Traveling while residence permit is in process?

by **Kristina Pa** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 8:29 pm

I´m coming from Croatia.One week ago I have applied for my residence permit in Finland.From finnish immigration police I´ve got confirmation document and reciept which confirms that my residence permit is in process.
My question is...Can I travel back home to Croatia ?I´m planing to stay only 2 weeks and than come back to Finland.Croatia is not part of EU but I have right to stay in Finland(without visa) for 90 days as a tourist.If i go back home,when I come back to Finland I have right to stay in Finland as a tourist for 12 more days.I haven´t used all 90 days yet.

Thank you in advance for your help!

**Sponsor:**

by **Dalmatinac** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:49 pm

Zdravo!

I will answer you in pm in our language.

by **Rip** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 10:45 am

How about giving a call to the police office you submitted your application? I expect no trouble; the only thing that I can see even theoreticalyl possible, would would be A) the information passed from the passport check point when you go over the Schengen border to the immigration police and B) the pending residence permit application being cancelled after receiving that info. I think neither of those actually happen.

by **rinso** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 11:01 am

when I come back to Finland I have right to stay in Finland as a tourist for 12 more days.I haven´t used all 90 days yet.

When you claim to come as a tourist, border control might want to see a return ticket before they let you in.

by **occelaris** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 10:57 pm

Macedonian here ,glad to see someone from our region. I red yesterday somewhere on migri.fi that once you apply for a residence permit you may reside in the country longer then the initial 3 months. In fact you can stay till you receive an answer for your permit. If it's a positive one you continue your stay and if negative you will have to leave . I keep trying to find that page and show you the link but with no luck today

. will try tomorrow.
Pozdrav

by **Rip** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 4:26 am

occelaris wrote:Macedonian here ,glad to see someone from our region. I red yesterday somewhere on migri.fi that once you apply for a residence permit you may reside in the country longer then the initial 3 months. In fact you can stay till you receive an answer for your permit. If it's a positive one you continue your stay and if negative you will have to leave .

A) You may stay while your permit application is being processed
(Aliens Act section 40: "An alien may reside legally in the
country while his or her application is being
processed until there is a final decision on the
matter or an enforceable decision on his or
her removal from the country." )

B) Most people are supposed to apply for their first permit abroad though
(Sections 45-49)

C) One of the valid exceptions to B) are the family members of Finnish citizens
(Section 50)

http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/kaannokset ... 040301.pdf

D) Based on your post here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=64099&p=464724#p464439
you are already aware that there are other things to consider, namely that while the permit is being processed, if you decide to do it here, you're basically a tourist, living off from your own or somebody else's savings.

by **occelaris** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 9:51 am

Rip this is not my topic. It's just a reply on Kristina Pa's question.Seamed to me her main concern was the time she's allowed to stay here based on her biometric passport . As I see from your post the info I posted was correct.

by **Kutittaa** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 11:38 am

If you have given the police or anyone your passport to process your permit then you MUST ask the police or whoever you gave it to, that you can have it back so you can travel. When you get your passport back, obviously all passport rules while travelling apply. But it will stop the processing of your permit (they need your passport) and it could push your permit back to the back of the line.

My advice is wait until it is done because you got the letter that they are looking at it (it shouldn't take too long now) and then travel immediately after if you need to.