, the new cycle starts on 3 June 2014 and the beginner courses will be held at Poštová 1 on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

The open courses are for third-country nationals (non-EU) with permanent, temporary or tolerated stay in Slovakia. The courses are open for all age groups. No registration or entry exams are needed. Interested foreigners may start the course at any time.

Mr. Minh left Vietnam in 2008 and he came legally to work in Slovakia. He was employed as a factory worker. In order to get this job, he ran up debts and when the factory closed down due to the crisis, he found himself in a hopeless situation and without any money for returning home...

You can see the full Minh´s story in the documentary film on the IOM´s YouTube Channel. For other stories of migrants returning home from Slovakia with the assistance of IOM, visit www.avr.iom.sk.

The second 2014 issue of the e-newsletter of the Office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Slovakia informs about IOM activities that took place from January to March 2014.

Newsletter of the IOM Office in the Slovak Republic, Issue 02/2014

The IOM Migration Information Centre (MIC) has prepared a new edition of the booklet Residence of Foreigners in Slovakia. The booklet contains up-to-date information on residence of third-country nationals in Slovakia in the Slovak, English, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese and Arabic language. You may find here practical information regarding entry on the territory of the Slovak Republic and conditions for obtaining or renewing of residence in the SR.

The website Atlas of Migrant Communities brings you diverse information about migrants living in Slovakia. The website focuses on migrants’ gastronomy, culture and traditions. You can find here also contacts of migrants´ associations, their news and invitations to cultural happenings. We will welcome your contributions to recipes of international cuisine, tips on cultural events, useful websites and other interesting information about life of migrant communities. You can find more information at: www.mic.iom.sk/atlas.

From 1 January 2014, an amendment of the Act No. 404/2011 Coll. on Residence of Foreign Nationals and Act 5/2004 Coll. on Employment Services came into effect. The changes relate to the terms of residence, work permit, or employment of foreign nationals in Slovakia.

Information on the changes in residence of foreigners in Slovakia is available in IOM Migration Information Centre (MIC) in Bratislava and Košice, and also on the website www.mic.iom.sk. More information about the actual changes is provided by the legal counsellors of MIC in person, via phone 0850 211 478 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..