USA to Finland: Apply for Residence here or there?

TopDog · Post by **TopDog** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 12:36 am

I perused the forum until I am blind and don't see an answer for this specificially so please don't kill me Hank....

I've been on and off the phone with the Finn Consulate in Los Angeles and now have all the required forms I need to fill out etc etc. I've resolved the issue of proving financial stability (we'll use my fiancee's bank statements as I won't be working until I learn the language) and I think I have a resolution to the "Okay now prove you're not already married" question.

Making a requiest for residency while still in the US seems to include lots of red tape and a huge fee (almost $300). Would it be easier to just apply for residency after I arrive in Finland? Should I take teh application to the police station before or after we get married? Will we need to get married within 90 days or will I get booted?

Anyone else from the US encounter any of this and if not, how did you handle moving and getting married in Finland?

Sheesh I'm exhausted. Thanks guys.

**Sponsor:**

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:35 am

TopDog wrote: so please don't kill me Hank....

TopDog · Post by **TopDog** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 5:23 pm

Thanks Hank...I really did need the laugh!

Väinämöinen · Post by **Väinämöinen** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 10:02 am

Here’s my experience.

I moved here from America on 1 June. I got married to my Finnish fiancée on 18 June. A couple of weeks later I applied for a residence permit. In late October I took a cruise to Estonia, and border control mentioned that I was actually illegal at the time, since my 90 days as a “tourist” were up and I forgot to take proof that I had applied for a residence permit to show them. However, they didn’t seem to be too concerned and let me go to Estonia and back with no problem. A bit worried, I went back to the police station with my passport to see how things were going. My residence permit was ready, and they were just waiting for me to show up with my passport so they could put the sticker in it. No problem at all.

So, from my personal experience with it I would suggest you apply for residence right after your wedding, when you can claim “family ties.”

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 3:22 pm

It also depends if where you mocve to, bigger cities like Helsinki with more applications in the queue, the processing times might be longer.

greenhorn · Post by **greenhorn** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:31 pm

Hank W. wrote:It also depends if where you mocve to, bigger cities like Helsinki with more applications in the queue, the processing times might be longer.

Hank is correct. In Hameenlinna it takes only a week to get it. Come here

TopDog · Post by **TopDog** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 1:09 am

I'll be moving to Riihimaki Rock City and thanks for all the replies. I'll invite you all for an Italian dinner once I'm there! Sounds like I just might wait until I'm there to apply for residency. Even if we don't get married right away, I can still apply for residency with family ties (registered partners) right?

PS....will keep it in mind Greenhorn

TopDog · Post by **TopDog** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 1:16 am

Väinämöinen wrote:
So, from my personal experience with it I would suggest you apply for residence right after your wedding, when you can claim “family ties.”

We might wait longer than 90 days to tie the knot so I'm wondering if I can still claim family ties as a "registered partner"

((sorry for the double post))

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 2:13 am

Well... errr... "registered partner" is the legal term here for "gay marriage", so yes you can apply on that as well but not with the same person

But what you probably were after was "cohabitation" and that has the "2-years under the same roof" rule.

greenhorn · Post by **greenhorn** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 4:12 pm

TopDog wrote:I'll be moving to Riihimaki Rock City

So you are coming quite near to Hameenlinna. Riihimaki is even smaller than Hameenlinna

TopDog · Post by **TopDog** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 5:16 pm

greenhorn wrote:
TopDog wrote:I'll be moving to Riihimaki Rock City
So you are coming quite near to Hameenlinna. Riihimaki is even smaller than Hameenlinna

That's right! I look forward to getting the chance to meet some of you after I arrive. All I need to do is save enough $$$ and I'm outta here!

Yes Hank, that was an err on my part..oops!

starbucks · Post by **starbucks** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 10:49 pm

(we'll use my fiancee's bank statements as I won't be working until I learn the language)
Making a requiest for residency while still in the US seems to include lots of red tape and a huge fee (almost $300).

OMG, $300 - a huge fee!!! LOL!

dude, where are you from?:ohno:

Rahela-Hanna · Post by **Rahela-Hanna** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 4:49 pm

Väinämöinen wrote:Here’s my experience.

I moved here from America on 1 June. I got married to my Finnish fiancée on 18 June. A couple of weeks later I applied for a residence permit. In late October I took a cruise to Estonia, and border control mentioned that I was actually illegal at the time, since my 90 days as a “tourist” were up and I forgot to take proof that I had applied for a residence permit to show them. However, they didn’t seem to be too concerned and let me go to Estonia and back with no problem. A bit worried, I went back to the police station with my passport to see how things were going. My residence permit was ready, and they were just waiting for me to show up with my passport so they could put the sticker in it. No problem at all.

So, from my personal experience with it I would suggest you apply for residence right after your wedding, when you can claim “family ties.”

My GOD, I wish I could just go ahead and get married to some Finn myself, for the claims based on family ties! My goodness. This Finnish guy I know sort of talked about it with me, and we even considered moving in together. We talked about getting married. And we both sort of want to. Man, this is all so weird and new to me!!!

Man, how I wish I had a good, stiff drink right about now. Lapin Kulta. Or anything.

TopDog · Post by **TopDog** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 8:24 pm

starbucks wrote:
(we'll use my fiancee's bank statements as I won't be working until I learn the language)
Making a requiest for residency while still in the US seems to include lots of red tape and a huge fee (almost $300).
OMG, $300 - a huge fee!!! LOL!

dude, where are you from?:ohno:

I know, it's robbery! (I live in New Mexico USA)

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 10:15 pm

Rahela-Hanna wrote: Man, how I wish I had a good, stiff drink right about now. Lapin Kulta.

Reindeer piss isn't on the list of "stiff" drinks

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