Applying for RP at consulate Los Angeles

[Gallychou]

Hi,
Has anyone applied for their residence permit at the Los Angeles consulate? Or somewhere else in USA.
How long did it take?
Can you choose the date you’d like the permit to start on?

For example, if your moving to Finland date is January 1st 2025, can you apply 6 months before approx. in June and it enough?
Or could we apply in the Spring for a January 2025 start?


Not sure if the 6 months of processing on migri’s website applies to applications done in Finland or all.


I am living with my Finnish spouse here so we are meeting the requirements.


Any tips are welcome about moving as well! What you wish you knew before did you have a private healthcare when you moved for the transition?


thanks! Kiitos!

[NansDrivel]

We applied for our RPs in Los Angeles. We applied for a Remigration Permit and were meticulous about providing ALL of the documentation required. We applied on 7 March 2022 and received our approval on 7 September 2022.

I suspect remigration permits might be easier to get since income and jobs are not necessary. Read about these permits here:

https://migri.fi/en/remigration

Feel free to ask any questions!

[FinlandGirl]

Hi,
Has anyone applied for their residence permit at the Los Angeles consulate? Or somewhere else in USA.
How long did it take?
Can you choose the date you’d like the permit to start on?

Yes, there is a "When do you intend to move to Finland?" field on the application to give the earliest date you want to move.

For example, if your moving to Finland date is January 1st 2025, can you apply 6 months before approx. in June and it enough?
Or could we apply in the Spring for a January 2025 start?

Not sure if the 6 months of processing on migri’s website applies to applications done in Finland or all.

I am living with my Finnish spouse here so we are meeting the requirements.

Processing times shouldn't differ regarding where you apply, but you are making a mistake when taking the current expected processing time as some kind of guaranteed processing time.

The estimate might differ in half a year, and it might take much longer than the estimate when you apply.

6 months is an unusually low Migri estimate for family ties, usually estimates are around a year and it is not rare that applications take longer than a year.

If there is for example another huge refugee wave from Ukraine next autumn, then Migri might not have much time for doing non-urgent work for a few months.

Any tips are welcome about moving as well! What you wish you knew before did you have a private healthcare when you moved for the transition?

You should be covered by public healthcare immediately.

Paying for private healthcare can be a good idea since non-urgent public healthcare in Finland is not very good and has long waiting times for seeing a doctor, while paying 100-200 Euro plus lab costs gets you an appointment at a specialist often at the same day at private healthcare providers.

If you find a job in Finland, the employer usually provides healthcare at a private sector healthcare provider for you.

[Gallychou]

Thank you both for the replies!
Good info about healthcare.
You are right estimate can always change, hence the questions.

I read few times it was faster to apply here in USA on the forum but perhaps there is no proof for this- just a guess from some.
Maybe the better question could be - how early can you apply? How early does consulate take application? I couldn’t find the info and might ask them.

Can you apply now for a moving date in 2025?

Obviously, no one wants to receive a permit and ‘waste it’ while still living in USA or elsewhere they are. So indicating a ‘moving date’ makes sense.

Thanks!

[Gallychou]

@nansdrivel
Oh you that was a good timeline! I know it can change at all times.
I guess your situation might differ since was through finnish roots?
So in your case you applied and received decision online? Permit by mail or?


Yes, preparing all needed and getting ready early is key!

Thanks!

[FinlandGirl]

You are right estimate can always change, hence the questions.

I read few times it was faster to apply here in USA on the forum but perhaps there is no proof for this- just a guess from some.
Maybe the better question could be - how early can you apply? How early does consulate take application? I couldn’t find the info and might ask them.

Can you apply now for a moving date in 2025?

It should be both possible and advisable, but asking first cannot harm.

It is advisable to make the actual application online, and it will in any case be processed by Migri in Finland.
The consulate visit is for checking your id.

Obviously, no one wants to receive a permit and ‘waste it’ while still living in USA or elsewhere they are. So indicating a ‘moving date’ makes sense.

The first residence permit is for one year, if you "waste" the first 9 months it might cause problems with the extension (that is usually 4 years) if you apply for that only shortly after moving.

[NansDrivel]

@nansdrivel
Oh you that was a good timeline! I know it can change at all times.
I guess your situation might differ since was through finnish roots?
So in your case you applied and received decision online? Permit by mail or?


Yes, preparing all needed and getting ready early is key!

Thanks!

We were informed in an unusual way! I was not permitted to apply online through EnterFinland, but my husband was allowed as my spouse. He was informed BEFORE I was (even though it was my Finnish family that allowed us to get the permit) when he got an email to log onto the EnterFinland Portal. Our permits arrived about a week after we received his online message.

I do suspect my type of permit is quicker to process than other types. I was meticulous about providing all the necessary documentation, so it was just a matter of getting in line to have it reviewed.